Homeschoolers.............question for you

[npmommie]

Just curious how others do things.........

are you part of a group?
does your group do any classes or is it more for field trips, outings, playdates?
how many kids in the group?
do you meet weekly, monthly?
where do you hold the meetings?


We have been part of a group for a number of years now, it is growing in size and now to me is too large to hold "classes" in homes but when I suggested we use the room at the library for a bi weekly geography class that we are planning, it was met with resistance.
20 kids in my house for geography class just seems overwhelming to me

I think its time to move on to using free meeting spaces, but I am the lone one who thinks this way.
so how do you all do things?

 

[phillmolly]

Just a note about the library...

My son is only two but we just started the Before Five in a Row program. We are doing it through my moms group. Last year when they did it someone contacted the Library about using one of thier rooms and told them it was for a homeschooling group and the Library told them they couldn't let them use the room for any type of homeschooling. This year since there are quite a few more of us, when they called they just told it was for storytime and they said it would be no problem.

 

[npmommie]

Just a note about the library...

My son is only two but we just started the Before Five in a Row program. We are doing it through my moms group. Last year when they did it someone contacted the Library about using one of thier rooms and told them it was for a homeschooling group and the Library told them they couldn't let them use the room for any type of homeschooling. This year since there are quite a few more of us, when they called they just told it was for storytime and they said it would be no problem.

our library here lets homeschoolers use the rooms, most libraries do.
we used it last year to do art.
and I thought it worked great, thats why I suggested doing it that way again with Geography
oh Five in a Row is great we have used it

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

Just curious how others do things.........

are you part of a group?
does your group do any classes or is it more for field trips, outings, playdates?
how many kids in the group?
do you meet weekly, monthly?
where do you hold the meetings?

We belong to a couple different groups -- each meets a different need. There are classes, field trips, outings, and social outings. The groups are different sizes -- the smallest is about 10 families; the largest is over 200!

Meet-up locations are anywhere from parks to library community rooms, church space, town community centers...you name it. There are a lot of choices in my area -- ask around. There probably are some large spaces available to homeschool groups in your area, too.

Good luck!

 

[npmommie]

We belong to a couple different groups -- each meets a different need. There are classes, field trips, outings, and social outings. The groups are different sizes -- the smallest is about 10 families; the largest is over 200!

Meet-up locations are anywhere from parks to library community rooms, church space, town community centers...you name it. There are a lot of choices in my area -- ask around. There probably are some large spaces available to homeschool groups in your area, too.

Good luck!

Thanks for the ideas! I didn't even think of church space, I will start asking around

 

[Wishing on a star]

Here are my info and thoughts....

Our homeschool group is large.
Meets once a week, on Fridays.

They now meet in a church that has ample facilities.

IMHO, they go a little TOO far.
They are operating this like a 'school'. (which I removed DS from public school to get away from)
Weekly 'classes' are scheduled out from 8:00a.m. thru 3:30 in the afternoon.

They charge a fee $15.00 per child with a max per family, to support costs and to donate to the church for the use of space, utilities, etc...

One must fill out paperwork, etc...

There are issues with liability/insurance/etc... and it was HARD to find a place that would let an organized group like this use their facilities.

Here is my take on your situation...
There are usually a couple of women who are the 'matriarchs' of these kinds of things. And obviously, they have it the way THEY want it. I would not assume that you get a vote. I won't go any further, but I think you know where I am going with this last comment.

Hope this helps!

 

[Wishing on a star]

20 kids in my house for geography class just seems overwhelming to me

It is your home...
If this is too many kids/people for you to have in your home. I would simply decide not to volunteer to 'host' the class. Tell them that there is just not enough room... or whatever.

It would be terribly wrong for them to be so presumptous to 'expect' this of you.

If you are the sole 'host/teacher'.... Then it should be your call, and I would seek out another location that could meet your needs.

 

[npmommie]

Here are my info and thoughts....

Our homeschool group is large.
Meets once a week, on Fridays.

They now meet in a church that has ample facilities.

IMHO, they go a little TOO far.
They are operating this like a 'school'. (which I removed DS from public school to get away from)
Weekly 'classes' are scheduled out from 8:00a.m. thru 3:30 in the afternoon.

They charge a fee $15.00 per child with a max per family, to support costs and to donate to the church for the use of space, utilities, etc...

One must fill out paperwork, etc...

There are issues with liability/insurance/etc... and it was HARD to find a place that would let an organized group like this use their facilities.

Here is my take on your situation...
There are usually a couple of women who are the 'matriarchs' of these kinds of things. And obviously, they have it the way THEY want it. I would not assume that you get a vote. I won't go any further, but I think you know where I am going with this last comment.

