One of the things I relish most about homeschooling is the flexibility it affords our family. But it’s not all late mornings, pajama days, and math at the kitchen table. Like so many other parent-educators, I want my kids to dig into memorable experiences in the world around us: the beauty of nature; the inspiration of music and the arts; the wonders of science and technology; and the powerful voices of history.
And — if we’re being completely honest — sometimes I need a little extra help: a support group, or a Latin tutor, a test preparation course, or a piano instructor. Perhaps I’m looking for local retailers who carry curricula or art supplies. Maybe I just want to know about upcoming events, like homeschool conventions, kid-friendly festivals, or special deals for families.
So where can a homeschool parent like me find these resources?
In a word: everywhere. The information is “out there” — but finding it, when and where you need it, is another matter. If you want a list of nearby museums, you might visit one website. But if you want to research events for homeschoolers, there’s a different website to try. This website might have a list of retailers, but that website has the local academic helps. Isn’t there a better way?
As it so often happens:
Necessity is the mother of invention.
Although I created this website as an answer to the needs of my own homeschooling journey, I can’t ignore the first lesson of homeschooling, namely: “You are not alone.” My hope is that SageMint serves as a centralized place for other likeminded parent-educators to discover local resources, leadership, and encouragement — all specifically tailored for homeschooling families like ours.
As you explore the site, I hope you’ll let us know what features you’d like to see added. (If you have a suggestion you’d like to share, send us an email.) We look forward to growing the site to serve you better!
For now, SageMint offers two handy resources — curated especially for local homeschool families.
- The Directory includes listings for Support Groups for all methods of homeschooling; Attractions for field trips and adventuring; Retailers who specialize in curricula and supplies; Instruction for extra-curricular pursuits like music or athletics, as well as academic tutoring. Search the Directory by category, keyword, and location, and users can find the best resources within the closest proximity.
- The Event Calendar is a homeschooler’s headquarters for all can’t-miss local events. Whether you’re looking for retreats, conventions, testing, concerts and performances, or local festivals, the SageMint Event Calendar should be your first click.
I hope you’ll find SageMint to be an invaluable source of information, inspiration, and encouragement on your homeschooling journey!
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