Name: Thrive! NCHE Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-05-22T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-05-24T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Tagged: conference

This topic has 12 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 3 months ago by d.kirk.

Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)

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January 18, 2018 at 2:01 pm
d.kirk
Participant
Hi everyone!
This is my first time posting a topic on the forum, but I have been reading and learning for a few months now! My children are not quite school-age yet, but I am starting to do some planning and research and I would like to attend a convention. I was wondering if anyone could offer me some opinions on these two conventions, or even others I don’t know about. I’m looking for pros and cons of each, which one would be more helpful for learning about a CM education (I think the Great Homeschool Convention has a specific CM track, so that’s a vote in favor of that one), and whether SCM will be at either convention. We are in Northeast Ohio, so it would either be the Great Homeschool convention in Cincinnati (about 5 hours away), or the Teach Them Diligently convention in Columbus (3 hours away). Also, if anyone has any helpful advice on navigating conventions and things not to miss, please let me know! I’m brand new at all of this.😊
I am also interested in attending an SCM conference in the future, if there is one nearby. I saw that last year they offered one in Louisville, KY, and that would work too, since we have family there.
Thanks in advance for your help!
-Dorothy
January 18, 2018 at 3:26 pm
sheraz
Participant
No real advice on the Conferences, except that I really enjoyed the one I went to with Sonya, Doug, and Karen in St. Louis. They are so fun. =)
There is also a Charlotte Mason Institute Conference held each year. You might consider attending either the East or West conference when you can. They are encouraging and CM specific. They have immersion sessions and 3 days of workshops and chats. My CM online group met at CMI and we have been reading CM’s books and discussing weekly ever since – it’s been 3 years. It’s so fun because everyone there gets your CM enthusiasm. 😉
If you have the money, you might consider investing in the Living and Learning DVD set from SCM. Between that and the Early Years book/DVD set from SCM, you can have a Conference anytime you want and have your heart/feet firmly planted in CM philosophy and methods.
January 18, 2018 at 3:33 pm
Karen Smith
Moderator
We will have a booth at Great Homeschool Convention’s Cincinnati location.
Sonya speaks at several of the Teach Them Diligently conventions, but she will not be speaking at the Columbus location, nor will we have a booth there.
January 19, 2018 at 5:21 am
mrsmccardell
Participant
Hi! I’m ready to part with my Living and Learning dvd set if anyone is interested. Very gently used.
January 22, 2018 at 8:16 pm
d.kirk
Participant
Thanks for the help, ladies!
Sheraz- I looked at the Charlotte Mason Institute page, it looks like a great conference! I didn’t see any info on price, though. Do you know about how much it costs? I also saw that there will actually be at least one speaker from the CM Institute at the Great Homeschool Convention, so that makes me excited! I think we’re going to plan on that one. I am also diving into CM’s books as well, can’t wait to immerse myself in learning the CM way! 😊
Karen Smith- Thanks for the info! Do you know if there will be an SCM conference in Louisville or anywhere in Ohio this year?☺
Mrsmccardell -I probably can’t afford the dvds right now, especially if we are going to this convention, haha….but how much were you planning to sell them for, out of curiosity?
Thanks!
Dorothy
January 22, 2018 at 9:09 pm
sheraz
Participant
The cost of CMI is definitely more than the Convention, but it was worth it for me to go at least once.
This year looks more expensive than when I went 2 years ago. gulp. It looks like it costs $169.95 for the conference, plus you need to pay for room and board. If you are doing an immersion you will pay an additional amount for that too. I think all told, I paid about $450.00 when I went for traveling expenses, room and board, an immersion on high school using CM methods, and the conference. But it IS professional development for me as a teacher so we decided it was worth it.
The Conference was totally worth it, too. So are the DVD’s. Baby steps. You’ve got time. =)

January 23, 2018 at 7:01 am
Karen Smith
Moderator
Besides state conventions and Teach Them Diligently, Sonya will be conducting several of our own seminars. Our convention and seminar schedule should be available soon. We are still finalizing some of the details.
Sheraz, I was in a hurry when I posted my previous comment. I meant to add that we had a great time with all of you in St. Louis too!
January 23, 2018 at 10:33 am
Mandi
Participant
Haven’t had time to read through all this, but wanted to give my personal feedback for the conventions. Years ago I attend the Great Homeschool Convention (before TTD was birthed). I have been to TTD 3 times and love it. I highly recommend that conference. It has grown tremendously over the past few years. I personally feel it is a bit more conservative overall and aligns with our Biblical values. I am sad I will not be able to attend this year, but hope to next year. It’s always very uplifting and encouraging.
January 23, 2018 at 11:14 am
sheraz
Participant
Karen – no worries. 😉 Would love to do that again sometime. =)
January 23, 2018 at 11:57 am
Sue
Participant
Dorothy, welcome to the forum! I have not attended Great Homeschool Conventions, but I did attend TTD twice when it was in Sandusky. When I attended, Sonya was speaking multiple times, and SCM had a booth there. (Was so nice to meet them all!) I do remember one or two other CM speakers, but I spent most of my time attending special needs talks, especially on neurodevelopmental training, so I can’t say whether there was much CM help there.
If you can go to the one in Cincinnati, I think I would opt for that one since Sonya will be speaking, and you’ll have the opportunity to look at the SCM materials and bend their ears with questions you may have.
What part of NE Ohio are you in? We are in Cleveland, near Lakewood.
January 23, 2018 at 4:08 pm
Karen Smith
Moderator
Just to clarify, SCM will have a booth at GHC in Cincinnati, but Sonya will not be there.
January 23, 2018 at 8:20 pm
Julie Cunningham
Participant
@KarenSmith…YAY I get to see you again in Cincy!!!!!
January 24, 2018 at 9:44 am
d.kirk
Participant
Thanks for the input, Mandi! I would love to do both, and TTD is closer, but with the bonus of the CM track at the Great Homeschool Convention, speakers from the CM Institute, and the SCM booth, I think we’ll aim for that one this year. Maybe TTD another year!
Sue- We are east of Cleveland, in Lake county. I would love to meet other CMers nearby! Are there any CM groups or co-ops in the area? It would be great for me to talk to other homeschoolers who have implemented CM’s philosophy. I was homeschooled but definitely with a more traditional/classical approach. The CM method excites me to no end…I love books (as I’m sure everyone on the forum does😆), and my BA is in English, so what could be better?!?
Thanks, ladies!
-Dorothy