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teachingmyown
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| Posted: May 26 2009 at 3:07pm | IP Logged
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Of all the weekends in a summer, why do there have to be three homeschool conferences the same weekend?!
I am trying to decide between the HEAV conference and the IHM conference. The Catholic Home Expo (NACHE)is the same weekend, but a little too far anyway.
I want to go to a Catholic one, of course, both for the talks and the vendors. However, I would really like to hear Diane Craft speak at HEAV and there are many other talks which I think would be worth hearing. Also, just about every non-Catholic vendor you can imagine will be there!
What would you do? For those of you familiar with Dianne Craft, how important is it to see her in person vs. buying her talks to hear? I am thinking I would like the opportunity to ask questions.
I am thinking I could go to one on Friday and the other on Saturday, but I don't know if I will be able to. 
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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Mimip
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Oh Molly,
I just came back from our Florida Conference this past weekend and saw most of the speakers that are going to be at your HEAV conference. In my case the Catholic Conference is in the middle of the summer and much smaller with very limited speakers. We are actually thinking about going to the IHM conference up in Virginia because of this next year.
If you can I would split myself up like you said but oh I think I would have the same conflict. In the end I would choose the Catholic conferences because of the speakers (talks) over the vendors. I tend to want to absorb "the Catholic way of life in homeschooling" vs the "let me check out all the vendors to spend money" (IMHO of course)
BTW totally OT: I met and spoke to a vendor from Virginia (for over an hour) at the FPEA conference this weekend and she raved about the HEAV conference in VA. Before then I had not even heard of it. Serendiptiy HUH?
I'll pray to St. Joseph Cupertino about this as I go to him with all these types of choices 
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Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
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stellamaris
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Molly, I know EXACTLY how you feel! Maybe it would help if you thought about your main reason for going--is it the speakers or the curriculum? Are you looking for spiritual inspiration for another year (IHM) or specific academic skills you can use at home (HEAV)? What do you want to get out of the weekend the most? I tried to do both IHM and HEAV one year, and, really, it was too exhausting for me. I'll pray to the Holy Spirit to give you the Spirit of Wisdom in your tough choice.
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Caroline
Wife to  dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
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teachingmyown
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Thank you Caroline and Mimi! I do think this is my year of rethinking my academic approach, especially with a couple of my high maintenance kids. Unfortunately, for me at least, the IHM conference seems more limited as far as workshop topics. That is why I am so disappointed that they are the same weekend!
In all of my years of homeschooling I haven't been to HEAV once. I am thinking this may be the year.
Prayers for discernment are appreciated! I am a terrible decision maker. 
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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10 Bright Stars
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Molly,
I have never been to the HEAV convention either, but my MIL always raved about it. So, I thought about going this year only to find out it was the same weekend as IHM too! So, I am going to the HEAV convention (at least this is the plan) on Thursday the 11th, mainly for the vendors, although the talks do look interesting. Then, I am taking my sons to the IHM conference with me on Friday so they can attend the teen talk and I can go to some of the talks there for a spiritual shot in the arm. I too would love to go to some of the "how to" type talks at HEAV, but I am considering this year more of a re-con mission without an agenda for that convention, and if it looks great, I will try to attend the talks next year. Maybe something like that would work for you?
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Kim married to Bob (22y)
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Tonya
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Molly,
It is much more accessible for me to go to the Protestant convention and I have gone for the past three years. Last year Dianne Craft was the featured speaker and she was wonderful. I listened to almost all of her talks and came away very reassured and inspired. I also bought some of her curriculum and they did not seem to help my son all that much. At mid-year we switched to Reading Horizons, which seemed to be much more effective. That might have been simply due the fact that everything started to click for my son and it wouldn't have mattered what program I was using. I would highly recommend going to Dianne Craft's talks because they are so reassuring.
That being said, after this past year I decided that I would not go back to the Protestant convention. I enjoyed the talks by Jay Wile but the other speakers were so heavily Protestant that they seemed very anti-Catholic. I really hope that I can get to a Catholic convention next year. The vendor fair at the Protestant convention is amazing but when I looked at all of the materials, I decided that I wouldn't want to use most of it. I think that I get much better ideas on this forum from all of these wonderful ladies.
I know this probably confused you more than it helped! I will pray that you make the right decision for you and your family.
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Tonya
Mom to 2 daughters (24 and 21), 4 sons (19, 15, 12, 12), and 3 in heaven
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stellamaris
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Molly, I just had this thought, too--you could always order the CD's of the talks you really wanted to hear at the HEAV convention from HEAV. Usually there are order forms in the HEAV magazine/newsletter. I can't remember if they record the talks at IHM, but I'm sure someone on this forum knows. I have to add that HEAV really does have a huge selection of vendors, almost overwhelmingly so!, but it is great to see what's out there.
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Caroline
Wife to dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
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teachingmyown
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Tonya wrote:
Molly,
That being said, after this past year I decided that I would not go back to the Protestant convention. I enjoyed the talks by Jay Wile but the other speakers were so heavily Protestant that they seemed very anti-Catholic. I really hope that I can get to a Catholic convention next year. The vendor fair at the Protestant convention is amazing but when I looked at all of the materials, I decided that I wouldn't want to use most of it. I think that I get much better ideas on this forum from all of these wonderful ladies.
