The Homeschool Network's Mission
To provide a supportive, resourceful and respectful community that aims to help all homeschooling families flourish in home-based and community-based learning.History of The Homeschool Network
THN began in the fall of 1996 as The Burlington Homeschool Network. Shauna Bennett and Heather Butler were looking for a group that would welcome families regardless of their style of homeschooling. During its second year, the group more than tripled in size. Presently, THN is a vibrant and dynamic group made up of families that learn, share, and socialize together through participation in activities and in our yahoo group.The Function of THN
THN provides the opportunity to meet and form friendships with other homeschooling families, and to participate in activities. These include monthly meetings, social events, field trips, yahoo group access, and more. Members are welcome to organize and/or host activities that interest them. Examples of activities include: informal get-togethers, public speaking, recitals, fairs, book clubs, museum visits, tours, physical education, etc. No formal activities are scheduled for the summer months.THN's Functioning Principles
Below are THN's Functioning Principles. THN is:- INCLUSIVE: Our group is richer for its diversity and welcomes families who:
- home school
- have diverse backgrounds
- have differing learning and teaching philosophies
- SUPPORTIVE: We support each other in our efforts to homeschool our children. We accomplish this by:
- learning from each other
- listening to each other and building friendships
- sharing ideas, resources and experiences
- getting together for social and educational activities
- DEMOCRATIC: The running of THN is open to any current member who is interested. Members are encouraged to become involved according to their own strengths and interests. Involvement is voluntary and the group operates as follows:
- no one leader
- no executive
- democratic decision-making by vote at meetings and by proxy vote
- no official involvement in disagreements
- PRIVATE: The THN Member List is private and we respect each member’s right to privacy. The purpose of the list is to facilitate networking between current THN members. Please:
- keep the Member List in a safe place
- do not share the contents of the Member List with anyone who is not a current THN member
- RESPONSIBLE: Participation in THN events is voluntary. As members of THN, we understand that responsibility lies with each of us for:
- our own safety and well being
- our own actions and those of our children
- providing satisfactory education for our own children
- taking the initiative to ensure the group is meeting our unique needs
- working out any disagreements that arise
- communicating any expectations or restrictions when organizing an event or field trip, if necessary
- INTEGRATED: Many THN families participate in our larger community through:
- community clubs and programs (sports, music, drama, art, library and more)
- conferences, committees and boards
- An ADVOCATE: Both our website and our brochures aim to inform the larger community about who we are. We are enthusiastic about:
- sharing information about our group
- fostering an appreciation and understanding about homeschooling as an alternative form of education
- inviting prospective members to an event or a meeting to learn more
- supporting interested members to participate in outside homeschooling conferences, media events and trade shows
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Obviously I have been way too busy - have missed doing this blog ... Didn't mean to do that.
THN as a group has been very busy as well. The kids have learned a lot of stuff and had a lot of fun.
We had a wonderful outing at a local pool with potluck and get together with some folks we haven't seen in a long time - everyone has different lessons and events they attend and we don't always get to see all the members of the group- so that was great fun and I went down the giant slide about 25 times .
People have been going into Toronto to see theatre in homeschool groups. Some have been doing Science at McMaster University in Hamilton. Kids have had a great time learning about Artists in Modern history and about different media in ART in Oakville, and I have really enjoyed doing it with them. The regular sports and games at community centres and YMCA homeschool programs have been going on and Drama class. Some kids are learning animation up in Guelph. There was bowling and hiking and some kids are doing scuba diving lessons and there are always lots of outside interests like dance, brownies, scouts and all that fun stuff.
We are looking forward to homeschool organized horseback riding lessons and another parents' meeting toward the end of May. Some kids are involved in theatre in Hamilton with a homeschool group there and have a production upcoming. May 30 is the fantastic THN ART show where kids can show anything they've been working on, and we hope to have a lot of trading of Artist Trading Cards - original miniature works of art. We have a wonderful day planned at Ontario Place in June and our end of the year picnic in mid June too.
As always, a lot of activity is going on and a lot of enrichment of our lives and our children's.
Our group is very diverse in methods of homeschooling and we like to hear about it.
We do our email and web communication through our Yahoo group and are still updating the info there (yeah, we are busy people!) on the web pages. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thehomeschoolnetwork/
Please contact us if you are interested in joining our group. Please check our listing of resources, here, and books to read especially, if you are curious about homeschooling. There are many ways of doing it and our group covers a lot of them! What we have in common is wanting to be a big part of our kids' lives and interest in how to do that and make rich experiences for them to enjoy and open up the world of learning to them.
-Lucy
THN as a group has been very busy as well. The kids have learned a lot of stuff and had a lot of fun.
We had a wonderful outing at a local pool with potluck and get together with some folks we haven't seen in a long time - everyone has different lessons and events they attend and we don't always get to see all the members of the group- so that was great fun and I went down the giant slide about 25 times .
People have been going into Toronto to see theatre in homeschool groups. Some have been doing Science at McMaster University in Hamilton. Kids have had a great time learning about Artists in Modern history and about different media in ART in Oakville, and I have really enjoyed doing it with them. The regular sports and games at community centres and YMCA homeschool programs have been going on and Drama class. Some kids are learning animation up in Guelph. There was bowling and hiking and some kids are doing scuba diving lessons and there are always lots of outside interests like dance, brownies, scouts and all that fun stuff.
We are looking forward to homeschool organized horseback riding lessons and another parents' meeting toward the end of May. Some kids are involved in theatre in Hamilton with a homeschool group there and have a production upcoming. May 30 is the fantastic THN ART show where kids can show anything they've been working on, and we hope to have a lot of trading of Artist Trading Cards - original miniature works of art. We have a wonderful day planned at Ontario Place in June and our end of the year picnic in mid June too.
As always, a lot of activity is going on and a lot of enrichment of our lives and our children's.
Our group is very diverse in methods of homeschooling and we like to hear about it.
We do our email and web communication through our Yahoo group and are still updating the info there (yeah, we are busy people!) on the web pages. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thehomeschoolnetwork/
Please contact us if you are interested in joining our group. Please check our listing of resources, here, and books to read especially, if you are curious about homeschooling. There are many ways of doing it and our group covers a lot of them! What we have in common is wanting to be a big part of our kids' lives and interest in how to do that and make rich experiences for them to enjoy and open up the world of learning to them.
-Lucy
