MACHS Conference

The Manitoba Association of Christian Home Schoolers puts on a conference in Winnipeg every year. Last year, while trying to wrap my mind around the fact that I was soon to be a teacher, I decided to go. It was not what I'd expected, and I was pleasantly surprised. It was incredibly encouraging, as long as I didn't buy into the fear and panic of the other newbie moms.

It wasn't hard to spot the new homeschool moms in the crowd, they were the ones who looked like they were going through childbirth all over again. Most of them seemed to have put off the planning stage too long, content to just cross that bridge when they came to it. Now they found themselves knee deep in homeschooling and all the criticism that comes with it, without a plan. Feeling like they didn't have a clue what they were doing, or how to respond to the unrelenting questioning of the homeschool sceptics.

This is exactly what I was afraid of. I was already experiencing some of the scrutiny that comes along with homeschooling, and I was terrified of the onslaught that was to come. After all, if it was this bad already, when he was only 3, how bad would it be later when he "should" be starting kindergarten? I decided to check out the MACHS conference mainly for the Curriculum Hall. At least I could get some sort of an idea of what curriculum I would use.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the conference extremely informative, very encouraging, and not boring. They have a different guest speaker each year, along with smaller sessions that you can attend, and a large Curriculum Hall. There are a lot of programs to choose from at the Curriculum Hall. After I got there, I was so thankful that I'd gone the year before I really needed to make any plans. I didn't feel the stress like the moms I was talking about earlier. I was able to just soak it in, sitting through the sessions, listening to the questions and answers of new homeschoolers as well as the veterans, browsing curriculum, and just generally observing Manitoba's homeschoolers. It was wonderful.


I came home with very little books (spent very little$, yay!), but I did come home with a few gems.

Gem # 1 -> 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum by Cathy Duffy

Gem # 2 -> Rod and Staff Preschool ABC series.


With the two of these combined, I know had a plan, and the first year's books. With that sorted out, I found myself much less worried about starting to homeschool. 


Now that I've given you a good run down of last year's conference experience, there's not a whole lot to say about this year. The one major difference was that after last year's conference we decided that I would be good for Jesse to come too whenever possible. It wasn't easy, but he did make it work this year. I think he was just as grateful and pleasantly surprised this year as I was last year. Plus, it made for a nice little two day get away for us. :)


We spent a little more money on books this year, but still not lot. I will post book reviews later on anything that I think is worth it. 

Whether you're just considering homeschooling, or you've been doing it for years; I highly recommend attending next years conference.

http://www.machs.mb.ca/