homeschool conferences
learning, bonding, and recharging

by Dawn Davis, editor

Spring is in the air (as those of us with allergies can attest), the clocks have been set forward, June is just around the corner and the homeschool conferences are fast approaching. Should you and your student attend? Of course, and here's why.

Among the many things I enjoy about our family's home educating lifestyle are the constant opportunities for learning and growth available not only for my children but for myself as well. Long gone are the days when resources for homeschooling were hard to find and you either had to use a prepackaged curriculum or create your own. If you chose to homeschool, odds were that you didn't know many other homeschoolers "coloring outside the educational box". These days the resources are plentiful. As a matter of fact, the choices available to our learning community are almost overwhelming, not to mention the different approaches to homeschooling! The number of families home educating has increased dramatically and I've noticed that when we are out and about, it is likely that we will meet others who are also homeschooling.

Whether you've been homeschooling for years or are just beginning to research the idea, any one of the upcoming homeschool events could benefit your family of home learners. Maybe you know someone who is considering bringing their student home for school after the end of the current school year. You could invite them to join you in attending one of these events where they can see and meet homeschoolers and all the supportive resources available these days.

Parental or student burn-out can often be remedied by attending a homeschool seminar or conference. My 10th grade daughter, Kristi, joined me at the LINK Conference last June and we were both refreshed and renewed by hearing the wise words of those who had gone before us, successfully homeschooled through high school. We came home ready to face another year of homeschooling after having had several of our concerns addressed by the speakers. We realized "we can do this", and returned more united and strengthened in our goals and vision. It was a great bonding time for us as well.

There are a few events that require traveling -- a fun field trip or time away for Mom and/or Dad. Some events offer a series of workshops for students separate from those offered to parents, or you can attend workshops together, as Kristi and I did at the LINK Conference. Either way, you and your student are sure to be encouraged. Whether you are an avowed "unschooler", prefer an eclectic approach or use a set curriculum, you can find something of interest at one of these events.

You'll find list of the homeschool conferences throughout California on our Events >> Homeschool page. If you would like to review one of these events for a future article, please contact me


Dawn Davis is the editor of San Diego Homeschooling. She has been home-educating her two children for over ten years.