Blog: How Ms Ali does the Southeast Homeschool Expo (Exhibit Hall & Workshops)
- Jul 23, 2018
- 4 min read
2018 Dates: Friday, July 27, 2018: 10 AM – 8 PM Saturday, July 28, 2018: 10 AM – 5 PM ONLINE RATE: $10 per person* AT-THE-DOOR: $20 per person Children under 18 are FREE
I LOVE expos! Workshops, speakers, shopping where you can touch amazing things that are normally only available online! Ahhh!!! Its homeschool conference season!
BUT I totally get it that I'm WEIRD (but we knew that, right?). Most people hate the crowds and the chaos, and the overwelming schedules. So here is my "how to" for the SE Homeschool Expo.
How to save $$:
First- Sign up for the emails, so that next year, you get to go for FREE! (Well, almost free, there is a $2 shipping fee). Otherwise, register online for $10, not at the door for $20.
Second- Cobb Galleria has installed paid parking. You can go move your car every few hours so that parking is free, this year I'm just going to not schedule around my car though, and pay $10/day. (Ugh.)
Third- Plan to come alone, but maybe with a stroller to hold all your junk ;P it is SO boring for littles, but there are so many goodies to buy! There is childcare available, but I know my little would never even consider it, so I lean on Gramma and Nana to go two days!
Fourth- Leave your credit cards at HOME and bring your budget in cash. Then leave it in the car. Seriously. If you want IT bad enough to go walk to the car and get your $, great. Otherwise, look for IT used on homeschool BST later. However, I don't buy on Amazon vs from the publisher at the Expo. Saving a dollar or two that way is just tacky ;p
Last- bring a lunch. And snacks. And caffeine. The food options are scarce and the lines are long.
How to plan your day:
I print out the workshop schedule at home, and then check off what looks interesting. I narrow down my options by reading the bios of the speakers online at home as well. Then I have a pretty good feeling what will be worth my time (and sore back) and what I should skip.
I DO have back up options, and I don't stay for a class I don't want to. Hear someone coughing in the back who excuses herself from the room? That was me.
I hit the exhibit hall first and then during breaks. I don't mind the crowds, I'm excited too! But if you don't want to share your bubble, head for the exhibit hall LAST, its a ghost town at the end of the day.
Exhibit Hall:
When you enter you'll get a "goodie bag"- some of the samples are really cool, one year we got Kwik Sticks! (Paint in a glue stick) but other years I recycle 90% of what's in the bag. Plan to have lots of paper to sort when you get home!
Bring a sharpie so that you can take NOTES on what you actually like ON those papers people hand you, otherwise you'll forget you liked it, and recycle it unintentionally. I say Sharpie, because pens don't write well on printed brochures.
Choose a route: I totally forget where I've been, so I always start on the far left (because everyone else goes right) and visit each booth against the wall one by one. When I get to the end of that row, I come back up, visiting the booths on the same row- other side.
Check out the exhibitor list so you don't miss anyone you want to visit. https://www.southeasthomeschoolexpo.com/exhibitor-list/
For 2018 I'm going to hit up Classical Conversations for a few flash cards without shipping fees, Logic of English, and the science curriculum I like, but can't remember the name of.....
I skip the college booths, and linger at the local museums for free tickets/coupons.
At the end of each row, transfer your "stuff" to something other than the grocery bag; stroller, backpack, etc. You also aren't lugging a bunch of books, because you left your cash in the car, right?
When you go back to purchase, plan to head home. Don't carry too much on those floors, you have another day to come back and EXPO More!
Workshops:
Before I told you that I print out the workshop schedule at home, and then check off what looks interesting. I narrow down my options by reading the bios of the speakers online at home as well. Then I have a pretty good feeling what will be worth my time (and sore back) and what I should skip.
I DO have back up options, and I don't stay for a class I don't want to.
Bring a notebook or non-internet dependent way to take notes. This year I'm rocking my new "Apple for the teacher" iPencil and iPad! On that note- ALWAYS bring your phone charger (learned that one back as a real estate agent).
Sit where you are comfortable, If you have questions though, sit up front or near the aisle. If you have kids with you, sit near the back.
Also- you can get great goodies and advice by helping a Speaker carry things back to their booth.
Bringing the kids:
Bring food. All the food. I give A snacks anytime she has to go to a meeting with me.
Bring small toys, I bring a pocket set of Tegu, sticker books, a notepad and colored pencils, and brand new goodies to play with, last year I introduced Silly Putty for the first time. For little kids wooden pegs can be dolls, and tiny wooden cubes build up some awesome castles.
I let her walk the Exhibit hall, and wear her or have her sit for the Workshops/Speakers. She has always napped on my back at some point, but this year she only naps 2-3x a week, so.......
In the Exhibit Hall I do let her touch everything. Homeschooling is about HER and I want to know what books hold HER attention and what she couldn't care less about. The Homegrown Preschooler had a water beads bin last year which was AWESOME!
I can't WAIT for next weekend! If you are an LLV Member I bought your ticket months ago, and it'll be so fun!
<3 Ms Ali
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