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Canadian Homeschool - Resources for parents homeschooling in Canada
Support groups can be a vital part of homeschooling for many families. Support groups enable parents and children alike to share in their experiences, frustrations and to have a social life with a similar peer group. It is very healthy to socialize with people that you have things in common with, it is natural to gravitate towards those with something in common. For my own children they enjoy the thought that they are not the only kids in the world that stay at home to do their schoolwork. Periodically they lose sight of this and think they are picked on by not going to the school building everyday.
Support groups can work in various ways. Some actually form a co-op. One homeschool mom shared her experience of belonging to a co-op where a different mother hosted each month and she set up different "centers" for the children. Some would use the computer. Some would be doing puzzles while others would be learning a song. Another "center" may have an adult reading a story aloud. The children would work at their station for a set amount of time and then they would rotate. The mothers all worked hard to have age appropriate things going on for the different children. This was invaluable for the mothers and gave the children some great group learning time.
One mother did confess to me that she felt she was involved in too many co-ops. This really defeated her purpose for homeschooling in the first place. I am sure many of us can share the problem of over-scheduling our lives and our children's lives.
The most important thing is that we network, share ideas, support one another, give feedback and help each other in our chosen paths. I think that parents need each other (adult conversation is priceless and highly under-rated in my opinion) as friends. Children need friends also. Hopefully we can all support and uplift each other. Consider it the home school PTA (just less political). :)
Some ideas for your co-op are:
Have a park day where you meet weekly or monthly and just let the kids play.
Start a co-op.
Have lesson plan swaps.
Have a recipe exchange (dinner time is usually dreaded by all) of easy meals.
Have a "home school families" night. This would include both parents (when available). A great opportunity to get families together to play games, visit or play organized sports together. The possibilities here are endless. A potluck would be a great idea on a family get together night.
Have a newsletter. Share important dates. Find out about home school conferences or expos in your area. List educational speakers in your region that parents may want to enjoy. List cultural community events.
Have an e-mail chain. If someone is in need of something this is a fast way to find out if someone in your group can meet the need. This is also a great way to spread your newsletter (cheap too!)
More ideas coming soon! Have one to share? Just e-mail me.
The following are listings for different home school support groups that I have found on the internet. Hopefully you will be able to find something in your area. If you cannot find anyone in your area please feel free to contact me and I would be more than happy to do some research for you.
Saskatchewan Association Supporting Home Education
The Association of Canadian Home-Based Education
A new Canadian Yahoo! Calvert Group has just been created! If you are
Canadian and wish either to connect with other Calvert parents from Canada, or
learn more about the Calvert Home Study Curriculum, please join us. Here is the
URL of our group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Calcan/
Saskatchewan Home Based Educators
The Ontario Federation of Teaching Parents
Canadian Homeschool Fellowship
Alberta Home Education Association
Self-Directed
Learning Information
If you have a resource to add here please contact us.