As home educators, parents hold the key role to their child's education. Though you are educating your child at home, you do not have to do it alone. Many families find it valuable to interact and receive support through a local support group. Support groups offer encouragement and friendship, provide opportunities to collaborate on school projects and classes, coordinate group field trips, schedule ways to help socialize your child, and often provide help with paperwork. They can help with choosing curriculum, record keeping, meeting the state laws, and providing opportunities and activities for your students.

Support groups can be called many different things. Here are some of the titles and definitions of these types of homeschool support groups.

PSP - Private Satellite Program - This is a homeschool organization or support group that files to be recognized as a private school. There are various state laws governing PSPs, which in California used to be referred to as an ISP or Independent Study Program. These groups serve as the umbrella "school" for homeschooling families. They provide support in the form of record keeping, guidance, curriculum consultation, community activities and field trip organization, and general support by connecting families together. PSPs can be secular or religious in nature and are widely recognized as a valued means of support for the homeschool family.

ISP - Independent Study Program - An ISP offers similar support to the PSP listed above. Private homeschool groups sometimes refer to themselves as an ISP. They offer mentoring, fellowship, course of study guidance, record keeping, legal covering, and more. Indpendent Study Programs can also be run through a local school district and/or connected to a specific school. This allows the district to then monitor the work and provide support and guidelines for the homeschool student. Often ISP programs are connected to Charter Schools. ISP programs often offer free materials through state funding to homeschooling families. This is considered an extension of the publically funded education afforded to all U.S. citizens. There are specific parameters that must be met when choosing this group for homeschool support.

Parent Educators Network - This is another name for a homeschool support group. The word network is the key. Independent homeschool families can find support from other independent homeschool families through a network. This is simply another way to say homeschool support group.

Homeschool Playgroup - Play groups are a common form of homeschool support groups. Many offer weekly or monthly scheduled outings usually held at a local park. Sometimes homeschool moms will host a rotating schedule of play groups at each other's houses. This is a time to take a break from the books and infuse some good fun into your child's life. In traditional school settings, children enjoy snack breaks and recess. Homeschool play groups are a way to give your hard-working student some social interaction and exercise.

Home Educators, Homelearners, Homeschoolers, or Homeschool Community - These terms coupled with the name of a city or area refers to a local support group for homeschooling families. For example, you might see it listed as Home Educators of Southeast Arkansas or North Suburban Homelearners. These support groups offer enrichment, socialization, organizational support, curriculum guidance and planning, and many of the things listed above under the PSP.

Now that we've defined some of the homeschool support group terms for you, let's talk about how to find one. The most obvious answer is to go online and research it through your favorite search engine. Search for "homeschool support group" plus the name of your city or area. Another way to get connected with a worthwhile homeschool support group is through membership to your state or regional homeschooling organization. If you are a part of a local church and are planning to homeschool as a part of your spiritual convictions, often times there are support groups formed as a part of local churches and religious schools. If you are using a public ISP or are connected to a Charter school, contact your administrator to find out more about the support programs they offer.

Though you are embarking on the adventure of homeschooling as a family, you are not alone. Find a homeschool support group.

Following the ISPMOM.COM series on How to Get Started Homeschooling... next is Step 4: Understand Your Child's Learning Style.