| It was March at the end of my first year of homeschooling. I felt like we had had a pretty good year– I definitely knew my children better; they seemed to have had a good time; we had almost finished our curriculum already; we shared a million experiences and laughs; and overall, I was pleased with the way things were going. So, when a friend of mine told me about a homeschool convention that was being offered in our town that next week, I really wondered why I should care. She was pretty adamant that I needed to make my plans to go. She told me that for several years, she and her husband had traveled to NC and GA to attend conventions, because they believed they were so helpful for home educators and their families. I agreed to check it out– having no idea what I was even looking for. The week of that event, David and I looked at the postcard we had received in the mail. There was an individual price as well as a family rate, so after discussing it, we decided for the little bit more to add on everyone, we’d go ahead and register for a family pass. We figured that David could go to a session or two in the evening. As it ended up, David went over on Thursday afternoon to pick up our packet of information while I stayed home and finished school with the kids. After going to the first session, he actually called me from the facility and told me to come on over– he wanted me to see it. So, the kids and I packed up the car and met daddy at the convention center. We switched places, and I was able to go into my first ever homeschool event. It was surprising! All of a sudden, the small view of home education I had held was broadened. I had access to information about different learning and teaching styles, different curriculums, different ways to spice up what we are doing, different organizational structures, and so much more. I will never forget the very first session I sat in on– it was about notebooking. I had never heard of the concept, but I loved it! It seemed so natural, so fun– I knew I definitely wanted to incorporate some of that into our plan next year. The second session was on Unit Studies– again… what were those? Well, after leaving that session, my children benefited from doing many unit studies through their elementary years– especially when Mama needed a break from the normal academic routine. 🙂 Then, I hit the resource hall– WOW! I walked around seeing new things, talking to new people, and exploring all kinds of ways I could better teach my children. I couldn’t wait to bring them back with me, so they could see it all as well. I was hooked! And that one experience started a passion for homeschool events that continues to this day. You know, I hadn’t thought about that story for years, but as I did, I realized anew that what I didn’t find at that first homeschool event was a focus on WHY our family chose to homeschool– which was the discipleship of our children, teaching them to love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, and mind. That kind of focus on family relationships and discipleship in general really does set Teach Them Diligently apart from most other events, but you’ll see that pretty clearly when you experience it onsite. As we approach the 7 events of the TTD2020 season, though, I feel almost like I’m talking to me from all those years ago. I need to tell you, as my friend did for me, why you need to join us at this amazing homeschool event coming to Nashville, Rogers, Waco, Mobile, Denver, Columbus, and Athens later this spring. So, here I go… Raise Your Hand… - Raise Your Hand if you ever get discouraged in your homeschool efforts.
- Raise Your Hand if you believe there are ways you could improve your homeschool efforts.
- Raise Your Hand if looking through homeschool resources is an exciting concept for you.
- Raise Your Hand if talking to and spending time with homeschool veterans and experts in the fields of education and parenting would be valuable for you.
- Raise Your Hand if you would like to have a clearer vision for why you’re on this path of home education in the first place.
- Raise Your Hand if you’re weary of going against the flow, and a weekend of hanging out with “your tribe” and those that are going the same direction you are seems like a much needed respite.
- Raise Your Hand if you love to learn.
- Raise Your Hand if you could use a weekend where all of these things and more are readily available for you.
If you “Raised Your Hand” to any one of these things as I did all those years ago, you need to be at Teach Them Diligently this spring. What can you expect if you do choose to join us? I’m glad you asked! 🙂 •More than 150 workshops to choose from on topics ranging from organization and specific homeschool teaching skills to parenting, marriage, and much more! Multiple workshops each hour to give you the information and encouragement you need to do your job with excellence. Incredibly popular speakers like Tim Tebow, Heidi St. John, Ken Ham, Ray Comfort, Mystery of History author Linda Lacour Hobar, Israel Wayne, Todd Wilson, Hal and Melanie Young, Todd Friel, Kim Sorgius, and so many more will be presenting all three days. •An exhibit hall is full of resources and curriculum that you can physically look through and compare to find the absolute best choices for your family. Having many authors and experts onsite to help explain how to use their product is a great advantage to a live event. (Even my teens get excited when they get to look through new curriculums!) • There are special offerings and opportunities for each member of the family, since homeschooling is intrinsically a family endeavor. A mom’s night, a men’s breakfast, a teen program, and a children’s program are all available should you choose to participate. If you choose to all stay together, that’s great, too! Children are always welcome to join you in the sessions you attend, for Teach Them Diligently is the most family friendly event you will ever attend. That doesn’t even scratch the surface of what you can expect, for some of the best benefits are found in simply rubbing shoulders with other home educating families and the encouragement found in not having to go against the flow for a full three days as you are surrounded by others who are actually going the same direction you are. But, we’ll only be there for 3 days. I would HATE for you to miss it. | 
