How to Prepare for Online Homeschool Conferences

Summer is homeschool conference season for many of us. It’s that time of year we get to hear from other homeschool moms, get encouragement that we desperately need, and prepare for the upcoming school year.

This year many conferences have moved to a virtual conference setting. I want to take a few moments in this post to share my best tips for attending a virtual conference and getting the MOST out of it.

Before we get into all the details, I want to encourage you to SIGN UP for conferences you see being made available. I have been homeschooling for 10 years and I still attend these conferences and walk away feeling so much more prepared. These conferences are like a “shot in the arm”. 🥰 The good kind.

Tip #1

Plan easy activities your little ones can do while you are listening

Put together a special box with toys that will only be played with while you are listening to the speakers you most want to hear.

Have you ever noticed how quickly children get bored with the same old toys? This is something I recommend for homeschooling with toddlers, too. This can be made very inexpensive (or free). The key to this will be sticking with the rule of putting away the special toy bin whenever mama is done listening. If children know they only get this special box for a limited amount of time, they will love to play with those toys. You can even go through the toys that you currently have. Sort them and put them away for a few months. Take them out during times when you need to do “focused work”.

Toys that I like to put away and put in my special box are:

For 1-3-year-olds

& 

beiens 3Pcs My Quiet Books, 9 Theme Soft Activity Books for Babies, Toddler Learning Sensory Story Book, Life Skill Education & Identify 3D Cloth Busy Books for Infants, Boys and Girls Soft ToydeMoca Quiet Book for Toddlers – Montessori Basic Skills Activity – Soft Travel Toy & Educational Busy Book for 2 3 Year Old Boys & Girls + Zipper Bag (Red)Learning Resources Birds in a Nest Sorting Set, Fine Motor Set, 36 Pieces, Ages 2+Giftinthebox Toddler Busy Board, Montessori Toys Basic Skills Board for Toddlers Learning Dress, Educational Learning Toys for 1 2 3 4 5 Year Old Toddlers, Toddler Travel ToysMelissa & Doug Dust! Sweep! Mop! (Frustration Free Packaging)Ancaixin Wooden Toys for 1 Year Old Boys and Girls Montessori Shape Size Sorting Puzzle Carrots Harvest Developmental Gifts for Fine Motor Skill (Carrots Harvest)Montessori Wooden Rainbow Toy Colored Arch Bridge Blocks Set Shape Sorting Game Learning Toy Stacker Nesting Assembly Puzzle PieceCoogam Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle Set, 6 Pack Animal Shape Color Montessori Toy, Fine Motor Skill Early Learning Preschool Educational Gift Game for 2 3 4 5 Years Old Kid ToddlerMelissa & Doug Primary Lacing BeadsWinsenpro 5PCS Jumbo Dinosaur Set,13” Realistic Looking Dinosaur Toy Set for Party Gift,Boys Girls Children’s Birthday Gifts (5PCS Dinosaurs)Basket of Babies Creative Minds Plush Dolls, Soft Baby Dolls Set, 6 Piece Set for All AgesSnuggle Stuffs Basket of Buddies 7100% Pure Beeswax Crayons – (8 Pack, Thins) Natural, Non Toxic, Safe for Toddlers, Kids and Children, Handmade in New Zealand, for Older Children to Encourage Fine Motor Skills HoneysticksHoneysticks 100% Pure Beeswax Crayons Natural, Non Toxic, Safe for Toddlers, Kids and Children, Handmade in New Zealand, For 1 Year Plus (12 Pack with Book) Best Gift

 

Tip#2

Have a special notebook for taking notes during virtual sessions

Research shows that our brains retain information better if we physically write notes. The kinetic connection seems to make an impact on the brain.

For this reason, I suggest taking handwritten notes in a special to you notebook. This can be a spiral note pad or a fancy planner. Whatever you do, write some notes. You wouldn’t believe how many times I have gone back to my notes over the years. IE I would be homeschooling and a problem would pop up. I would remember a certain speaker talked about my specific problem a few months ago. I find my notes and boom! In my notebook is the solution.

I’ll just be honest. Homeschool conferences can be mentally overwhelming sometimes. So much GOOD information is being served to your mind all. at. once. and although it’s all good, it’s overwhelming. So, take notes. Write down the speaker’s name and website if she/he offers it. The homeschool community is very much a COMMUNITY 🥰

If you have trouble down the road, reach out to that speaker with your question, I’m sure they are more than willing to reply.

o I have a tradition during homeschool conference season. I buy myself a new special pen. Not an expensive pen but maybe a gel pen that I like. For me, it’s just little things that are meaningful to me. ( As a homeschool mom, you need to take care of yourself, too. A new pen, notebook, some nice lavender soap…make me feel special) 💜

Tip #3

Plan which sessions you will attend in advance

Homeschool conferences have a schedule and a list of the topics each speaker will cover. If you are not able to attend all of the sessions, sit down and figure out which would benefit you the most and plan to watch those sessions. Most conference organizers have the whole “thing” recorded so you can always watch all the sessions at a later time ( I have done this multiple times.) Which leads me to my next tip…

Tip #4

Buy the conference recording

Remember I said earlier you will have problems pop up over the year that were covered by a certain speaker? If you have your notebook and a recording of the conference, you can refer back to that session for a solution. I recommend purchasing the recording if at all available. Sometimes the conference is already accessible to you for a year after your initial attendee ticket.

Tip# 5

Get some good tea or coffee or snacks

One particular conference I attended for 5 years always had the BEST brownies. My pal and I would say every year…” We can’t wait to have our brownie!” Funny as it sounds, that treat was something we all looked forward to. Not to mention all the glorious teas and coffee offerings. So this year, to make it special …I will make or buy my favorite coffee to brew and make a pastry that would be a treat for me and my kiddos for conference week.

I have attended and spoken at many conferences over the years and the beverages and treats just go along with the atmosphere. I know you will be doing it from your own couch this year but still, get yourself something special. Down the road, if I ever meet up with you at a live conference, we can have a real coffee date together. 🤩

I hope some of these tips help YOU to have a successful conference week. Stay tuned on my Facebook page for an EXCITING update coming very soon!!!! 💜https://www.facebook.com/TheCharlotteMasonMama