Florida Homeschool Convention: What to Expect Your First Time

If you’ve got your first Florida homeschool convention circled on the calendar and you’re feeling equal parts excited and overwhelmed, I get it. I remember walking into my first one thinking I’d just “pop in and look around.” Three hours later, I was carrying two tote bags stuffed with curriculum samples, had signed up for four email lists, and somehow agreed to consider Classical Conversations (spoiler: we didn’t do it, but the enthusiasm was contagious).

Whether you’re heading to the big FPEA convention in Orlando, a smaller regional gathering, or one of the faith-based conferences scattered around our state, here’s what I wish someone had told me before I walked through those doors.

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Why Even Go to a Homeschool Convention?

Honest question, right? We live in the age of YouTube reviews and Instagram curriculum hauls. But there’s something about flipping through a math curriculum with your own hands, asking a vendor a specific question about your kid who hates writing, or sitting in a workshop and realizing you’re not the only one who feels like a hot mess by Thursday.

For our family, conventions have become less about buying all the things and more about:

• Getting re-inspired when the February slump hits hard
• Connecting with other homeschool families (especially helpful if you’re newer to Florida or just feeling isolated)
• Seeing curriculum in person before committing your PEP scholarship funds
• Hearing from speakers who remind you why you chose this path

What to Expect at a Florida Homeschool Convention

The Exhibit Hall

This is the main event for most of us. Picture a massive room filled with booths — big publishers like Sonlight and Apologia, smaller Charlotte Mason-aligned companies, co-op representatives, and everything in between.

A few things to know:

• It’s loud and crowded, especially on Saturday mornings. If you’re overstimulated easily (hi, me), aim for early Friday or late Saturday afternoon.
• Vendors are enthusiastic. They want to talk to you. This is great if you have questions, but feel free to smile and keep walking if you’re just browsing.
• Bring a big tote bag. You’ll collect catalogs, samples, freebies, and probably a few impulse purchases.

I always make a point to visit the Rainbow Resource booth — their catalog is legendary, and their in-person prices are often the same as online with no shipping wait.

Workshops and Speakers

Most conventions offer a full schedule of breakout sessions. Topics range from “Teaching a Reluctant Reader” to “Homeschooling Through High School” to “Nature Study on a Budget.”

My advice? Pick one or two that speak to where you are right now. Don’t try to attend everything. You’ll burn out before lunch.

If you’re Charlotte Mason-curious like us, look for workshops on nature journaling, living books, or habit training. I’ve found some of my favorite resources this way — including the simple nature journal we use almost daily in our backyard.

The Used Curriculum Sale

Many Florida conventions have a used book sale area. This is gold, y’all. You can find gently used curriculum for a fraction of the price — and sometimes discover a gem you wouldn’t have tried otherwise.

Get there early. Bring cash. And don’t be afraid to dig.

What to Bring (and What to Leave at Home)

Bring:

• A notebook or your phone for jotting down titles, booth numbers, and thoughts
• Comfortable shoes — you’ll be on your feet for hours
• Snacks and a water bottle — convention center food is overpriced and underwhelming
• Your PEP scholarship approved vendor list if you’re planning to make purchases (more on this below)
• A friend, if possible — it’s more fun and you can divide and conquer

Leave at Home:

• Your kids, at least for the first visit. I know, it sounds harsh. But you’ll think more clearly without breaking up arguments over who gets to hold the free pencil.
• The pressure to buy everything. Seriously. Take pictures. Grab catalogs. Go home and think.

Making the Most of Your Florida PEP Scholarship

If you’re using the Florida PEP scholarship like we are, conventions can be a smart place to spend some of those funds — but only if the vendor is on the approved list.

Before you go, check ClassWallet for approved vendors. Many big publishers are on there, but not all convention booths will qualify. I’ve learned the hard way to check before I fall in love with something at a booth.

That said, I’ve picked up things like Math-U-See manipulatives and nature study supplies at conventions and submitted receipts without issue.

Florida-Specific Convention Tips

Our state is big, and conventions pop up in different regions throughout the year. Here are a few to know about:

• FPEA (Florida Parent Educators Association) — the largest, held in Orlando each May. This is the big one with national speakers and hundreds of vendors.
• Teach Them Diligently — rotates locations, sometimes comes through Florida
• Regional and faith-based conferences — smaller but often more intimate. Great for connecting with local homeschoolers in your area.

If you’re in the Pensacola or Northwest Florida area like us, the drive to Orlando is a haul. I usually make a weekend of it — and yes, I may or may not have texted my husband multiple updates about the chickens while I was gone. (They were fine. They’re always fine.)

A Few Resources Worth Looking For

Every family is different, but here are some things I always keep an eye out for at conventions:

• Nature study tools — things like the Sibley Birds guide or a pocket microscope for outdoor exploration
• Art supplies — especially quality watercolors for nature journaling
• Charlotte Mason-aligned publishers — Simply Charlotte Mason, A Gentle Feast, and others often have booths
• Hands-on science kits — perfect for elementary-age kids who learn by doing (and getting messy)

You Don’t Have to Do It All

Here’s the thing no one tells you: conventions can be overwhelming because there are a thousand ways to homeschool, and every single one of them will be represented in that exhibit hall.

You’ll see the classical booth and wonder if you should be doing Latin. You’ll pass the unschooling table and question everything. You’ll meet a mom whose kids are three grade levels ahead and feel like a failure.

Take a breath. Remember why you chose to homeschool. For us, it’s about raising kids who play outside until dinner, who know where their eggs come from, who have space to wonder and wander. That doesn’t require the fanciest curriculum or the most packed schedule.

Conventions are a tool — a really fun, really exhausting tool — but your homeschool is built at home, one slow morning at a time.

Final Thoughts

If you’re on the fence about attending a Florida homeschool convention, I’d say go — at least once. Walk the exhibit hall. Sit in a workshop. Buy yourself an overpriced coffee and people-watch for a bit.

You’ll come home tired, probably with a few new ideas and maybe a bag full of free bookmarks. But more than that, you’ll come home reminded that you’re part of a bigger community — thousands of Florida families doing this same wild, wonderful thing.

And when you get back, the chickens will still be waiting. The dog will still need a walk. And your kids will still be learning, whether you bought the shiny new curriculum or not.

Happy convention-ing, friend. You’ve got this.