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Homeschool group ideas

Discussion in 'Homeschooling Forum' started by abcgrad94, Feb 26, 2010.

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  1. abcgrad94

    abcgrad94 Active Member

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    I'm forming a homeschool group as an outreach of our church. Homeschoolers of all denominations are welcome, but we will meet at my church and be subject to the church's guidelines concerning use of the building, etc.

    If you have ANY suggestions, I would greatly appreciate the input.

    So far I plan to have a statement of purpose and I will ask that parents come with their children to the meetings/activities, not just drop them off without supervision. Are there any forms we need to sign?

    I also plan to advertise in the local paper and write articles for the paper about our activities. I want to provide information about homeschooling, paperwork necessary for our county, field trips and other activities, and possibly some group classes like home ec. and PE. So far we have about 6 families with many more interested in coming.
     
    #1 abcgrad94, Feb 26, 2010
  2. abcgrad94

    abcgrad94 Active Member

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    Thirty-four views and no one has any ideas at all???
     
    #2 abcgrad94, Feb 27, 2010
  3. MrJim

    MrJim New Member

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    We have a homeschool co-op in our area~~it got big enough it had to be split. Every other week through the year we come together and each parent teaches classes on some elective subjects through the year. Works out pretty well. There is a time where the parents meet together to discuss issues and legal news. PA has some more burdensome laws than some other states so we keep aware through each other and HSLDA.
     
    #3 MrJim, Feb 27, 2010
  4. menageriekeeper

    menageriekeeper Active Member

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    Let me think about it for a day or two and I'll get back to you.

    I'm too tired tonight to be coherent.
     
    #4 menageriekeeper, Feb 27, 2010
  5. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    I'll be back on this later - I'm heading to church but this is exactly what we do so I can help you out on this a bit. :)
     
    #5 annsni, Feb 28, 2010
  6. SaggyWoman

    SaggyWoman Active Member

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    1. Museums usually have traveling exhibits that can come to your site.

    2. Librarys have "reading people" and book clubs that can come to your site. They also offer shows at the library that might benefit your children.

    3. Theatre groups have traveling projects. They also have shows you can attend (Children's Theatre or offered through the educational portion of theatre groups.)

    4. The YMCA often has trainers that go around talking about nutrition, etc. Same with any county cooperative extension group.

    5. Museums often have free days during the week that you can view their exhibits.
     
    #6 SaggyWoman, Feb 28, 2010
  7. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    Yep - that's just how we do it.

    We have 3 papers that parents get. The first is the basic description of the group, that it is a co-op and thus not a drop-off situation unless it's absolutely necessary. If someone drops off their kids, they need to sign a paper that is given to that class teacher that lets them know who will be responsible for them while they are there.

    We have "committees" for the different age groups. Our groups have changed depending on size but we're now at - PreK/Kdg.; 1 & 2nd grade; 3 & 4th grade; 5-6, 7-8 and 9-12. We used to be PreK-1st; 2-4; 5-6; 7+ but we now have more older kids and they have more advanced stuff.

    Each parent is required to join a "committee" and there is one or two committee heads that run that group. Everyone in that committee is responsible to plan the activities for their class (which is about 10 children right now) and we as a group decide on field trips and such that we'll do together. We meet 2X a month at the church (first two Fridays of the month - 3 Fridays if there are 5 Fridays in the month), one time the third week we meet for an activity (bowling, ice skating, etc.) and the fourth week is the week for large field trips.

    One other thing that we found helpful is to have a "behavior contract" that every child and parent must sign. Unfortunately we've had two cases of having to ask a family to leave the group and the contract came out of the first situation. It outlines how we deal with misbehavior and it's pretty good. I'll find it and post it here in a few.

    Oh - our group costs $70 to join for the year and that covers snacks, supplies and oftentimes we will subsidize field trips if we can. We also give a donation to the church and to the church custodian who's amazing in helping do whatever we need him to do.

    Good! We don't advertise and find that we've got a good number of people. we've been as big as 75 children and right now we're at a nice manageable 60 kids. It's been a great blessing to us. :)
     
    #7 annsni, Feb 28, 2010
  8. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    Ugh - I can't get on the network right now to post the behavior contract. I'll get it as soon as I can get on there.
     
    #8 annsni, Feb 28, 2010
  9. abcgrad94

    abcgrad94 Active Member

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    Thanks for the input. Ann, I would like to see that form. It sounds just like what I am looking for.
     
    #9 abcgrad94, Mar 2, 2010
  10. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    OK - This is going to be dumb but I just cannot get on the network at all and to type it again would be a bear. I just found a whole bunch of them printed out - want me to mail it to you? It's not a problem if you want me to. I can send it out today or tomorrow. Just PM me your addy if you're comfortable with that (I promise I don't stalk - LOL).
     
    #10 annsni, Mar 2, 2010
  11. abcgrad94

    abcgrad94 Active Member

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    Thanks Ann! I got them today and they will be a big help. We had our first meeting today and it went very well.
     
    #11 abcgrad94, Mar 4, 2010
  12. go2church

    go2church Active Member
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    How is it an "outreach" if it's for other Christians?
     
    #12 go2church, Mar 4, 2010
  13. abcgrad94

    abcgrad94 Active Member

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    It's an outreach ministry for homeschoolers. If there are non-Christian homeschool families who want to join, that's fine, but it will be understood up front what is expected of parents and kids during meetings or field trips, like no profanity, parental responsibility for their children, etc.
     
    #13 abcgrad94, Mar 5, 2010
  14. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    We are a Christian homeschool group and we still have an outreach to three kinds of people:

    * Other homeschoolers who need the support
    * Secular homeschoolers who needs support who can be reached for Christ
    * Anyone who we might do ministry to (going to nursing homes to sing or do art with them, going to the Bowery to work, helping collect food for the soup kitchen and food pantry, doing the Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child)
     
    #14 annsni, Mar 5, 2010
  15. abcgrad94

    abcgrad94 Active Member

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    Ann, you said it much better than I, thank you.
     
    #15 abcgrad94, Mar 5, 2010
  16. Steven2006

    Steven2006 New Member

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    One thing you might want to consider is checking with an attorney about any liability exposure you might be opening yourself up to.

    Sadly in this day and age one must consider these things. If you are going to be dispensing advise, advertising in the paper, planning field trips etc you might need some type of liability insurance, and/or some type of properly worded waivers from parents. An attorney might even recommend that you establish some form of legal entity to run this and have some type of board members involved. You might need to be registered with the state. It usually is best to check these things out beforehand.

    I wish you well
     
    #16 Steven2006, Mar 5, 2010
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