When you visit Chesterfield County Public Library, it’s not unusual to find homeschooling parents, students and teachers. CCPL has become a place where many homeschooling families and teachers go to access the resources they need. Whether you’re checking out books, using electronic resources, attending programs, or reserving a space for classes or events, CCPL has what you need if you are homeschooling your kids.
Christina Johnson, a homeschooling parent, lives in the city of Richmond. When CCPL offers programs that support her curriculum needs, she makes sure she attends. “We probably come weekly and sometimes we just come to check out books; sometimes we come for story time or other activities,” said Johnson when talking about how often she comes to the library. She and her children recently attended the “Incredible Hoop Gliders” program at Clover Hill Library. They built and tested their own hoop gliders and investigated the effect of wing size on flight performance. Johnson said, “I thought it was a really good experience, very hands on and the kids learn very well with hands on activities.” Hands-on, experiential programs are offered at all the CCPL locations and help students learn more about a topic and provide an opportunity to interact with other kids their age.
Besides the programs and story times, we have many resources that can enrich the homeschooling experience and make it easier for many parents and teachers. Some electronic resources that CCPL offers are Brainfuse Help Now (homework help), Driver Testing, Transparent Language (foreign language learning), Explora (full text magazine and journal articles) and so much more. CCPL has a print collection that supports homeschoolers, including “The successful homeschool family handbook: a creative and stress-free approach to homeschooling,” “Rethinking school: how to take charge of your child’s education,” “Einstein never used flash cards: how our children really learn--and why they need to play more and memorize less,” and many more. These materials are available for free through the library and make the homeschooling experience not only easier but also cheaper.
Christina Johnson believes CCPL can help homeschooling become more accessible to many families in Chesterfield and its surrounding areas. She mentions how libraries impact the experience of homeschooling and says, “The library has enriched it [the homeschooling experience]. There are so many resources that are available for free, and we get a lot of educational fiction and nonfiction books from that.” Like Johnson, many parents and teachers benefit from what Chesterfield County Public Library has to offer the homeschooling community. When asked about what CCPL can do to make the homeschooling experience better, Johnson replied, “Anything that is age appropriate, and it’s also helpful when it expands to different ages because you can have siblings in the same program.” As the homeschooling community grows, CCPL has the tools to provide a lifetime of learning.
If you are a homeschooling parent or teacher, be sure to visit our Research page for a full list of helpful databases. Librarians are ready to help you find materials to supplement your homeschooling curriculums, as well as find materials on learning more about homeschooling in general. Check out the monthly program guide for programs or events that can enrich your homeschooling experience.
By: Adriana Rosales, Creative Content Writer, CCPL Community Services Department