Support Groups
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.
Local & State Groups
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 North Dakota.
National Groups
Tap into the national homeschool movement by connecting with these national homeschool groups and support organizations.
Social Media
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.
Co-Ops
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 North Dakota.
Umbrella/Cover Schools
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.
Resource Centers
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.
Public School Programs
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.
Group Management
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.
What's Popular
Chevra
Chevra was formed in September 1998 as an online support community for Jewish homeschoolers of all varieties. It tends to be a very chatty place where they discuss Jewish observance, homeschooling, family life, outside interests, and (the favorite topic) why the laundry never seems to get done. If you are looking for a group that discusses only homeschooling and Judaic resources, you may very well be disappointed in Chevra's free-wheeling discussions of everything under the sun, but there is lot...
Alliance for Parental Involvement in Education
The Alliance for Parental Involvement in Education is a nonprofit organization which assists and encourages parental involvement in education, wherever that education takes place: in public school, in private school, or at home. AllPIE offers a newsletter (Options in Learning), annual conferences and retreats, a book catalog, workshops, lending library and more.
North Dakota Homeschool
This is a mailing list for people who home school or are thinking of homeschooling in North Dakota, kids and parents alike. Here you can exchange ideas, support each other, and share resources and information.
Resources and Encouragement for Area Christian Homeschoolers (REACH)
REACH is a Christian homeschool support group serving families in the Fargo/Moorhead area (North Dakota and Minnesota).
CMmamas - Leader support group
A support group for homeschool group Leaders, with the Charlotte Mason literature-based homeschool method as a primary focus. Leaders of other types of homeschool or parent's groups may participate. Topics include group organization, problems, setting up studies and discussions, activities, speakers, conventions and conferences, books, email and websites.
Home School Foundation
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 Helpi...
What Are Homeschool Umbrella Schools?
An umbrella school is a homeschooling “school” that oversees the high schoolers’ education. Different states have different names for umbrella schools.
Greater Grand Forks Home School Association (GGFHSA)
Greater Grand Forks Home School Association is a Christian support group comprised of over 60 families all acting together to provide growth opportunities for our children as well as encourage each other. The families live in the Grand Forks/East Grand Forks area and from the many rural areas surrounding these cities. This is an active group offering many opportunties for parents and children. They publish a monthly newsletter, offer field trips and yearly spelling and geography bees.
Why and How to Get Connected
In this day and age, homeschoolers represent a market. There are many businesses catering to homeschoolers' needs--or perceived needs. When first starting out it can be especially tempting to sign up for a multitude of classes or experiences that are being sold to you, rather than putting your energy into a grassroots network such as a local homeschool support group. Before you know it, your days are filled with activity and you don't look back.
The intangibles you'd be missing out on--real ...
Basically Beechick
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, Rob...
North Dakota Home School Association (NDHSA)
North Dakota Home School Association (NDHSA) is a Christian support group. It exists to encourage and assist Christian families in the education of their children and to provide home educators and the general public information pertaining to the Biblical, academic, and legal aspects of home education.
Starting A Homeschool Group
Some basic tips for starting a homeschool support group. This article has three parts--be sure to continue on to each part. The first part focuses specifically on how to find other interested parents. Part two discusses how to communicate with the group, conduct meetings, and decide on a direction for the group. The final part of the article addresses the nuts and bolts of support group management--money issues, dealing with difficult people, and delegation.
FM Secular Homeschoolers
This is a secular homeschool support group for the families of the Fargo/Moorhead areas. The group is intended to offer a forum for sharing ideas and meeting new people.
North Dakota Division of Independent Study Distance Learning Program
The mission of the Division of Independent Study is to provide a delivery system of distance education curricula in a manner consistent with sound educational practices. They provide elementary, middle, and high school supervised distance education curricula free of time and place constraints; an alternative educational program of instruction for learners through comprehensive course materials, individualized teacher comments, computer-assisted instructino, and online courses; licensed teachers;...
HEART
HEART is a homeschool support group serving the members of Fargo Baptist Church. They offer a Back to School Bash, field trips, talent night, a science fair, a year book, and an end of the year party. They also provide members with information about events, activities, legislative updates, and homeschooling issues.
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Featured Resources
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Minds More Awake: The Vison of Charlotte Mason
Anne E. White explores what is known as the Charlotte Mason, based on the educational philosophy of the 19th century British educator. The goal is to set a child on the path to an intentional, purposeful life. White explores both the practical and ph...
Homeschooling on a Shoestring : A Jam-packed Guide
So you want to homeschool but don't think you can afford it. This book is a compendium of ideas for the family that wants to start or continue homeschooling on a tight budget.
Includes ideas for making money as a stay-at-home mom, sources for inexp...
Children at Play : Using Waldorf Principles to Foster Childhood Development
Children at Play is an insightful exploration into the world of children's play and its tremendous significance in the shaping of each child's humanity. A mother and proponent of Rudolf Steiner's Waldorf system of education, author Heidi Britz-Crecel...
The National Parks of America
For tourists, family campers, and serious lovers of the outdoors, here is a big, beautiful, color-illustrated book that describes more than 50 national parks, sites, and seashores that stretch from Cape Hatteras on the Atlantic coast to the Grand Can...
TruthQuest History
The TruthQuest History series consists of ten volumes that serve as guides for parent wishing to use real books in their approach to history education. They are full of book recommendations, along with information on the topics of study. There are al...