How to Start Your Own Homeschool Support Group
It Can Be Rewarding and Fun!by Shay Seaborne
No comfortable homeschool support group in your area? Take heart! You can start one very easily, on a shoestring. I took on starting the Family-Oriented Learning Cooperative (FOLC) group in the fall of 1997, when 3 other moms and I couldn't find a support group that served my family's needs.
Our earliest task was to define what we wanted-which turned out to be very important in staying with our vision when it was questioned by newcomers. (Must do: read this article on keeping to your vision.) Then we chose a name and began to spread the word. I made a one-page flier, announcing our group, giving an idea of its "flavor," and providing contact information. The name and contact information are repeated in tear-off tabs along the bottom of the paper. These have proven popular with for busy homeschool parents.
Each month, I would take copies of the flier to the library. For greater coverage for little more cost, I posted the fliers at area bulletin boards at community centers, groceries, gymnastics and dance studios, karate dojos, bagel bakeries, and any place that might be frequented by children. I also kept a small stack of fliers in my car-a along with a roll of tape-for impromptu postings.
The first- and easiest place to promote has also been our best exposure: the local library. Our friendly library system happily distributes fliers to each of the 10 branches in the system. We also listed the group in our library system's computer database of area organizations.
Another way to obtain low-cost publicity is through the Calendar of Events listings in local newspapers. Among the best promotional help I have found is the CapWiz "Media" feature at Congress.org. This is a terrific resource for promoting events, such as an open house. Simply enter your ZIP, select the media you wish to reach, insert your press release, hit "send" and you reach multiple media at once!
In its heyday, FOLC membership swelled to over 150 families, and spreading word via the Web was a big part of our success. Many servers now offer free, easy-to-use space. (To make one, scroll down and click at the bottom of this page.) Or, for wider options, execute a Google search for other free hosts. See A-2-Z Home's Cool for tips on creating your own site.
The FOLC website saved me answering the same questions over and over; I simply pointed folks to the site and told them they were welcome to call me back if they still had questions. Services like YahooGroups and Google Groups provide an easy and free way to manage your support group mailing list. You can also ask for links to your group's website on national and state homeschool sites, such as A to Z Home's Cool, Home Education Magazine, and the National Home Education Network (NHEN).
Our support group met for free in the underutilized library community room. Noise could sometimes be a problem, so I would ask that kids bring something quiet to do, which usually gave us about an hour of "official" meeting time. Other possible venues might be churches, bookstores, and community centers.
During the first year our group had a weekly playground date, which got things rolling. The environment fostered several play and learn groups, and folks got together as they met each other and found common interest. FOLC's monthly meetings were usually roundtable discussions with topics chosen by those members attending the prior month's meeting. For instance, one month 3 people suggested ideas on the "Meeting Topics?" column in the sign-in sheet. One wrote "Preschoolers," another "Ideas for Teens," and a third, "Teaching Mixed Ages." So our next topic was "Homeschooling Various Ages; preschoolers, teens and mixed groups." A roundtable meeting format takes little preparation on the part of the coordinator, and often best satisfies the needs and interests of the group.
Our group field trips ware as-planned. Some folks in the group planned many, some a few, and others never planned any group activity. It worked out well most of the time; we usually had something going. For the first year, though, I found I had to pour myself into the group and plan a large portion of the activities. People had to see what can be done, and needed encouragement. Once our members learned that it's not so hard to plan an event or activity, we had a lot happening. Even so, if I were starting another support group, I would add one membership requirement: each family must plan a minimum of one event or activity per year.
FOLC prospered for 8 years, after which I turned my energy elsewhere, and other area support and activity groups popped up to fill in the gap. Those years were rich with opportunities to learn and grow. They brought me many wonderful experiences, and introduced me to scores of terrific people, some of whom have become longtime friends. Yes, I would do it all again, and I highly recommend it. Starting your own group can be very rewarding. Give it a try!
More on "Starting a Support Group" from A to Z Home's Cool.
(C)2000, 2007 Shay Seaborne. All rights reserved.