HOPE

Homeschool Organization of Parent Educators

Our Mission

HOPE purposes to equip, encourage, and empower home educators in teaching and training their children and to provide networking of relationships to enhance the overall homeschool experience for homeschooling families through group meetings, special events, and one-on-one training.  We purpose to honor God through the strengthening of families and the raising up of a godly generation for His glory.

Our Motto

Equipping     Encouraging     Empowering

HOPE

*  Helps families build a strong foundation and finish strong in homeschooling

*  Provides opportunities for homeschooling families to become acquainted and to build meaningful relationships with other homeschooling families

*  Provides our families with the most current information regarding homeschool law and pass on legislative updates and proposed laws with negative and positive implications on homeschooling and family freedoms

*  Trains families in how to keep accurate homeschool records

*  Provides an avenue to communicate prayer needs for our member families

*  Provides tools, meetings, events, and networking opportunities to teach and train home educators and their children in anything beneficial to the homeschooling process, including but not limited to home education philosophies, methods approaches, and curriculum

*  Provides a place for homeschooling families to share and serve one another with their gifts, talents, and abilities in practical ways

*  Provides events which allow students to “showcase” their educational accomplishments or abilities in areas of interest

We do not uphold a particular style of home education as “right,” but rather encourage homeschooling parents to educate their own children in accordance with their personal family values and God’s unique call on them.

Our Services

A Different Voice

A quality newspaper developed by homeschoolers for the Lebanon area homeschooling community;  strives to report on homeschooling efforts within and without of the community and cover activities and events taking place within the various departments of the Lebanon Area Homeschoolers

Apprenticeship, Internship, and College Preparation Advisement

Configures a voluntary association of homeschooling parents designed to give apprenticing or interning opportunities to high schoolers.  Provides a resource library with information on college preparation and planning, distance learning, vocational exploration, aptitude testing.  Information also available on shadowing/training opportunities in the Springfield-Lebanon area.

Iowa Basic Skills Testing

Annual academic testing for children at a low cost.  Missouri homeschool law requires some type of evaluation for each school year.  This could be a handwritten evaluation by the parent or some form of standardized test such as the Iowa Basic Skills Tests.

Mentors for Moms

Offers 1:1 support for new or less experienced homeschool moms.  Focuses on helping moms gain confidence to teach, maintain integrity in their homeschooling, clarify their goals, select curriculum, and identify a suitable approach for homeschooling their children.

Book Clubs for Moms

Designed to be intimate, inspiring, and growth-producing.  A small group of ladies meet for fellowship and discussion of a book relevant to the life of homeschooling moms.  Books are focused on developing her inner spiritual life or finding practical tools for homeschooling.  Approximately 3-4 meetings over a 6-8 week period.

Used Curriculum Sale

Allows families to sell homeschooling resources at the end of the year.

The Rocket Yearbook

A high-class student production displaying homeschool families and events within the Lebanon Area Homeschoolers community;  this valued keepsake collects memories of the school year, introduces homeschooling families to each other, and advertises the many opportunities available to our homeschoolers through the Lebanon Area Homeschoolers (LAH).

Meetings

We offer periodic evening meetings that address a variety of topics relevant to home educators.  Families are notified of the dates and times via our annual Calendar of Events, A different Voice, and the LAH Notes.

Events

Father-Son Campout

Outdoor activities that promote fun, camaraderie, and manliness;  evening talks to strengthen the homeschool father.

Mother-Daughter “Day of Delight”

Activities that celebrate femininity and womanhood, promote mother-daughter bonding, and encourage friendships.

Beginning of the Year Picnic

Old-fashioned family fun and games to commemorate the beginning of the traditional school year.

Our Membership

A $10.00 suggested donation entitles our members to a discount on HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association) membership, A Different Voice Newspaper, The Rocket Yearbook IOWA Basic Skills Testing, and other events.

We are unashamedly Christian in our orientation, but we welcome participation from non-Christians will to abide by our standards as defined by our bylaws.