I know this probably confused you more than it helped! I will pray that you make the right decision for you and your family. |
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This is why I miss the large NACHE conference so much! For years, it was close by and had everything I could wish for: a mix of talks about differing philosophies of education, both Catholic and secular vendors, and really encouraging Catholic speakers! As much as I look forward to some of the talks at HEAV, I would much rather listen to Rachel and Matt Watkins talk on large families than the Boyers.(Maybe I'm not being fair to the Boyers since I haven't heard them, but the Watkins are so fun and Catholic at the same time!) I find that both of my convention options are missing key components.
Caroline- I am considering just buying the talks. Looking at the company that sells past conference talks, it looks as if many of the same talks for this year have been done in the past and are on Cd already.
That goes back to my question about Dianne Craft- is it worth going just to see her in person as opposed to buying her talks?
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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Tonya
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Molly, I always seem to get more out of being present at a talk than listening to CD's. I think that it depends on whether you feel that you could listen to her talks on a CD and get as much out of it. Dianne Craft talks made so much sense to me and I felt so much better about the learning styles of my boys after listening to her. However, like I said earlier, when I tried to implement some of her techniques, they didn't seem to help that much. I might not have been implementing them correctly and some of the methods used a lot of parental prep time. I wish that I could just hire her to help, but that wouldn't work financially or geographically!
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Tonya
Mom to 2 daughters (24 and 21), 4 sons (19, 15, 12, 12), and 3 in heaven
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10 Bright Stars
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Molly,
I completely agree with you as far as missing NACHE where it used to be. (Manasas area) I don't understand why they moved all the way to Baltimore. Anyone know why? I figured it would take me a good 3 hours to get there, and that is just too long! They had cool things that you can't get at IHM like nature notebooks, fun history things etc. It just seemed a little more eclectic. I really like the IHM conference too, but I do tend to already know what they will have to offer, and I could just purchase them easily in a catalog. (Although the talks are always inspiring. I just love that Ginny Seufert!)
God bless,
Kim
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Carole N.
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teachingmyown wrote:
Prayers for discernment are appreciated! I am a terrible decision maker. |
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I am also a terrible decision maker. And I have no advice, really, except to say that I prefer Catholic conferences because I do not have to second guess anything that is being offered.
Praying for your discernment!
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Carole ... in Wales
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margot helene
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teachingmyown wrote:
I would much rather listen to Rachel and Matt Watkins talk on large families than the Boyers.(Maybe I'm not being fair to the Boyers since I haven't heard them, but the Watkins are so fun and Catholic at the same time!) I find that both of my convention options are missing key components. .
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I don't know about Diane Craft since I've never heard her, so I can't help with your IHM vs HEAV decision . . . but Rachel Watkins is speaking at the Family Centered Learning Conference this summer.
Margot
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teachingmyown
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Thanks Margot! I just might have to try and make it to the FCL conference! Unfortunately, that is another packed weekend. I think I only have two weekends all summer that I have more than one thing going on and those are the conference weekends. Go figure!
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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Mary Chris
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Diane Craft is going to be up in New Jersey this weekend.
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Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
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MicheleQ
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margot helene wrote:
teachingmyown wrote:
I would much rather listen to Rachel and Matt Watkins talk on large families than the Boyers. |
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I don't know about Diane Craft since I've never heard her, so I can't help with your IHM vs HEAV decision . . . but Rachel Watkins is speaking at the Family Centered Learning Conference this summer.
Margot |
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Rachel promises to be a lot of fun and guess who else is speaking? MacBeth Derham!
Molly I hope you can get there --it's a small conference but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in support and encouragement.
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teachingmyown
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Michele, I am going to try. Court has to go out of town that Sunday, so I don't think he will be willing to go. But maybe we can split up the kids and I can bring a couple to help with Seth while I attend the talks.
It sounds wonderful. Just what my tired body and brain are needing!
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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teachingmyown
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It looks as if I won't need to worry about making the right decision. As usual, my plans need to take the back burner to family commitments.(said with peaceful resignation, not any bitterness. LOL!)
My oldest whose high school graduation is next Saturday has decided that he is going to go, even though he has been saying for months that he wasn't. So now we have graduation, relatives coming in, etc. Not to mention a baseball tournament that weekend too.
I told my dh that by the time I have the freedom to go to a homeschooling conference, I won't be homeschooling anymore!  Well, at least I will be able to pick up some tips and look at all the new curriculum products for my grandkids!!
I do hope to run up to IHM for a couple of hours on Friday. Is there a get together planned yet?
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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Lara Sauer
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I am going to be going on Friday as well...Saturday is out for me.
I'll keep an eye out for you, Molly!
Sara
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SuzanneG
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teachingmyown wrote:
| I told my dh that by the time I have the freedom to go to a homeschooling conference, I won't be homeschooling anymore! Well, at least I will be able to pick up some tips and look at all the new curriculum products for my grandkids!! |
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Leocea
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I vote for the FCL conference. I went last year, and it was so inspiring! I actually got emotional at Mass, while all of these wonderful families were worshiping together. It had the feel of the *old* NACHE conferences, before they were the EXPO.
I am planning on going again this year.
I ALSO love listening to Rachel talk, and I get to do it somewhat often, as I live near her, and we were in a co-op together this year. Yay! She has many tips for a growing family, and is very matter of fact when it comes to being Catholic and not ashamed to admit it!
I am looking forward to seeing some of you again at the conference in July!
Your sister in Christ,
Leocea
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Topic: Deciding between conferences
