And I'm going to see about a million things I never knew I *needed,* and right this minute, for my little homeschool. I've been researching every "exhibitor" online and even found that I had been negligent in not scheduling my dear Elf and Emperor's own personal European guide... you know, you can't have a truly rich homeschooling experience without your own private tour of Europe. Sorry, kids.
I've looked at the co-ops and the curriculum providers, and wow, is there a lot of stuff out there. If I ever have a *need* to learn to paint glass or make bread in a bag between now and Saturday, I know which booths to hit. I will even have my "must see" stuff circled before I get into the van. I'm browsing company philosophy, sample pages, scope and sequence, etc. If there are so many companies touting different products for homeschoolers, I just imagine how much money there is in the public school market!
(An aside: All the stuff I see listed, however, seems to require reading and speech for older children, so here's hoping Woodjie gets on the old "talking" bandwagon soon. Almost nothing about homeschooling disabled or English as second language kids. Therefore, those children must not exist. :] Ok, seriously, what little I've come across from the larger providers of curriculum seem to indicate that were I to educate an older disabled person, I'd just have to go do the first grade stuff for a 17-year-old and the teen would just have to lump having the cute fuzzy teddy on the cover of his workbook. Don't forget the crayons!)
D says that he has been to business conventions and that you get all kinds of free stuff there. He wants me to grab free pencils and whatever they're handing out. I think he's imagining I'll come home with inflatable dinosaurs, tote bags and spatulas like he does when he gets to go to these things. It's been a while, though, I have to admit, between our having a baby every year at convention time and then the economic 'stuff' going on. I'm trying to temper his enthusiasm a bit, because I just don't imagine every booth is going to give me an inflatable dinosaur AND a notepad.
Have you ever been to a homeschooling convention? I'd love to hear your tips on how to get the most out of it.
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Look Out, Dad!!
My father is the purple dot above the blue weather station. He's juuust outside Milton's evacuation zone. Well! My brother and I jus...
I am &green& with envy. Lucky, lucky you. I don't think we even do these out here.
ReplyDeleteI go to the Charlotte Mason Conference every year. This other special needs mother and I make SURE there are workshops for families of special needs kiddos because we give them! LOL!
ReplyDeleteI also know that Mache in Minnesota goes out of their way to find speakers for special needs families.
Hey, don't you know homeschooling cures all diffabilities??? ;-P
Ganeida, I'll tell you all about it later, promise!
ReplyDeleteTammy, I looked at the speakers and it seems that when they talk about "special needs," they're really discussing big horrible things that change your whole lifestyle like ADHD and dyslexia. Eeek! Look at these capable parents and *all* they have to deal with, homeschooling those tots.
(Yes, I was being sarcastic. Maybe I shouldn't be, because that denotes a bit of "lookit all *I* am doing sort of attitude. But... I am happy at least that much is addressed. In 20 years, let's hope things are much different just as they are different NOW from 20 years ago!!)
Judy's blog was having trouble for a while there (she was switching from Wordpress to Blogger, and it got a little messy). Have you gotten any tips from her?
ReplyDelete~Luke
Finally got through, but wasn't able to see any tips. Also looks like she'll be in Cincinnati instead of Kansas City! :]
ReplyDelete