How to be terrible convention guest

The saying goes “Teachers make terrible students.”

 

And that saying is true.  Here’s what happens at most staff meetings.  One teacher will be grading papers, another will be planning lessons, a third will be randomly doodling on paper, yet another one will be coloring in pictures for a bulletin board.  We are all terrible at focusing.  It may be because we go to so many meetings.

 How to be a terrible convention guest

Homeschool Moms are just as bad.  So, I’m going to tell you how to be a terrible convention guest.

{This post has been sponsored by Great Homeschool Conventions.  I was paid for my time, and I’m eagerly planning my trip up to Cincinnati to learn a lot}

1.  Don’t have a plan, and interrupt the speakers.

sessions during Great Homeschool conventions

I just printed off the schedule for the Cincinnati Convention (affiliate link) and there’s 5 speakers I want to listen to AT THE SAME TIME.  Since I can’t clone myself I need to make some serious decisions.  Which one will I go to.  If you wait until the last minute you will be late, and that can throw the speaker off when you come in late.

 

2.  Don’t have materials to take notes

There’s a lot of great stuff to learn, I mean A LOT.  You’re going to want lots of paper, pens, pencils, material to take notes.  There’s no guarantee the person next to you will have extra to give to you.  Besides it’s distracting to ask them for materials.

Though when I do have paper my notes often end up covered in random drawings…

3.  Playing on your phone

I’m guilty of this one.  It’s so tempting to check that one last email, or see what people are up to on Facebook (do you follow Great Homeschool Conventions on Facebook? I love what they share).  Now, I do admit, I probably will be tweeting or posting on G+ all the cool stuff I’m learning, but who can blame me?

But you need to remember to put your phone on silence while you’re at all the cool speakers.  Wouldn’t it be embarrassing to be listening to Ben Carson and have you phone ring in the middle of his talk?  I know I’d be embarrassed.

4.  Talk to your friend/husband/child in the middle of the speaker’s talk

It always cracked me up when I was teaching how often I would see teachers lean over to whisper to each other.  Or pass notes.  If our students had done that, I’m sure you can imagine our response.

Why shouldn’t you talk?  For the same reason you wouldn’t in a movie theater or play, because it’s rude to the other guests.  Going back to my Ben Carson example.  If you start whispering and giggling with your friend you met up with, you will annoy the people around you.  So wait for the breaks in between to talk.

 

All of these tips are common sense, but I just figured I’d remind everyone the importance of being a good convention guest, because for some of us this is a really big deal (I may just be speaking for myself, but I am incredibly stoked about this convention).

Great Homeschool Conventions schedule

After staring at the schedule for 30 minutes, I’ve got one session figured out.  ONE.  I’ve highlighted it, so I can’t change my mind again.  Maybe.  I might still change my mind.

 

Oh, and here’s my alternate title for this post:

Why homeschool Moms make terrible students

 If you’re curious what others are excited about at Great Homeschool Conventions hop on over.


Comments

5 responses to “How to be terrible convention guest”

  1. I can tell that you are quite ready to go 😀

    1. You have no idea. My Mom, the kids, and I are going together, and I’ve got all the tour books and trying to plan our route.

  2. Yay you are going to have so much fun!! Great list of things not to do! 🙂

    1. I will freely admit I have been guilty of ALL of those!

  3. Sounds like a great way to be a terrible blogger conference guest, too. Have fun at your convention!

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