Homeschool Services
Programs and Services Available to Mount Prospect Homeschoolers
| Programs | Services | Resources |
|---|---|---|
Parent/Teacher Collection |
Programs
The Library hosts two programs a year specifically geared towards homeschooling families. Both programs are open to everyone and are great networking opportunities.
Homeschool Connection
Come learn what the Library has to offer to homeschooling families at this September event. Parents/Caregivers will receive a tour of the Library and hear about Library programs and services for homeschoolers while students engage in a fun activity.
Services
Book Bags
The Book Bag Service in Youth Services allows Mount Prospect homeschoolers to supplement their curricula with materials from the Library. With three days advance notice, Youth Services staff will select materials related to your topic, including books and audiovisual materials. Items will be checked out to your Library card for three weeks and are renewable.
Book Bags contain approximately fifteen items. Limits may be placed on the number of items sent in a bag if a subject is in demand. Homeschool patrons assume the same responsibility as other Library patrons for late, lost, or damaged materials. There is a limit of one Book Bag/Activity Bag at a time.
Looking for a good book?
Library staff can help children, parents/caregivers and teachers identify and locate books that fit curricula and pleasure reading needs.
In-house computers offering word processing, Internet access, online reference tools, and more are available throughout the Library. Wireless network access is also available for patrons to connect to the Internet at the Library using their personal laptops. Electronic databases and resources, online catalog access, reference chatting and email, useful Web site links, and Library information are available from home as well by visiting the Library’s Web site:
Kids’ Books-to-go!
Perfect for your book discussion groups, each bag will include multiple copies of popular fiction titles, as well as discussion questions and activities. Titles to watch for in this special collection: How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell, The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall, The Watsons Go to Birmingham by C. Curtis, and more!
Science-to-Go: Engineering Kits!
Looking for something interesting to do with science? Maybe the Library can help! Thanks to a grant from the IEEE-Chicago Section, we now circulate Science-To-Go Kits. There are seven kits on a variety of engineering topics, including energy, alternative energy, electricity, simple machines, straw rockets, and early structures. Each kit comes with information and equipment to perform science activities. Complete lesson plans are even included in some kits. Call or stop by Youth Services for more information.
Resources
Parent/Teacher Collection
Youth Services houses a Parent/ Teacher collection of over 2,000 titles. This collection contains many resources specifically chosen to help parents/caregivers, teachers, and librarians plan curricula and programming for students and families. Here are a few interesting titles from this collection:
Local and State Organizations
- Illinois H.O.U.S.E.
- Christian Home Educators Coalition (CHEC)
- Illinois Christian Home Educators (ICHE)
- CHAMPs Homeschool Co-op
Fine arts classes on Mondays at the Mount Prospect Bible Church. (Sept - May)
Homeschool Websites
- Yahoo! Home Schooling
A great collection of online resources for the homeschooling family. - American Homeschool Association
- A to Z Home's Cool
This community guide includes articles, links, public chat and forums, events calendar, book lists, and more. - Family Unschoolers Network
- Homeschool Central
- Homeschool Internet Resource Center
- Homeschool.com
