What EHE Is
Evanston Home Educators provides support, ideas, information, and opportunities for group classes and field trips for homeschooling families in and around Evanston. A member of the umbrella group H.O.U.S.E. (Home-Oriented Unique Schooling Experience), our group is non-sectarian, and our members have many different approaches to and reasons for homeschooling.
Monthly Meetings
EHE Parents Meetings are open to anyone interested in homeschooling. The meetings consist of three parts: sharing of activities and information, socializing and snacking, and topic discussions. To meet the needs of both veteran homeschoolers and newcomers, we offer two separate topic discussion groups.
Following the Parents Meeting is the Official EHE Business Meeting, which is open to members ONLY, and deals with Policy and Procedure, Budget, Bylaws, and other operational aspects of the group. We use a consensus-based approach of honoring all points of view as we work together to craft resolutions that the whole group can support.
If you are considering homeschooling, beginning homeschooling, or are the parent of preschool children, you may join an experienced homeschooler in the newcomers group to discuss topics such as choosing curriculum, organizing your home, and legal issues. The discussion leader will answer your questions, guide you to resources, and share his or her personal experiences. In a separate group, veteran homeschoolers will discuss topics such as getting ready for high school, multi-age teaching, and coping with burn-out. Both groups meet together for guest speakers or for topics such as our annual curriculum night.
Class and Fieldtrip Offerings
There is no set roster of classes or activities in this group. In the past, parents have organized events and classes around guest teachers, parents with skills to share, learning co-ops, theater events, classes in people's homes, beach days, and open gym classes. Get creative! Be proactive!
All members are encouraged and invited to set up classes, field trips, social events, etc. and announce them at the monthly meetings. In general, parents assess interest by putting out a sign-up sheet at the meeting. The logistics of sign-up and any payment are determined by that parent and the needs of the particular event.
Unless otherwise specified, payment for these activities is required at the time of sign-up. Often the parent doing the sign-up is responsible for the payment, so your payment in advance lessens the burden. If your child cannot attend an activity for which you have signed up, please notify the contact person as soon as possible. Refunds are not always possible.
When you have an event to announce, fill out an announcement form at the beginning of the meeting and give it to the meeting facilitator. Sign-up sheets, class flyers, and other such information are displayed on tables at the monthly meetings. You will be called on to explain your event. Then the information will be circulated in the monthly minutes. Interested people can respond to the organizer. When proposing a class, it is a good idea to come prepared with the following information: dates, times, place, cost, your contact information, age level(s) at which the event is targeted, and a brief description of the event.
Announcements of community classes, events of interest but not specifically geared to homeschoolers, and charitable events can be made via the listserve or by putting information on the activities tables at the monthly meetings. While our group members are involved in many worthwhile endeavors, please keep in mind that the Evanston Home Educators phone tree and all items posted during our meetings are to inform members of homeschooling activities only. In addition, if you are not a homeschooler but wish to market a service to the group, you may do so by invitation only.
The Business of EHE
EHE is a leaderless group run by a consensus process. The workings of the group — policies, structure, logistics, etc. — are determined at business meetings held monthly. All MEMBERS are welcome and encouraged to attend and add their voices to the consensus process. Proposals for changes or additions to group policies are submitted to the Business Facilitator in time to be announced one month before the business meeting. Proposals can be submitted anonymously. All policies and business meeting minutes are filed in The Blue Book. The Blue Book can be found on the EHE table at the monthly meetings.
Job Positions
There is a list of volunteer positions that allow EHE to operate. Jobs turn over every two years and all members new and old are encouraged to volunteer. The group is operated by all members, not by a board. There is not a hierarchy of jobs. Each job is a necessary but busy-parent-sized part of the group's logistics — many hands make light work.
Why Become a Member?
Membership in Evanston Home Educators is required for participation in classes, the listserve/phone tree, and the business meetings as well as for inclusion in the directory. All of these activities are great ways to make friends and get homeschooling support at the same time. Please note that, while our meetings are open to everyone, our discussions and ongoing activities are designed for families with school-age (K-12) children and their siblings.