Curriculum Fairs - What should YOU do ?

Cathy Duffy put it best......
"One of the saddest sights I've ever seen was the opening day of a three day homeschooling convention. Day one had been designated only for new homeschoolers. Five hundred or more "raw" homeschoolers recruits streamed into an exhibit hall featuring over one hundred different vendors. Where to start ? Each vendor, naturally, claimed that his or her products were absolutely essentail and the best thing onthe market. If the newcomers had come with unlimited resources, they could easily have dropped a few thousand dollars at the first few displays they visited. I'm certain many felt overwhelming guilt when they did not buy what they were told they needed. That's probably why so many were in tears after the first few hours of convention." Taken from Top 100 Picks for Homeschooling Curriculum

Today is the first curriculum fair of the upcoming season that I am going to. Notice I said FIRST. I do have a method to my madness. This curriculum fair, my dd Shayna will attend with me. She wants to have more imput into her curriculum now that she is a wise old age of 9. We are electic homeschoolers. We use a bit of this and a bit of that. We follow some "classical education" theories and combine that with Unit Studies and some hands on things. In the past years, Shayna got to choose half the unit studies and I choose half the unit studies (to make sure we balanced important subjects.... if not we would of learned about either "horses" or "fencing" or whatever other passion she had all year long).

We have a very specific goal today. Shayna is going with me to look and make her own personal wish list. We have talked about some of the "areas" that she would like to investigate next year. We talked about math and how she is ready for Algebra mathematically; however, emotionally we are going to wait on Algebra and find some FUN math that will help her practice problem solving, critical thinking..

Shayna and I are both excited ! I had to go over my "rules" with her. These are rules I developed for myself with a dear friend from Massachusetts, Wendy, when we went to our first curriculum fairs back in 2001.

1. Walk around the entire room FIRST and take a good look at what vendors are there.

2. Go and look and speak to the vendors that are Homeschoolers first. They know there product and have used it with their kids. And we like supporting home based businesses.

3. Make a wish list of items that intrigues us. Take the vendors business card and on the back write the item, price etc for reference. Ask the vendor if they will be at _____________ or _________________ conference also.

4. Purchase some items - however, remember there will be USED Homeschooling Curriculum fairs also and you might be able to get it for a fraction of the price. And if you can't find the item at the Used Fair, you have the business card to purchase the item later.

5. Talk with other moms/dads who are there and ask them the pros/cons of the products with their kids. This works well if you see someone who goes for an "Upper level" of a certain curriculum. There is a good chance they have used it for a few years.

6. Wear comfortable shoes ! Bring water ! And smile ! This is supposed to be fun !

7. Remember to use the public library for books. You really don't need to OWN every book they sell. Keep a list of books you want your child to read that you see at the fair.

I can't wait until this afternoon ! I almost couldn't sleep last night ! New curriculum SMELLS yummy ! It is exciting to take a peek ahead and see what WE will be learning NEXT year !