North Star Independent Homeschoolers™
New to Independent Homeschooling? Start Here!
Many Alaskan parents who would like to homeschool are a bit apprehensive about beginning, so they sign-up with an Alaskan public-school-at-home program such as IDEA or Raven in order to have a guide and professional help. *Some soon, however, find that signing-up with a public school program to be successful in homeschooling just doesn't work out as they had planned. Some then wonder how they can successfully homeschool without any guidance, assistance, or just someone to talk to who understands and can maybe point them in the direction they are seeking. This is where our group comes in!
*Please note that many Alaskan families are very happy with public-school-at-home programs. We are not trying to recruit members from these programs, we just offer to be here for those who choose not to participate in them. This is Alaska, where diversity and opportunities in education are at their best, including the opportunities found in public and private schools as well as independent homeschools.
If the public-school-at-home method in Interior Alaska isn't working for your family, or if you are new to homeschooling and choose to do so independently, our group offers things to help if needed or wanted.
What The North Star Independent Homeschoolers Group Offers New Independently Homeschooling Families:
NSIH Group Members are not obligated to accept any of the offers for new homeschooling families; they can accept as many or as few as they'd like.
A monthly class for group member mommas on issues pertaining to homeschooling with discussion time afterwards.
A veteran homeschool family mentorship program in which a family that has homeschooled for seven or more years makes themselves available to a new family for questions, a listening ear, and to share ideas and resource direction. The veteran family will also call the new family once-a-month to check in and see how things are going, if the new family would like. This isn't a nosy or professional call, but a call from a friend just to ask how things are going and if you have any questions or concerns about homeschooling.
The availability of our group leader, at most times, to come to the new family home and speak to the new family about homeschooling as well as to share resources and resource ideas. Again, this is not a nosy or professional visit, just friends offering to meet you where you are to help. This has proven very helpful in the past to members whose husbands are deployed, one-vehicle families, and husbands who work evening or long hours; sometimes it's easier for members to be met where they are.
A yearly class titled You Can Homeschool! which is an introduction to independent homeschooling as well as your opportunity to ask questions and discuss concerns and beginning homeschool topics. This class is held for the public annually in May or June and can be given privately all-year long to interested families. Call (907)-488-2191 or e-mail Information@northstarindependenthomeschoolers.org for exact times and locations.
