This year, I will be attending two “physical” conventions and two on line Expos. I am one that needs organization away from home, even more then at home. I need a schedule to help me stay on task and everything in order. Not that it will help everything go smoothly, but when life does take the wheel from me, I have a bit of control by having an idea where I intended to be.
This year, with the help of the TOS Planner, I have put together a three ring binder full of pages to help me stay organized at the conventions/expos I attend.
I have included pages for:
- Convention session notes~I write my notes on these pages.
- A Curriculum Needs List~Any curriculum I am still needing to purchase. I also write down EVERYTHING I have planned to use for the year, with a short list of pros and cons.
- Book list~Books I would like to buy to read, whether they are for read alouds, or for my children’s independent reading.
- Curriculum Planning Sheet~My curriculum list~I include what I have paid for it, and the new price
- Convention Planner~Venders to visit, curriculum to look at, things to buy that may not be curriculum—science kits, cds/dvds, etc
- Annual Plans~I use my annual plans to list unit study ideas. I then know at the convention if I will have time for that study I just think I must purchase there.
- Convention Session Log~Conventions are continuing education hours for the homeschool parent. I keep tract of these.
- Extra lined pages for more note taking space
- Curriculum cost comparison list
I use a three ring binder with the clear windows on the front and back and spine. My convention schedule goes in the front, and my book list and curriculum list goes on the back. They are easy to refer to then when walking through the vender hall. I also have a pocket folder in my binder to keep the Handouts in. I have a place for meal coupons too. I have a page protector to place business cards and other vender handouts in too.
Having my binder with all my needs put together, helps me to stay relaxed and enjoy the convention more. It also helps me be able to take care of emergencies easier…Even if the emergency is my husband calling to tell me he isn’t really going to be joining me at the convention that I have brought five children under 18 to. 
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mother, christian, wife, woman, child of God. It is about my life as a farmer’s wife, as a cook, a baker, a nurse, a teacher, a woodworker, a housekeeper, a farmer (yep, I drive tractors, pick up hay bales, and other farm duties), a gardener. So, what you read here, is me, as a transparent sometimes hot headed, passionate, and opinionated person.
Hi! I love your ideas! Maybe, just maybe, I can get something done by June…hmmm. I do have a notebook that I use just for convention notes every year. Our convention often has printables for lectures that you can print up ahead of time offline, and a binder would be a good place to store them. I think my usual notebook would fit inside the binder. Possibilities…
I am personally hoping to have most of my shopping done BEFORE our convention, so I can really RELAX this year and not worry if I don’t make it down every row, etc. Maybe just a few things for fun to buy, or a bargain or two at the used curriculum sale, but NO stress!
I sent a link to a post I did following our convention last year about how to survive a Curriculum Fair. I hope it fits.
Blessings,
Heather
Hi Heather,
This is last week’s Homeschool Snip’s and Tips. I encourage you to go ahead and link it to this week’s linky to help you gain a bit more traffic. GREAT post.
https://peacecreekontheprairie.com/christian-family/truthquest-historyliving-thinking-real-history-for-the-whole-family-building-a-home-library-of-living-books
I loved reading this post. I am thinking about attending my first convention this year and I know that I will be overwhelmed by all of the info/products that will be there. I included your post in my weekly round up today…hopefully others will benefit from reading your tips as well.
Oooh! I forgot that I’ll need this too. I’m hoping (and praying) that we’ll be able to attend our first homeschool convention in mid-March, so I better get started on this.
Thanks for the post and I’ll be bookmarking this too.
LOL…..but we survived! despite some panic at first,I’d say we did pretty amazing on our own!! :O) lol
Love this post as I’m in the midst of planning for convention! Hooray. I’m bookmarking your post so I can reread it when I make my binder.
I will add pictures later today (I hope) as I finish the binder in preparation for my first physical convention this weekend.