Sunday, March 17, 2013

Home School Conferences and Fairs

I headed up to Loveland, Colorado yesterday to go to the HIM Spring Curriculum Fair.

It is a really small event, and it is a long drive, so part of me really wonders why I do it.  Part of it is that I want to support an event not put on by our state organization, I'll confess.  They are just so big, so expensive, and so patronizing.  Don't want to deal with that.

But the HIM fair doesn't care if I come in jeans and a t-shirt, they allow kids (not that I've ever brought mine), they have a great used curriculum sale on Saturday mornings, and they are just nice and relaxed.

I'm so glad I went.

I had a fabulous conversation with the lady from Aims Community College.  She knew up front that I don't live anywhere near them, so any dual enrollment stuff we do is going to happen at a closer community college, but wow, she was still SO, so helpful.

Browsing all of the new stuff from Institute for Excellence in Writing, was a highlight.  As always.  The Bible Heroes Writing Lessons (for grades K-2) are so very sweet.  The Timeline of Classics looks like a pretty amazing resource.  The Reading Roadmaps, however (which was new last year, I think) is what totally screamed out to me though.  I don't know what I love most about it.  I'm sure I'll post about it in the future...

I attended one workshop session, on gracefully letting go of your teens.  Put on by Abiding Truth Ministry, it was a nice session.  She's a mom of five boys -- all now adults.  It was just nice to hear her say that her own "letting go" wasn't always graceful and that this stage is hard. 

One of the absolute highlights was talking with Brenda from Artistic Pursuits.  She is so sweet, and she was just so encouraging.  So, so encouraging.  If you haven't ever used Artistic Pursuits, I encourage you to go check out some of the recent Crew reviews of her programs -- that just finished up this past week.

Another highlight was checking out the Sonlight booth and talking with Karla Cook.  I have the new catalog and heard a few things about some of the new things.  I also manned the booth a couple of times while Karla did things like move her car.  That was SO much fun -- talking with potential customers.  Some made me feel so incredibly old though.  Wow. 

All in all, a day that made me feel energized and reminded me of all the other parents out there doing this homeschooling thing, or thinking about doing this homeschooling thing.

3 comments:

DeliveringGrace said...

Thisconference sounds amazing. One day I might manage a field trip to one! We have very occasional conferences in the UK but they tend to be small although very useful.

You are now one closer to your goal!

Unknown said...

I also went to a conference this past weekend and was so encouraged. Actually got to hear Andrew Pudewa speak in person for the first time. He was really great. STill have used any of his products though. I have another conference coming up in May that I am volunteering at and they also have a great used book sale.
Blessings
Diane

Jennifer said...

How cool that you got to meet Karla! That sounds like a lovely conference. I'm looking forward to ours at the end of April; we signed up today.