Next week is the annual home school convention in my neck of the woods!

I look forward to it every year, but have spent entirely too much money in the past.  The rays of vibrant colors and the smell of new books can be intoxicating to a homeschool parent and can be quite overwhelming even to the seasoned homeschooler.

My suggestions are…

Pray, Pray, and Pray for discernment.

And Do Your Homework ahead of time!  It takes a lot time, but it can avoid impulsive spending and unhappy choices.

Been there, done that before!

These are a few things that I have done in the last couple of years in in preparing my mind mentally and spiritually at the grand homeschool convention.  I make a spreadsheet or use a spiral for writing down all my homework and bring it with me to the convention. Do whatever works for you, but be prepared.  And always, always bring budgeted CASH!  When you cash is gone, it’s time to go home!

1. Decide on what particular subjects and topics you are planning on teaching this coming school year. I suggest if you have multiple students than stick to the same topics, but at different levels. Write them down! It’s important to to jot down your specific goals for each subject per child.
2. Go and check out all your books and curriculum that you already have on each subject. This includes your computer files, too.  It’s amazing the things that I have found in my homeschool computer files that I didn’t know existed from a million moons ago. Make a note of them.
3. Print a list of the vendors and check out their websites to see which ones spark an interest that coincide with your goals.  Highlight the vendors.  A lot of times they will have a map of the vendor’s booth location on the homeschool convention website.
4. Price each interesting item new and then look to see how much it’s going for on-line used, for example, Amazon or VegSource.  I honestly rather spend the extra money on a homeschool vendor than on Amazon, but that’s just my opinion. Do not forget to include shipping prices.
5. I never buy anything until after lunch.  I try to get to the convention as early as possible and browse the entire morning.  This gives you a chance to check out the different prices per vendor and to make sure there isn’t something else that accommodates your goals more efficiently.  Sometimes vendors have specials that are not advertised on the Homeschool Convention website, so keep that in consideration and jot that down as you browse. Talk with the vendors and ask lots of questions.  Touch and feel the curriculum in your hand.  Smell it if you must!  (:
6. Eat lunch and look over your goals for each student.
7. Pray, Pray, and Pray!
8. Go make your discerning and prayerful purchases.
9. GO HOME!  Don’t look around and second guess your decisions.

If you whole heartily prayed about each one of your purchase decisions then it’s all in His hands!  Your job is to deliver the information to your children, let God do the rest.

Have you downloaded the home school convention forms yet?

Did I forget anything?  Leave me a comment and share with us your tips!

Have you grabbed my FREE eBook, Instilling Biblical Character: 100 Tips and Resources to Train Our Children yet?

This week is the annual homeschool convention in my neck of the woods!  I look forward to it every year, but have  spent entirely too much money in the past.  The rays of vibrant colors and the smell of new books can be intoxicating to a homeschool parent and can be quite overwhelming even to the seasoned homeschooler.

My suggestions are…

Pray, Pray, and Pray for discernment.

And Do Your Homework ahead of time!

It takes a lot time, but it can avoid impulsive spending and unhappy choices.

Been there, done that before!

These are a few things that I have done in the last couple of years in in preparing my mind mentally and spiritually  at the grand homeschool convention.  I make a spreadsheet or use a spiral for writing down all my homework and bring it with me to the convention. Do whatever works for you, but be prepared.  And always, always bring budgeted CASH!  When you cash is gone, it’s time to go home!

1. Decide on what particular subjects and topics you are planning on teaching this coming school year. I suggest if you have multiple students than stick to the same topics, but at different levels. Write them down! It’s important to to jot down your specific goals for each subject per child.
2. Go and check out all your books and curriculum that you already have on each subject. This includes your computer files, too.  It’s amazing the things that I have found in my homeschool computer files that I didn’t know existed from a million moons ago. Make a note of them.
3. Print a list of the vendors and check out their websites to see which ones spark an interest that coincide with your goals.  Highlight the vendors.  A lot of times they will have a map of the vendor’s booth location on the homeschool convention website.
4. Price each interesting item new and then look to see how much it’s going for on-line used, for example, Amazon or VegSource.  Do not forget to include shipping prices.
5. I never buy anything until after lunch.  I try to get to the convention as early as possible and browse the entire morning.  This gives you a chance to check out the different prices per vendor and to make sure there isn’t something else that accommodates your goals more efficiently.  Sometimes vendors have specials that are not advertised on the Homeschool Convention website, so keep that in consideration and jot that down as you browse. Talk with the vendors and ask lots of questions.  Touch and feel the curriculum in your hand.  Smell it if you must!  (:
6. Eat lunch and look over your goals for each student.
7. Pray, Pray, and Pray!
8. Go make your discerning and prayerful purchases.
9. GO HOME!  Don’t look around and second guess your decisions.

If you whole heartily prayed about each one of your purchase decisions then it’s all in His hands!  Your job is to deliver the information to your children, let God do the rest.

Peace Creek on the Prairie has instructions on how to make a homeschool convention notebook.

Did I forget anything?  Leave me a comment and share with us your tips!

Happy CENTSible shopping!

For more FREE CENTSible homeschooling, click here!

Are you pondering the idea of homeschooling or have been homeschooling for awhile, but want to incorporate God’s Word more in your curriculum?  If so, you will NOT want to miss this FREE homeschool conference that is going on May 1-3, 2012.  You might want to check out the benefits of purchasing a premium ticket here , if you aren’t able to listen to the whole conference on-line during the designated times.

The speakers at the online homeschooling conference will share with you how they incorporated the Bible as their main foundation of their homeschool, as well as, the following points:

• How to set up your homeschool.
• How to choose effective curriculum.
• How to manage your days.
• How to plan with a biblical worldview in mind.
• How to use God’s Word in every subject.

I am so, so EXCITED that I was the blessed one to win a premium homeschool conference pass that includes a goodie bag by participating in Young Living Oil Lady’s give A way!  I am really excited because the author of our spine curriculum is speaking during the conference  Look at all the goodies I will get in the mail to enhance our homeschool!

Here is what is included in the Goodie Bag (included in the premium pass)

• 1 full year Bible Curriculum from Foundations Press
• Ebook – Biblical Home Education – Anne Elliott 
• 2 Bible Based Nature Unit Studies:  wildflowers & clouds – Kelli Becton
• Printable – Bible Verses about Creation to use in your homeschool studies – for memory and copy work

Can you tell? I am so tickled to be participating in this conference!  Hurry and sign up!  See ya there, well, in spirit at least (:

For more FREE CENTSible homeschooling, click here!