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
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Welcome to THN's blog page,
It is the Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend and I am feeling so grateful for this THN group of homeschoolers my family has belonged to for 7 years.
The many families have such a wide range of interests and beliefs and different methods of homeschooling that it makes for an expansive social world of which to be a part. I am so appreciative of the many fascinating and really kind people who are members.
For all our differences, what we have in common is adoring our kids and wanting to be a part of their growing and learning and developing their own unique minds.
Seven years ago, there really weren't the same opportunities for homeschoolers that are available now. We really comprised our own entertainment, education and social network, using field trip opportunities and get-togethers. Now, there are more institutions offering daytime facilities which changes the homeschool world - allowing us to pick and choose - I never would've thought ! At THN we still use our own members' valuable expertise for ongoing Dance, ART & Art History and other programs as well as using professionally available Drama programs for us and the community centres and YMCA and pool facilities and their homeschooler programs.
I am so glad that this lively group gets together monthly to share experiences and often to hear a guest speaker. This Fall, we had our fabulous not-going-back-to-school-picnic in a big park. A controversial guest speaker opened our meetings. We've had horseback riding and hikes and skating , sports, younger kids' drop-in, and we look forward to a trip to the opera and our wonderful Halloween Party. Early in December, we will have a proper recital of our own musical talents within the group and a lovely Christmas-time party later in that month, as well.
THN is a diverse group which is open and welcoming to the many different approaches to homeschooling.. if you are considering homeschool or have recently moved here, please contact us for further information. We do our email and web communication through our Yahoo group and are still updating the info there with photos and such on the web pages. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thehomeschoolnetwork/
Please also check our listing of resources, on this page, and check out the 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. We share rich experiences for them to enjoy and to open up the world of learning to them.
-Lucy
It is the Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend and I am feeling so grateful for this THN group of homeschoolers my family has belonged to for 7 years.
The many families have such a wide range of interests and beliefs and different methods of homeschooling that it makes for an expansive social world of which to be a part. I am so appreciative of the many fascinating and really kind people who are members.
For all our differences, what we have in common is adoring our kids and wanting to be a part of their growing and learning and developing their own unique minds.
Seven years ago, there really weren't the same opportunities for homeschoolers that are available now. We really comprised our own entertainment, education and social network, using field trip opportunities and get-togethers. Now, there are more institutions offering daytime facilities which changes the homeschool world - allowing us to pick and choose - I never would've thought ! At THN we still use our own members' valuable expertise for ongoing Dance, ART & Art History and other programs as well as using professionally available Drama programs for us and the community centres and YMCA and pool facilities and their homeschooler programs.
I am so glad that this lively group gets together monthly to share experiences and often to hear a guest speaker. This Fall, we had our fabulous not-going-back-to-school-picnic in a big park. A controversial guest speaker opened our meetings. We've had horseback riding and hikes and skating , sports, younger kids' drop-in, and we look forward to a trip to the opera and our wonderful Halloween Party. Early in December, we will have a proper recital of our own musical talents within the group and a lovely Christmas-time party later in that month, as well.
THN is a diverse group which is open and welcoming to the many different approaches to homeschooling.. if you are considering homeschool or have recently moved here, please contact us for further information. We do our email and web communication through our Yahoo group and are still updating the info there with photos and such on the web pages. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thehomeschoolnetwork/
Please also check our listing of resources, on this page, and check out the 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. We share rich experiences for them to enjoy and to open up the world of learning to them.
-Lucy
Labels: Canadian homeschool group
