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Homeschoolers have created networks of support to provide a way to make friends, get ideas and information, and to offer positive socialization opportunties to their children. You can join in! There are many groups to choose from, many with specific affiliations, like Christian groups or unschoolers' groups. Some are eclectic, inclusive, and open to anyone. Whatever your interest, you are sure to find other like-minded parents. And if you don't find what you are looking for, we've put together tips for starting your own group.
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| Local & State Groups |
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Support groups offer a way for those interested in homeschooling or new to home education to get information and support. They also offer opportunities for social activities, group learning, and networking. Find a support group near you in Oregon.
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| National Groups |
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Tap into the national homeschool movement by connecting with these national homeschool groups and support organizations.
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| Email Groups & Lists |
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Connecting via email can be a life-line for anyone who is looking for support, guidance, information, and friendship. Many support groups rely on email lists to facilitate communication and to pass along information and ideas. Browse through these group to find some that might meet your needs.
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| Forums & Message Boards |
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Message boards and forums are like the public squares of homeschooling. Come and find ongoing discussion covering every aspect of homeschooling imaginable.
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| Social Networking |
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Connect with other homeschooling using social networking tools. You can share tips and ideas, get support, collaborate on lesson plans, upload photos, and much more.
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| Co-Ops |
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A co-op offers a way to share teaching duties with others who are excited and knowledgeable about a subject. It also offers an opportunity for your children to learn in a group and to make friends. Browse through this list of co-ops in Oregon.
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| Cover/Umbrella Schools |
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An umbrella or cover school provides an alternative way for parents to fulfill governmental educational guidelines and requirements. Most offer a variety of services, which can include curricula, social activities, field trips, standardized testing, portfolio reviews, evaluations, and graduation materials, including diplomas. While umbrella schools do tend to the needs of homeschoolers, they are considered a type of private school in most states.
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| Resource Centers |
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Homeschool resource centers offer classes, materials, field trips, and other activities for parents and children alike. They are great ways to get new information, engage in group activities, and network with other homeschoolers.
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| Public School Programs |
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Public schools are increasing offering programs to appeal to homeschooling families, from classes to educational materials to computer and distance learning. In most cases, students enrolled in these programs are considered public school students rather than homeschoolers. Learn more about these programs and decide if these are right for your family.
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| Support Group Management: Starting & Running a Support Group |
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Learn how to start and manage a homeschool support group, including how to stay organized, how to handle conflict, and ideas for your support group.
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Organizing A Homeschool Group For Success |
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Carol L. Topp |
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"We're just a bunch of moms meeting together," a homeschool-group leader protested. "We don't want all the hassles of bank accounts, board meetings and bylaws." Frequently when I'm assisting homeschool groups, I encourage establishing a board of directors and creating bylaws for their group. Some leaders may wonder why a board and bylaws are needed at all. Here are some reasons.
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Greater Portland Homeschoolers (GPH) |
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Greater Portland Homeschoolers (GPH) is a non-profit, participant driven support group of homeschooling families run like a cooperative. GPH welcomes families of all backgrounds and philosophies. GPH offers stories, events, and activities of interests to homeschooling and unschooling families located in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. Some items are of statewide or general interest.
GPH runs an email mailing list for GPH members only. Subscribers post announcements of field trips, activities, workshops, parties, performing arts, other learning opportunities and social events.
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Home School Foundation |
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The Home School Foundation is a supporting organization of the Home School Legal Defense Association. Their mission is to preserve parental freedoms, promote home schooling, provide assistance to needy home schooling families, and support like-minded organizations. They currently help families through seven funds: the Widows Fund, the Special Needs Children’s Fund, the Friends of Home Schooling Fund, the Generation Joshua Fund, the Compassion Fund, the PHC Scholarship Fund, and the Members Helping Members Fund.
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Work at Home Moms (WAHM) Homeschool Forum |
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The WAHM message boards provide a forum where you can make announcements, promote your home business, find business services, and much more. The WAHM forum is also a great social network for work at home moms. Share your WAHM stories, find help, support and advice, and meet other WAHMs across the USA and around the world.
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Basically Beechick |
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Ruth Beechick Style Homeschooling is an Eclectic approach which focuses on natural learning through Real Books and Real Life. Basically Beechick is a Christian homeschool support group to discuss the methods and ideas of Dr. Ruth Beechick. Other authors whose ideas mesh well with Beechick's are discussed as well. These authors include (but are not limited to) Susan C. Anthony, Rebecca Rupp, Jean Soyke, E.D. Hirsch, Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer, Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn, Laura Berquist, Robin Scarlata, Jane Claire Lambert, Valerie Bendt, Clay and Sally Clarkson, Cindy Rushton, Mary Hood, Marilyn Howshall, and Charlotte Mason.
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