Missouri Homeschool Groups & Co-ops
When you begin the journey into homeschooling, you soon realize that internet research will only answer so many of your questions. Sometimes, you’ll wish you had someone to talk to who has already walked the road you are on. That’s where homeschool support groups and co-ops come in.
These are local and regional networks of families who connect around a common purpose: home education. On this page, we will guide you on how to locate your closest local or virtual homeschool group in Missouri, and we will also explore one of the coolest outgrowths of support groups: homeschool cooperatives.
Missouri Homeschool Groups
If you don’t already know families near you who are homeschooling, it’s time to find some! In recent years, most homeschool groups are organized where parents are already hanging out: Facebook. Because it’s completely free to create a Facebook group, this method of communication has become preferred over costly websites or even email listservs. That’s why we recommend that when you first begin your search for support groups near you, you start with America’s most popular social network.
You may be surprised how many homeschool groups are already active in Missouri, and some will even have a specific focus, such as special needs or unschooling.
To get you started with your search, we’ve put together a list of local homeschool groups from around Missouri that have a currently active Facebook community.
Be sure to visit Time4Learning’s Missouri parent forum where you’ll be able to connect with other families in The Show-Me State and discover additional resources.
Missouri Homeschool Co-ops
Certainly, homeschooling has its pros and cons, but one thing that some parents miss when home educating is participating in group learning activities. This can be particularly true for lessons that benefit from the involvement of multiple people such as physical education and lab science. A solution that homeschool families across the country have incorporated is the organization of homeschool cooperatives, also called “co-ops.”
Homeschool co-ops are usually an outgrowth of an already-established homeschool support group, as a way of providing regular cooperative learning opportunities for student members. In general, most co-ops use parent volunteers to teach classes and administrate activities within the group.
An example of a homeschool cooperative in Missouri is the Mid-Missouri Co-Op of Home Educators (CHE). Yearly membership in the group provides families with access to regular group activities such as a science fair, a fall festival, a talent show, and a graduation ceremony. Parents are expected to help with the planning and execution of at least one group event each year.
Don’t fall into the biggest homeschooling myth out there. Discover how socialization is an active part of homeschooling.
Benefits of Joining a Homeschool Group or Co-op
Obviously, the key benefit of joining a homeschool group or co-op near you is to connect with other families who have made the choice to home educate. But there are many other benefits to networking with a group that you may or may not have considered, such as:
- Homeschool curriculum advice
- Discovering local resources
- Academic groups, clubs, and fairs
- Group discounts on field trips
- Counsel from seasoned homeschoolers
- Park play dates
- Notifications about local educational activities and classes
- A safe place to vent or celebrate
Additional Resources for Homeschooling in Missouri
Have other questions about homeschooling in Missouri? You may find the following pages helpful.
- Homeschooling in Missouri
- Missouri Homeschooling Laws
- Missouri Homeschool Associations
- Homeschool Field Trips in Missouri
Welcome to Homeschooling Guide
Download this FREE resource where experienced homeschoolers share their stories for how to begin homeschooling, understanding your child academically, planning your days, and much more.
