Preparing for the Homeschool Conventions

We are coming up on Memorial Day Weekend and as always that means we are planning a trip to Orlando, for the FPEA Homeschool Convention. FPEA is our state wide homeschool body, made up of families from all over the state, they lobby for, support, and encourage homeschoolers of every type from every background. This convention is the biggest homeschool convention in the nation. With 38 speakers, plus various vendor demonstrations with 13 different presentations in each of 13 different sessions spread out over two days there is something for everyone. Not to mention the vendor hall with 346 booths this year. Plus there is the leadership sessions on Thursday, Kids sessions and the Teen Program over the weekend, plus a homeschool prom and graduation on Saturday night and Sunday. What's not to love.

It is a big to do, and an essential part of our homeschooling preparation, but it also requires some preparation to get the most out of the weekend. Later this week, I'll go into more detail about our speaker plans and how we narrowed that list of 170 classes down. Then at the end of the week, I plan to share how we work through the massive convention hall. Hint, it's by figuring out priorities and then taking it a step at a time. earlier this week, I thought I might share what we are doing differently in our search for curriculum. This year we didn't decide that we were going to the convention until some family members made it possible last week, so I haven't had loads of time to plan out our trip this time around. However, in addition to looking ahead to speakers and curriculum options there are some other elements of planning for a successful homeschool convention that I'd like to share with you today.

Location

First of all, you need to look at where your going and decide if you need to stay nearby or if you can manage the drive back and forth. For us it has always made sense to sav the travel time for sleep and use the gas money for a hotel. We've never been quite close enough for it to make sense to drive back and forth, since I use the three full days to the max.

Packing

Of course if you are going to be in a hotel or maybe you are close enough to have friends who live nearby, you need to pack. I would share a few tips. Unless you just enjoy dressing up don't stress about your clothes, you are going to be in a lot of sessions so you want something comfortable. For me that's always been a pair of jeans and a nice shirt. I do wear make up but lots of moms opt not to, after all it's a work day, not a hot date out on the town. But most importantly of all, you need walking shoes. You are on your feet pretty much all day, walking between sessions, cruising the vendor hall, and hiking in and out from the parking lot. Some other things you might not consider that we always have on hand, are swim suits. There is nothing that wears the kids out like spending some time in the pool so that everyone can sleep. Not to mention, if you are able to stay on site, they have several nice pools with life guards, so we have let the older kids swim between sessions too.

Food

Eating out one meal might be nice, but for most homeschooling families the cost quickly rises, and with the restaurants at the convention center being so expensive, you don't want to eat there all weekend. There is also a little quick grab a lunch done outside the vendor hall by the convention center, but again, it cost a lot for not much. When we get a hotel we almost always look first for a Home to Suites or Homewood (both by Hilton) because they have a full size fridge and a kitchenette. We swing by the grocery story our first night there and pick up food for supper often something we can grill at the hotel, and something to go for our lunches. It's far more cost effective. I also always pack the water bottles, because there are plenty of stations for refilling them throughout the day.

At the Speaker Sessions

Once you get to the FPEA Homeschool Convention and are planning to sit down in the sessions, there are a few things you should plan to have on hand. First and foremost is a notebook, notepad, loose leaf paper, something to write on, other than the back of a receipt you found wadded up in the bottom of your purse. Many of the speakers, give websites where you can get more information, and sometimes even a link where you can get the class notes. Many people like to also use their phone to snap pictures of slides or other things, but phones do die, and with several 1000 people in a small space the connection isn't always what you'd like. So rather to be safe than sorry, always bring something to write with and some paper. I've seen other moms with a serious of highlighters color coding their neat outlines as they go. I'm more of a scribble it all down now, and sort and organize it later for retention kind of person, but either way you go, it's good to be able to take notes. Additionally I bring my school planner for the following year, with my post it notes. If a speaker suggest doing a curriculum check in 2 months into the school year, I want to jot that down, and stick it on the week under consideration. If there is a field trip possibility or a discounted trial program available on certain dates, I want to put that right in, so I don't have to remember it for later. Finally you need something to carry all this in and I recommend a good bookbag. I've used our lightweight hiking bags, and our more sturdy bookbags with many divided sections. Despite being a little heavier and hotter to wear, I prefer the bigger bags, so that I can organize my bag as I go. Plus there is plenty of room in them to hold your water bottle and your lunch.

On the Convention Floor

You without a doubt need a plan for carrying all your swag and information. Most vendors are giving out pricing sheets, ads for specific products, freebies to help you plan your curriculum, or samples of materials. Not to mention the cups, pens, pencils, candy, and stickers they have for free. Many, many people, especially if you are planning on buying much of your curriculum at the convention swear by a rolling crate or a small suitcase, or some sort of wagon or cart. When we've had to bring small children with us we have used a stroller or wagon, but I find them too bulky and the floor too crowded to maneuver easily with one. I've never had a rolling crate, those might be great, especially after picking up all the kids math books. However, more and more companies are directly shipping the books than handing them too you at the convention when you make your purchase, so that might be overkill. This again is where for me, a good bookbag comes in handy. It sits equally on both shoulders so that you don't have all the weight on one shoulder like you do with a regular bag. Also it doesn't take up more floorspace for maneuvering. With the divided sections, I can separate out the documents I want to look more closely at from the junk I don't really need, but am too polite to refuse. Then there's a smaller pocket for swag, and of course one for my planner and notes from the sessions. It's just easier for me to organize and quickly find what I need. I also put my wallet and anything I might need from my purse in here before I head out of the hotel so that I'm not carrying a bookbag and a purse.

A Bag for the Kids

If you are attending with small kids, I also highly recommend a small bag of things for them to stay occupied while your in sessions, or if they are big enough, their own little bookbag to carry things for themselves. I can recall early on when I had to bring all the kids with me wearing Rebecca in a carrier on my chest a bookbag on my back, and Britt and Ruth with their own small book bag with some coloring things, their leap pads, plus Moo Cow and Monkey (their lovies). They are far quieter and more likely to let you get what you need to get out of the experience when they have something to entertain themselves with.

If you are attending with older kids who aren't doing the kids or teens programs, I definitely recommend a book bag. They have something for notes, and a schedule I put together with their sessions and where they should be win, as they are allowed to explore some without us now. They also bring their iPads, headphones, and sometimes even a Nintendo switch to have during down time between sessions, when they need a break from the convention hall or each other, and for the ride between the convention hall and parking, then from parking to our hotel.

Wrap Up

Ultimately there are lots of little things that you can grab to make life easier. I always see people with little hand fans or handheld recorders. Of course my favorite thing to bring along is another homeschool mom to talk shop with and bounce ideas off of all weekend. But these are the key things I would think about when you are planning out your weekend: where to stay, what to pack, what to eat, and what you need to have on you at the convention for you and your kids. If you cover your basics it is sure to be a successful weekend.