Back Home and feeling great about homeschooling!

The NCHE conference was great as usual. And I am happy to report that I did not leave the conference completely broke! The book fair is such a tempting place to spend my money and I am so eager to begin an academics program with James. I'll talk more about that in a separate post. It deserves it's very own space.
Even though I didn't spend a gazillion dollars, I did buy one thing, Handwriting Without Tears". I spent a whooping $23!!!!

I left inspired and content. I was so content with what I was doing and what I need to do at home and with James that I left the conference a day early. I missed James. I missed Chris. And I don't like to feel "far away" from them so I came home. When I went to pick up James from my Mom, he told me he loved me more than ice cream! I'm pretty sure I left a better wife. ;) I attended the workshop about homeschooling and romance. Heidi St. John is an excellent speaker. She and her husband often present these workshops together and they have also written books on the subject. Heidi has a website too. She helped me remember "That Girl", the girl my husband married. She reminded us all that homeschooling our children is important and it's hard work but it means nothing without a solid and happy marriage. My marriage is the TOP priority and the most important relationship in my home. And let me be candid, I married well. So it's not hard. And even if you aren't a homeschooler but you ARE married, your marriage needs you to remember "That Girl" too. :)

North Carolina Home Educators Conference

 I wanted to take the time to make a plug for the North Carolina Home Educators Conference that will be held May 24-26 (Memorial Day weekend) in Winston-Salem, NC. Click here for a link to their website.

Every year they host a AMAZING conference. I have attended the last 2 years and this year will be my third. Early bird registration is open now and, for members, the cost is $50 and the deadline is April 20, 2012. I recommend paying the extra $3 for the speaker handout booklet. I love that thing! I can take notes in it and have a little information from all the various workshops over the course of the 3 days. During the conference, they also sell audio of ALL the workshops. You can dowload them as an MP3 file or buy a CD. They cater to all learning styles. ;)

The first year I attended I went alone. As I waited in line for my registration packet, I couldn't believe all the FAMILIES that were there together. Moms and Dads and kids of all ages- newborns to graduating students. All are welcome. And this year the conference is hosting their first ever Children's Conference for children ages 5-12. The older students normally have all sorts of activities like a dance, talent show, they volunteer at the conference and then there is a graduation ceremony on the last day.

Some readers/friends who are not currently homeschoolers have contacted me about homeschooling. They shared with me that they were considering it as a viable option for their family. This is a great place to learn so much about homeschooling. There are workshops on topics such as the state laws that apply to homeschooling, preschoolers, middle schoolers, high schoolers, preparing for college, specific learning challenges, homeschooling a large family, teaching writing or math and homeschool athletics. Here in North Carolina, there is a football league, basketball for girls and boys, volleyball, cross country, baseball, tennis and other sports coming soon due to demand. And if you aren't in North Carolina, find out what is available in your state. If you Google your state and the words "home educators" you are bound to get a hit on something useful. For example, I googled "Virginia home educators" and I got a hit for the Home Educators Association of Virginia.

Good Luck and hope to see you at the NCHE Conference in May.