Let’s Talk About In-Person Homeschooling Groups

Last week, we talked about online homeschooling groups. This week, let's take a look at in-person groups.

In-person groups are great for building personal relationships and integrating with your local community. They are not required, but in my experience, most homeschooling families enjoy connecting with others near them, even if they don't formally call themselves a "group."

When considering in-person groups, there seems to be two ways to classify (by purpose and by size), so I'm going to cover both classifications. But before I do, here are some things to consider for all in-person groups:

• Where does the group meet? (And how long will you be in the car to get there?)

• How often does the group meet?

• Does the group meet year-round or seasonally?

Make sure your answers fit with your homeschooling time constraints. Don't overextend yourselves!

Let's move on to a group's purpose. Some groups meet for educational purposes, while others meet for social reasons. Both are valid, so don't fret if you are looking for one and want nothing to do with the other!

If you want to meet with a group for educational purposes, here are a few things to consider:

• Does the group align with your educational philosophy?

• Does the group demand you adhere to a certain curriculum or lifestyle?

• Are your children in the correct age bracket for the group?

• Will the group's activities supplement your home instruction or do you want your home instruction to supplement the group's activities?

• What does it cost?

There are no right or wrong answers to any of these questions - just make sure they align to what is best for YOUR family and situation.

If you want to meet with a group for social reasons, here are some things to consider:

• Are there children in the group who are similar in age to your children? (This doesn't need to be exact, but you may not be as eager to join a group of all preschool-aged kids if yours are sixth grade and up.)

• Is the group based on a particular activity or interest?

• How large is the group?

• Does the group expect a certain lifestyle to belong?

Again, there are no right or wrong answers. Sometimes you might be willing to sacrifice on some aspects that are less important to you in order to take advantage of the perks that matter to you.

As for group size, it really is a matter of preference. The perks of small groups tend to be missing in large groups, whereas the benefits of big groups don't happen in small groups. Small groups offer the advantage of intimacy. They tend to be more flexible (like a group text that asks "Who wants to meet for lunch at the park today?") and can meet in various locations. You can host a small group in your home. Adults tend to form strong relationships along with the kids to each other. Big groups tend to excel in offering opportunities, such as classes, field trips, or experiences. Big groups can be helpful for providing resources (like used curriculum). You might be able to network with other families within the larger group that have similar interests as yours. Some big groups are connected to greater organizations, such as a national-level program or a local school district, so that you then have access to the organization's materials as well.

Just to reiterate one more time - there are no right or wrong answers. You don't have to belong to the same group as your best friend's family if it isn't going to benefit your homeschool. If you are eager to form connection with other homeschoolers in your area and can't find a group that works well for you, consider starting one!

My family belongs to both a small social group and a large educational group. Does your family participate in any in-person groups? Send me a DM on Instagram and let me know what you love about them - and maybe what isn't working so well for you.

We'll wrap up the discussion about homeschooling groups next week by talking about when you might want to leave a group.