Dear Friend,

Just a quick note to let you know that we're looking forward to seeing you Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the Midwest Homeschool Conference this weekend at the Duke Energy Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. We've been to Ohio once before, but it was to a family reunion in the Canton/Akron area. Is there anything we need to see or eat in Cincinnati? 

For those of you who spotted my slightly mixed up announcement for the Greenville conference (a great conference, by the way), thanks for so nicely letting me know that the Duke Energy Center is in Cincinnati. This time we'll actually make it to Duke;-).

As far as I know, I'll be doing three workshops this weekend (you can download a complete schedule of all the workshops offered  on the conference website). Everything's open to change, of course, so remember to check the conference program when you get there.

If you've been to my workshops before, you know that they're the "take lots of notes" kind, as I want to encourage and equip you for the journey. I always try to leave a little time for questions, and you're welcome to come back to Booth 929 to ask more (we always have "convention specials" on our books, too).

How to Build a High-School Transcript: It’s Easier Than You Think! (Two chances to catch this one!)

Are you worried about high school records and transcripts? Come and see exactly what records to keep and how to build a transcript. You'll learn about the three major transcript sections and see what kind of information goes into each section. Whatever kind of homeschooling you’ve done, traditional or non-, you'll find that creating a transcript is much easier than you expect!
Thursday, 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 pm in Duke 250
Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 pm in Duke 250 

Decoding the Classics: How to Read, Enjoy, and Teach Great Literature

Have you always wanted to read the classics, but didn’t know where to begin? The “Great Books” are wonderful reading, and well worth the effort it takes to understand them. In this inspiring workshop, you’ll learn the basics of how to approach challenging reading assignments; how to use context materials to bring unfamiliar settings to life; how to discern an author's worldview, and how to help your high school students develop the kind of analytical reading skills they will need in college. A handout will provide a suggested reading list for high school students.

Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Duke 250

Teaching Language Arts The Easy, Natural Way 

Communication skills are essential for every area of life, but it’s easy to get lost in the wilderness of language arts curricula. How do you decide what to teach when? What is the best way to teach the skills most needed for college and business? Come to this workshop for an overview of each subject included in K-12 language arts, a look at some simple teaching techniques, and a suggested sequence of learning that will efficiently equip your student for a lifetime of sound communication. 
Friday, 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. in Duke 250

Tips for Attending Conferences

1- If you can be there for more than one day, use the first day to attend workshops and walk around the exhibit hall collecting things to study. That evening, try to relax and sort what you've collected into two piles-- the "definitely go back and talk to the author/speaker/vendor" pile, and the "maybe if there's time" pile. You can always buy things later online, but this is a perfect opportunity to talk with someone who's very knowledgable about subjects you want to know more about.

The second day, try to hit all your priorities early so that if you tire out and need to slow down or even go home, you'll have at least accomplished your most important goals. Remember that many vendors offer conference specials, and may run out of things before the end of the convention so if there's something you must have, don't wait until the last minute!

2- It's easier to find workshop rooms if you have a map in hand. You can print out a floor plan of the convention center at  the Duke Energy Center Website. The conference site has a list of company/speaker names with their booth assignments. 

3- Take something to carry your stuff. At minimum, you'll have a program and floor plan, plus something to take notes in. Plus, as you walk around the convention hall, you'll pick up things to read, catalogs, and perhaps even a few purchases. Or if you're like I was at homeschool conferences, you'll make a lot of purchases;-). You can buy a relatively inexpensive rolling crate at office supply stores, or you can bring a wheeled suitcase or even a little red wagon (unless a conference has rules against those). I also see strollers stuffed to the gills, and that's not a bad idea either (unless you've brought baby along).  

4- Take some water and a small non-salty, non-sugary snack (I carry a small baggie of unsalted nuts and dried cranberries) to sustain you. Most convention centers don't allow food from outside vendors, but if you bring a water bottle, you can refill at drinking fountains and escape dehydration.

5- Gayle at the Training Olives blog offers more helpful Tips for Attending Homeschool Conventions, including how to plan, and how to choose speakers. She even lists several she particularly enjoyed at the Memphis conference a few weeks ago (thanks, Gayle!).  

That's all for this week. I wish you joy!

Blessings,

Janice Campbell
www.Everyday-Education.com
www.ExcellenceInLiterature.com 

P.S. Remember, we're in booth 929 (unless there are last-minute changes). You'll recognize us by our three banners (and we're listed in the program under Everyday Education).