Does It Take a Village to Homeschool Your 2(e) Learner?
“No man is an island.”
John Donne
Carrying over from our last blog post in this Ten Tips for Homeschooling 2(e) Learners series, today, I want us to further explore the topic of relationships.
The Comfort of Community
Online classrooms.
Brick and mortar schooling.
Homeschooling.
What do all of the above have in common?
The need for community!
Need encouragement?
How about tips for educating your special needs child?
Whether you live in a rural area, inner city, or suburbia like me, homeschooling, like parenting, can feel lonely sometimes. As a homeschool mama of one, I have learned I should not expect myself to be the sole source of my child’s education.
As I shared in earlier posts, I ask for help when I need it.
While I do consider myself highly qualified to teach my child, I also know the importance of surrounding myself not only with a strong community of fellow homeschooling families but also with an extended support system. I am thankful for this village of lifelong learners!
There is great comfort in community.
Overcoming Isolation
One of the loneliest times I can remember in our family’s homeschool journey was during the pandemic.
It was our first year as a homeschooling family and we were struggling to find the right fit in terms of making friends and group learning with other families. While we were fortunate enough to form an unofficial co-op of sorts with some church friends, we were just finding our footing when the world shut down.
Sadly, our little group disbanded not long after with many of the families relocating to other areas.
Thankfully, when God closes one door…
Getting Creative
We had many virtual playdates during this trying season, including a standing playdate with friends which gave birth to our son’s virtual book club, Books N Bricks: A Hands-On Book Club for Kids. We also had a few in-person playdates with fellow homeschooler neighbors who were a part of our pod at the time. Yet, my son longed for a consistent set of friends.
“Necessity is the mother of invention.”
Plato
We all have needs. The desire to get these needs met is motivating. It pushes us to step outside of our comfort zones and think outside the box. And for a parent? That motivation is double when it comes to meeting the needs of our children.
So, with a dash of creativity (and a heaping helping of faith), I set to work to find our village.
In the video below, I share our experience:
Sources for Community
Not sure where to start to help you find your homeschool village? Here are a few suggestions. All of them begin with a simple internet search. For a list of many of these resources by state, click here.
- Co-ops. After our informal co-op dissolved, we visited many different co-ops in our area, including Classical Conversations. There were a variety of different reasons why we chose not to pursue this route, but none had to do with the actual members.
- I was not comfortable teaching other children and my son wanted a different selection of extracurricular choices. Furthermore, meeting times conflicted with our OT/PT schedule and Zoo School classes. While it wasn’t meant to be for our family, it was certainly a wonderful option for many homeschooling families.
- Micro-Schools. We were fortunate to find a micro-school in our area the summer after the pandemic. Our son attended for two years before we transitioned to a hybrid homeschool model. It was a wonderful option to have for that season in our lives. If you live in the DFW area, we highly recommend LIFT Homeschool Schoolhouse.
- Social Media Groups. I am a member of several homeschool Facebook groups in my area. I love being notified of local events and opportunities to meet other homeschool families.
- YouTube. We consider our YouTube community to be just as warm and welcoming as our in-person community.
- Churches. Our church has moms’ day out groups where childcare is provided for up to age 12. This is an invaluable resource for us (and continues to be during the summer now that we are hybrid homeschoolers).
- Homeschool Groups. Not every homeschool group has to be devoted to academics. Search for homeschool groups in your area to find opportunities for field trips and park playdates.
- Your Local Library. It was at my local library where I met the homeschool mom who mentored me in my decision to homeschool. Many libraries, ours included, host free educational events. Our son has always loved their bimonthly science event, which involves guest speakers and hands-on activities. We enjoy gathering together with fellow homeschoolers of all ages to learn and play.
- Arts, Music, & Sports. Our son attends art and music camps in the summer (his weekly lessons are individual). He also attends swimming lessons, homeschool archery classes, and has attended karate in the past. Many art and music studios offer homeschool days. Contact your local vendor to inquire about these classes. If they don’t offer them? Suggest they do!
My best advice? Do not put all of your eggs in one basket so to speak. Seek out multiple options when building your village.
Coming Up
Join us for Part 9 of our Ten Tips for Homeschooling Twice-Exceptional 2(e) Learners where we explore the the importance of self-care.
Let’s Keep In Touch
Have a heart for service and love podcasts? Check out our It’s Only Homeschooling Podcast presents the Salt & Light SERVE Spotlight. Each month we feature a different community outreach program. We hope to bring awareness to the good works of these amazing organizations and encourage support.
You can listen to podcast episodes on YouTube, Podbean, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Samsung, PlayerFM, or right here on our website.
Are you a homeschool parent looking for encouragement from other homeschool parents in the trenches? Then check out our latest podcast series, Shelf-Indulgence Book Chats. In this series, we chat with some amazing authors who also happen to be homeschool moms of faith. New episodes premier the first Wednesday of every month on the It’s Only Homeschooling YouTube Channel.
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Blessings,
Kimberly
IOH Mom
This website is not a professional counseling website and nothing here should be construed as professional counseling advice. Although Kimberly Bennett, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor, she is not your counselor, and no counselor-client relationship is established unless she has signed an agreement with you. All information provided through this website is for informational and educational purposes only. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure statement. Thanks for visiting!
