Hey, maybe i should start my own group. I can call it something like Relaxed Homeschooling Toronto, and if and when people join, i can suggest we get together for monthly meetings. Any thoughts or comments? Suggestions appreciated
Answers:
oh, no, they haven't gone away, they are alive and well, they just don't have that "shock and awe" factor the large co-ops do. I enjoy both, so I belong to both.
Starting your own group is a fantastic way to go. Even if it's just you and a friend for awhile, don't give up. Here's how I took a dead group and turned it back in to a functioning support group.
We had monthly teacher's meetings that were open to not only our group members, but other homeschool families and even those interested in homeschooling. I placed an ad in the newspaper each month, only giving a phone number and e-mail address since we met in private homes (none of us wanted our addresses in the paper)
Most of the time we tackled a general interest topic: types of curriculum, homeschooling styles, learning styles, homeschooling multiple grade levels, homeschooling through highschool, stuff like that. Occaisionally we would have "workshops" about notebooking, transcripts... We always had a time for q&a plus snacks and fellowship time. This was a great time to get to know other moms (and an occaisional dad) plus the moms really enjoyed being able to get away for a little "me only" time (the meetings were in the evening so the other spouse could stay home with the darlings)
We also had PE days, park days, picnics, things like this. It was important to have things for the kiddos to do and this allowed the parents to get together for additional time.
Once a year we would rent the local aquatic park and host an "informational" party for the community. Anyone interested in learning more about homeschooling was welcome to come swim and meet people and walk away with tons of information. This is where we also signed up new members. (this group already had a membership policy established, so this is the way we did things)
We use a yahoo group to get info to everyone about meetings and such. So much nicer than the old fashioned phone tree.
Hope this helps!
I think that is a wonderful idea except you would be excluding a huge number of traditional homeschoolers. Post a notice in the newspaper and in libraries to get homeschoolers to come out and meet. I only belonged to one support group and we had all sorts of families who used various methods. It was great- we had group swim and skating lessons, music lessons, skiing, ceramics etc, and field trips galore. and also once a month parent meetings to talk about whatever. I deplore the fact that there is no group where I live. It's a great tool for socializing for the kids too. Groups get discounts at gyms etc. I bet you can find a lot of people to join. In some areas homeschoolers are gun-shy and totally suspicious though. Oh no, when I say gun-shy, I mean because in many areas homeschoolers have evolved in isolation and have concerns about being criticized by others. They are just shy. I started homeschooling in an area where it was popular and well supported by the government. The families were confindent and enjoyed interacting because they belonged to a group. I recently moved to an area where there is no support groups, no government financial assistance, (matter of fact I think the government would like to outlaw homeschoolers) I find homeschoolers to be suspicious where I live, they are afraid to come out and declare themselves. I wish you luck in your endeaver. The families are out there, they are just shy. Homeschooling is a growing movement, we need support groups, No matter what style of schooler you are, if we band together we can have a voice. Groups of homeschooling children doing activities together is good advertising. You pay school taxes, it's time to get some of that money back to help subsidize your efforts. We can only do that by organizing. If I lived in Toronto I would join your group.
We do have live get-together support groups. But the way we find them and find out about when the meetings and activities are is through online means. Not all support groups can, or are willing, to pay for webspace and you have to hear about them through other people. Some only have Yahoo groups as their means of reaching out to members to tell them about meetings and other activities.
Since you are in Toronto, maybe check out these groups:
http://www.livingjoyfully.ca/conference/...
http://hsintoronto.topcities.com/...
http://www.torontohomeeducators.org/...
http://www.ontariohomeschool.org/ontario...
I agree with you. Much of my "support" comes from membership in several different on-line groups rather than in person. Most of my face-to-face, support-group type activity is done during other activities (park days, kids sports practices or club meetings, field trips, etc.) simply because of the nature of those activities (take kids, wait for kids, talk to other parents while waiting).
I do know of a group that has a monthly "moms night out", but I never went because the times I've been to their park days, I felt like such an outsider. So I did just what you described - started my own group (our first meeting is Wednesday!)
I pray you are able to find (or create) just what you are looking for!
Starting a group might be the way to go! I couldn't find a group that suited my taste so I started one and its going great. A lot of parents feel like they don't have time to get together to talk, so a good way to make them willing is to make it sound good for the kids, a chance to socialize (for some reason homeschool moms and dads often are not willing to take time for themselves, but will go the ends of the earth for their children). While the kids play games, or some other activity that takes minimal adult involvement, the adults talk.
To find out if there are any groups around your area, Google "homeschool Toronto", look for support groups.
Oh, BTW, while it doesn't happen often, a group I belonged to once DID have a school official show up and pose as a homeschooler, one of the members who's kids had been in public school at one time recognized her, and she said she was just curious about the things we said about Public School in our meetings. So yes it does happen, despite that, in my area few of us are paranoid, we have the law firmly on our side in this state.
I started a yahoo group in my town, I have 6 members! I posted a "playdate" at a local park and one mom showed up. It was really great to get to talk to someone who's planning to homeschool. I also posted to my group members that if they ever wanted to post a "playdate" of their own than just let me know and I'll put it on the group calender. Good-luck!
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