Hope this helps!

when we first started hs'ing I was in a group like you describe only the fee was a few hundred. I left because it was too large, we never made any real lasting connections,
I joined this group thru a mutual friend in town, and it was always small and manageable. the moms are friends and not too many kids that everything can be held at someone's home.
well we lost one member who put her kids in school ( divorce situation ), and the other members suggested opening the group to more members, which is what happened, now we have a few new families.....they are very nice, but it puts a whole new spin on the group when we meet at a home, its a large group now.

I joined mostly for the social outlet and to have others to join us for field trips.
most of us are very relaxed in our hs ways, so not very schooly, so this geography thing will be relaxed, we don't need the group for school stuff, its just for social. but like I said it is getting LARGE.

I am not one to keep my mouth shut, LOL, their issue with the library was that after the geogrphy lesson the kids had nowhere to play and run around.
so maybe if i find a location where there is an outside space for them to play after it may work out.
just thinking out loud here now.

the funny thing is, there are 2 members who have HUGE houses, that CAN accomodate, but there are those of use with REGULAR size houses that just can't or don't want to have 20 kids in for a "class", but the ones with the HUGE houses are the ones opposed to doing it at a community space, BUT they don't want to host it each time.

 

[castleview]

Just curious how others do things.........

are you part of a group?
does your group do any classes or is it more for field trips, outings, playdates?
how many kids in the group?
do you meet weekly, monthly?
where do you hold the meetings?


We have been part of a group for a number of years now, it is growing in size and now to me is too large to hold "classes" in homes but when I suggested we use the room at the library for a bi weekly geography class that we are planning, it was met with resistance.
20 kids in my house for geography class just seems overwhelming to me

I think its time to move on to using free meeting spaces, but I am the lone one who thinks this way.
so how do you all do things?

Wow. Most homes schoolers I know cited large class size as one of their reasons for not using traditional schools.

 

[Wishing on a star]

the funny thing is, there are 2 members who have HUGE houses, that CAN accomodate, but there are those of use with REGULAR size houses that just can't or don't want to have 20 kids in for a "class", but the ones with the HUGE houses are the ones opposed to doing it at a community space, BUT they don't want to host it each time.

Looks like I had the situation nailed!!!

I would not expect a 'VOTE'.

I would not even participate in discussion...

You need to be simple and assertive and just say, "I am not able host this many people in my home".
If they want to host it, fine... If they want to cancel because they don't have a cheerful and willing host, fine... If they want to re-consider public venues... fine....

PS: Isn't there a park or something within a few blocks of the Library???
I have to question their logic... they could go to a park, McDonalds playplace, anywhere, after all the kids are done in the Library.
Since when is a Library not a good place for homeshcooler's

I am thinking they are all about them, and the 'social club', and my big wonderful home, thing...

they are the 'matriarchs', let them figure it out.
Practice saying, ONLY, "I am not able to..." over and over... NO further extrapolation or discussion.

I wouldn't want to cross them or alienate yourself with any further 'discussion'.

Hope this helps!

 

[Wishing on a star]

wow. Most homes schoolers i know cited large class size as one of their reasons for not using traditional schools.

mte

Our group is fairly large...
but, actually, with all the different ages and classes...
the classes are small.

 

[npmommie]

Looks like I had the situation nailed!!!

I would not expect a 'VOTE'.

I would not even participate in discussion...

You need to be simple and assertive and just say, I am not able host this many people in my home. If they want to host it, fine... If they want to cancel because they don't have a cheerful and willing host, fine... If they want to re-consider public venues... fine....

PS: Isn't there a park or something within a few blocks of the Library???
I have to question their logic... they could go to a park, McDonalds playplace, anywhere after all the kids are done in the Library.

they are the 'matriarchs', let them figure it out.
I wouldn't want to cross them or alienate yourself with any further 'discussion'.

I am thinking they are all about the 'social club', and my big wonderful home, thing...

Hope this helps!

yes you nailed it

and yes there is a wonderful recreation field, playground, skateboard park about 1/4 mile up the road from our library.
so yes, it makes no sense other than they want to rule the roost for this.

 

[rie'smom]

We don't belong to a group. It's just my daughter and me.

 

[npmommie]

We don't belong to a group. It's just my daughter and me.

how old is she? has she been to school or homeschooled from the start?

 

[rie'smom]

how old is she? has she been to school or homeschooled from the start?

She's 16 and was homeschooled for a couple of years in grade school. Rie has tons of friends and her friends invite her to school dances. It's going very well.