PUYALLUP -- Kelly Graves has her hands happily full teaching her sons, ages 7 and 4, at the family's Issaquah home.
"They're at that age where they learn everywhere, even the kitchen," Graves said Saturday at the Washington Homeschool Organization's 16th annual convention here.
"Right now," she added, "both my kids thrive."
Graves was one of about 500 people who attended the convention, which featured support groups, new books and activities and workshops such as "Homeschool 4-H Clubs" and "Teaching Biology Can be Fun."
At least 20,000 students are home-schooled around the state, said Mia Anderson, convention coordinator.
Keynote speaker John Gatto, a former New York teacher, criticized public education for turning out what he said are unimaginative workers to support the nation's corporations.
"Not only are people trained to turn out childish people, they train them in boredom as well," Gatto said.
The convention also featured a variety of teaching materials from 100 suppliers for parent-teachers to pick out their curriculum.
"When we started out with our kids, when they were little, there weren't nearly the materials available," said Don Gerber of Hoquiam, whose 10-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter are home-schooled. "Now you can get more and go in different directions with it."
The two-day event concluded with a graduation ceremony for 77 home-schooled students.