Vermont Home Education Network--Connect to other Homeschoolers

Support Groups

Most support groups are local families who get together for various reasons or are found in churches. They do just field trips together or they produce a newsletter. Some will meet weekly or bi-monthly. Some provide classes taught by different parents. Others are just support for the homeschooling parents. Some of these support groups are actually state wide groups that provide a bigger picture of support for homeschooling families. CHEV is an example of a state wide group for Christians. A group such as VHEN provides support only in that it advocates for your right to homeschool. We also would like to help you connect with other homeschoolers. Click here to see how you can do this.

Tutors and Enrichment Programs

It is your right as parents to direct the education and upbringing of your children. Homeschooling is parent directed/child led education. But if you hire a tutor or co-op with other parents to educate your child; your child is under the care and direction of another person and is not being homeschooled for that class or program. But this is OK!!!! Some parents move from homeschooling to co-ops to actually starting independent private schools. Parents need to do what is best for their children. But somewhere along the way a change takes place from that of being a homeschoolers to being a private schooler. Some tutors are very active about marketing their services and others are not so visible. Enrichment programs are more involved than the local support groups usually are. Some of them actually become 501(c) 3 organizations and charge a tuition fee. Parents and other talented people are hired to teach for the semester. Many parents find these resources very valuable in enriching their child's homeschool experience. Some of these programs are listed in the Support Group page.

Curriculum Providers

When homeschooling became more visible in the 1980's there were not many resources for homeschoolers to use. Now there is a great deal of resources. Now homeschoolers are actually being marketed to and so the buyer must research the product they wish to buy. Providing curriculum to homeschoolers has become a big industry. There are many message boards out there about curriculum where you can go and ask a question about a particular product and see what other homeschoolers felt about it. VegeSource is such a place. There you may buy, sell, and post questions about both religious and non religious materials. Most homeschool conferences both religious and non religious have vendor halls where you can go and see a lot of what is available.

How can you connect to other homeschoolers?

Check out these local Vermont support groups.
Find public libraries near where you live through the Vermont Library Directory which lists libraries by town.
Visit these public libraries and ask the librarians if they know any other homeschoolers.
Join a message board for Vermont homeschoolers such as "vthomeschoolers" at Yahoo.
Check out programs that are held at museums. Many times museums will have programs just for homeschoolers or have a Homeschoolers Day. Locate museums and other attraction by area.
Check out local sports facilities and ask if they know any other homeschoolers.
7. If you don't find a local support group find at least one other homeschooler and start a local support group. Here are two links to get you started.
- Forming a Homeschool Support Group
  http://www.homeschoolchristian.com/Features/FormHSSupport.html
- Illinois H.O.U.S.E.
  http://www.illinoishouse.org/a07.htm
How do I start a homeschool support group: You'll need to find a place to meet which could be in a home or other facility such as a library or church building. Pick a date and time. Have a topic or two for the first meeting. Consider giving yourself a name. Have some munchies. Think about whether you children should be at the first meeting or not. OR plan a playgroup at a park where you can watch the kids play and parents can talk. Advertise. Send announcements to the local radio stations and newspapers. They usually have free space. Create flyers and posters to place around town. Don't forget to put contact information in the advertising. If you wish to start one in your local church, consider having it announced to the congregation or put in the church bulletin. Consider such an event a success if just you and one other homeschooler shows up to visit.
There are many homeschool enrichment programs and coops across the state. These have far more organized activities for homeschoolers than a local support group might otherwise do. Many of these are located by word of mouth.
Many local churches and religious organizations have connections to other homeschoolers.
Don't forget statewide organizations for homeschoolers such as VHEN and CHEV.


Home Theories of Education Membership elist Vermont Constitution Home Study Statutes Legislative Activity United States Constitution Other State Laws Legislative Activity FYI Education Quotes Want to Volunteer? Contact Us

	Support Groups Most support groups are local families who get together for various reasons or are found in churches. They do just field trips together or they produce a newsletter. Some will meet weekly or bi-monthly. Some provide classes taught by different parents. Others are just support for the homeschooling parents. Some of these support groups are actually state wide groups that provide a bigger picture of support for homeschooling families. CHEV is an example of a state wide group for Christians. A group such as VHEN provides support only in that it advocates for your right to homeschool. We also would like to help you connect with other homeschoolers. Click here to see how you can do this. Tutors and Enrichment Programs It is your right as parents to direct the education and upbringing of your children. Homeschooling is parent directed/child led education. But if you hire a tutor or co-op with other parents to educate your child; your child is under the care and direction of another person and is not being homeschooled for that class or program. But this is OK!!!! Some parents move from homeschooling to co-ops to actually starting independent private schools. Parents need to do what is best for their children. But somewhere along the way a change takes place from that of being a homeschoolers to being a private schooler. Some tutors are very active about marketing their services and others are not so visible. Enrichment programs are more involved than the local support groups usually are. Some of them actually become 501(c) 3 organizations and charge a tuition fee. Parents and other talented people are hired to teach for the semester. Many parents find these resources very valuable in enriching their child's homeschool experience. Some of these programs are listed in the Support Group page. Curriculum Providers When homeschooling became more visible in the 1980's there were not many resources for homeschoolers to use. Now there is a great deal of resources. Now homeschoolers are actually being marketed to and so the buyer must research the product they wish to buy. Providing curriculum to homeschoolers has become a big industry. There are many message boards out there about curriculum where you can go and ask a question about a particular product and see what other homeschoolers felt about it. VegeSource is such a place. There you may buy, sell, and post questions about both religious and non religious materials. Most homeschool conferences both religious and non religious have vendor halls where you can go and see a lot of what is available. How can you connect to other homeschoolers? Check out these local Vermont support groups. Find public libraries near where you live through the Vermont Library Directory which lists libraries by town. Visit these public libraries and ask the librarians if they know any other homeschoolers. Join a message board for Vermont homeschoolers such as "vthomeschoolers" at Yahoo. Check out programs that are held at museums. Many times museums will have programs just for homeschoolers or have a Homeschoolers Day. Locate museums and other attraction by area. Check out local sports facilities and ask if they know any other homeschoolers. 7. If you don't find a local support group find at least one other homeschooler and start a local support group. Here are two links to get you started. Forming a Homeschool Support Group http://www.homeschoolchristian.com/Features/FormHSSupport.html Illinois H.O.U.S.E. http://www.illinoishouse.org/a07.htm How do I start a homeschool support group: You'll need to find a place to meet which could be in a home or other facility such as a library or church building. Pick a date and time. Have a topic or two for the first meeting. Consider giving yourself a name. Have some munchies. Think about whether you children should be at the first meeting or not. OR plan a playgroup at a park where you can watch the kids play and parents can talk. Advertise. Send announcements to the local radio stations and newspapers. They usually have free space. Create flyers and posters to place around town. Don't forget to put contact information in the advertising. If you wish to start one in your local church, consider having it announced to the congregation or put in the church bulletin. Consider such an event a success if just you and one other homeschooler shows up to visit. There are many homeschool enrichment programs and coops across the state. These have far more organized activities for homeschoolers than a local support group might otherwise do. Many of these are located by word of mouth. Many local churches and religious organizations have connections to other homeschoolers. Don't forget statewide organizations for homeschoolers such as VHEN and CHEV.