By Ed and Kathy Green 

We are often asked to share why we started Homeschoolers of Maine (HOME), and why we have remained so passionate and active in promoting the core principles of HOME for more than 35 years! Simply put, the ministry principles that were set forth at the founding of HOME did not spring from a personal feeling or a passing desire. Instead, they were shaped and formed from the timeless and unchangeable principles that are essential for every generation to know and understand.

With the hope of helping the next generation to gain from the knowledge and experience of those who have gone before, we are sharing the story of the creation of HOME.   

What is a Unit Study?

Unit Studies offer students a thematic approach to learning. Typically, all subjects are covered through an in-depth study of one central topic. Learning becomes an adventure with students becoming more engaged, excited, and eager to dig deeper. Topics can be introduced to spark interest or to develop a special interest.

While typically unit studies are best suited for the elementary grades, they can easily be adapted for upper or lower grades or used in a multi-grade setting. HOME has created many unit studies over the years, and each one includes content for both early learners and high school students!

This makes them a popular and practical choice among homeschool families with multiple children. Everyone learns together, but at their own level of ability or interest!

Incorporating Unit Studies into Your Program

There are lots of ways to use unit studies. Some families use this method exclusively throughout the year. Others find that unit studies are better suited for a particular season or in certain circumstances. 

By Jessica Leavitt

It has happened to most of us. The end of the school year comes sneaking up behind us.  We turn around to meet it head on and we see our three-inch binder (aka a pre-assembled portfolio from HOME) staring us in the face. Empty. Maybe you have a few worksheets saved, or maybe you just forgot to write down every book, hike, and educational game played this past year. Maybe you aren’t sure what “counts” as evidence of learning. If only you had an assistant …

By Sarah Buchwalder

In this 132nd session of the Maine state legislature, Homeschoolers of Maine currently

has a short list of 11 bills we’re watching closely and a much longer list of bills that, as yet, do not have document numbers or text but do have titles that potentially concern us. To give you a sense of the scale of our undertaking, over 2,300 bills have been proposed in this session alone in the state legislature.

As an organization, we keep track of proposed laws within the state that either directly affect homeschoolers OR that affect parental rights, which is really at the core of the right to direct our children’s education. This involves much more than simply reading the legislative documents; we listen to or attend public hearings, follow up during the work sessions, make many phone calls and send many emails to state representatives and senators (and bite our tongues when a particularly cranky or combative one is on the other end of the line), enlist the help of our national partners such as HSLDA or The Parental Rights Foundation as needed, and, most importantly, ask our fellow homeschoolers and constituents to write or call representatives and submit testimony when action is clearly warranted. In 2023, one state senator remarked in a public hearing that he had received calls from hundreds of homeschoolers and thus amended the bill in question as asked. We can’t do this without you!

As homeschooling parents who deeply value the freedom to educate our children at home, it’s crucial to recognize and participate in opportunities that safeguard these liberties. Homeschool Day at the Capitol is not just an event; it’s a celebration of our homeschool freedom and a powerful statement of our commitment to our children’s education. Here are the top ten reasons why attending your state’s Capitol Day is of paramount importance. 

Read the entire article at the Homeschool Freedom website.

Find out more about Maine's Homeschool Day at the Capitol here.

Dig deeper into the legislative process here in Maine by purchasing a Junior Legislator or American Civics unit study published by Homeschoolers of Maine.