Grace Home Educators
Grace Home Educators (GHE) is a ministry of homeschooling families in the central Ohio area. We are a vibrant community of Jesus followers with a passion for God and a desire to educate our children in the Lord and with other believing families.
Membership to GHE is annual and begins anew each school year.
Programs & Benefits
Gym time is held at Grace Polaris Church or a nearby park through the traditional school year. This is a great time for your children ages 5–13 to get some exercise as well as learn skills in different areas of athletics. Teens are able to be involved by assisting the gym time leaders in class, gaining leadership skills while having an enjoyable time, as well. There is a nominal 50 cent charge per kid, up to $1 per family each class. Gym time is only open to GHE members and a parent’s presence is required. Please note, for those members who school at home via “virtual academy” or “e-school,” this is not an accredited gym class that can be used for credit.
Mom’s Night Out is held a few times a year, usually in the homes of various GHE members. These evenings are casual and all women are encouraged to attend. The purpose of this meeting is to honor Hebrews 10:24: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Attendees can expect an evening of warm encouragement, helpful information, and fun fellowship with other moms — both new homeschoolers and seasoned ones — dealing with situations like yours. Come and gain not only practical advice but also spiritual encouragement as we share our journeys and pray for one another.
Social and educational events are planned throughout the year. Some of these are family events that provide a great way to get connected with other families and share in many special memories, like the Fall Party, the End-of-the-Year Celebration, and the Ice Cream Social. Other events are educational/equipping, like the Homeschooling Through High School, the Geography/Biography fair, or the General Car Care class. Events are planned out and implemented by GHE members and their families and are designed for all ages to attend. The End-of-the-Year Celebration also offers parents a setting to recognize each of their students and to see families honor their graduating seniors.
Field trips are the shared responsibility of the members. Anyone can plan a field trip. It’s easy and you get to choose where to go! These opportunities may be extended to the entire group or, in an attempt to customize and maximize the educational merit of the outing, they may be geared toward a subset of the group with similar interests and a more manageable size or age bracket. Field trips can dovetail nicely with a particular unit study or can simply be for fun! Some past examples include a tour of a whistle factory, snow skiing at Mad River, seeing maple syrup production, and participating in Roscoe Village living history days. Our field trip coordinator would be happy to get you started or assist as needed.
The Happy at Home monthly newsletter keeps the community informed of upcoming events, key contacts, and shares experiences and resources. The fun and encouraging articles in the newsletter are written by homeschoolers within the group. Kids can also submit writing. This offers them a chance to try their hand at journalism. In addition, members may learn of other local opportunities for homeschooling families such as speech and debate groups, cross-country running, formal banquets, and informal game nights. And the regular pictures remind us we’re enjoying the journey together as a family.
Nationally standardized testing is available at the end of the year for the children of all members, grades K–12. Typically offered in May, the tests are administered by homeschool parents for homeschoolers. Families pay only the cost of each of their children’s tests. Test results can be submitted with your yearly notification form to comply with the state requirements. Watch early spring issues of our newsletter for further information on testing and evaluation.
Mentor Moms helps new homeschooling families connect with those who can answer questions and offer wisdom gained through experience. Although no family is the same and no one has all the answers, our best resource as home educators is one another!
Be sure to join our members-only Facebook group. This is an additional place for members to connect, plan play dates or outings, ask questions to other members, and buy and sell curriculum.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are my homeschool education options?
Within the legal requirements of home education (see FAQ 3), there is flexibility to set your schedule, pick your curriculum, discover the learning style of your child, select graduation requirements, and more. There are online and co-op classes available for many subjects. Some companies offer an entire homeschool experience hosted or curated by their site or company. You can choose to home educate for just a year, during elementary years, or all the way through high school.
What kinds of educational resources are available to homeschoolers?
The homeschool world is rich with options. Teach them Diligently hosts yearly conferences in many major cities throughout the U.S. where you can better equip yourself and get a hands-on look at various curriculum. There are a number of online courses, whole online curricula, robotics clubs, co-ops, as well as speech & debate clubs. Some communities have organized co-ops for math, science, or French. There are complete curriculum packages for each grade level available, or you can build your own from individual courses. Some homeschool parents with expertise in a certain subject are willing to teach other kids. The homeschool support community is strong. You also have the unique flexibility to adjust as needed. If the curriculum does not work with your child, you can change it.
What are the legal requirements?
Christian Home Educators of Ohio (CHEO) provides a well-organized site with clear communications of the state regulations. The regulations are straightforward and it’s easy to comply.
Additionally, many homeschool families consider joining Homeschool Legal Defense Association as a way to help navigate the legal requirements. Membership costs about $120 a year. The legal team has professionals who know the laws for each state, just a phone call away. In addition, if you ever do get in a situation with a local school district, your membership covers any associated legal fees.
What do you do about socialization?
We live life in community. Homeschooling families do life together — learning and serving together, attending field trips, extracurricular classes, and the like with their entire family, and getting to know whole families as their playmates. Homeschooling children develop friendships with children exactly their age and with children slightly older and slightly younger, as their closest friends and their siblings’ friends often come from the same families. Homeschooling affords the opportunity to shepherd your child within those relationships, while developing character that is well-pleasing to the Lord.
How much does homeschooling typically cost?
The cost depends largely on the chosen learning method, course curricula, and extra-curricular activities. Elementary education typically costs less than middle school. Middle school is typically less than high school. Though there are free resources for homeschooling online and the local public libraries have great book selections, homeschooling families often purchase books and curricula. We have observed some families educate with all free materials, some for as little as $500 to $1,000 per child per year. Those who purchase full curriculum packages may spend more. To help with the cost factor, many families and homeschool groups have organized used curriculum sales and/or loan resources, courses, and books that they no longer need.
What does a typical day look like?
It can vary widely by family, student, and the student’s age. The early years can be done in small snatches of time while younger children nap. Elementary school can be completed in 3–5 hours, while middle school to high school typically can cover the core curriculum in 5–6 hours. This can free up time for additional courses of interest, specialized clubs, family outings, or serving others. You can do your schooling in the afternoons, evenings, weekends, or alter the time from day to day. Some families school all year with periodic breaks, while others follow the typical school schedule each year. Do whatever works best for your family.
Although the long-term goal is independent learning, during the early years it is very one-on-one and time intensive for the parent doing the teaching. Even in later years, at least one parent ought to reserve regular time to mentor each child through difficult subjects. Routine reviews of tests, quizzes, and writing assignments are also critical to staying on top of each child’s learning.
Where can I learn more?
Use the links below to access helpful information about homeschooling, or send us an email if you have other questions.
Christian Home Educators of Ohio are veteran homeschool parents who have a passion to come alongside other families in support of their own homeschool journey.
Homeschooling Can Change Your Life