Boston Moms Guide to School at Home

Whether your children are attending school in person, online, at home, or a combination of all three, Boston Moms has got you covered!
This resource is here to help Boston-area and Massachusetts parents learn more about virtual education, homeschooling options, and associated resources. We will continually update this resource as new information becomes available.
Boston Moms is happy to present you with this comprehensive list of resources made to assist families as they navigate a much different school year than we’ve ever seen before. Boston Moms is proud to support ALL parents in WHATEVER choice they make for their children’s education this year.
A reminder: The choice you make for YOUR family is the RIGHT choice. We support you and we are cheering you on!
How to use this guide:
Each image leads to a parent-friendly “school at home” resource. Click on an image to find more info, or take your time scrolling through to find the information that best suits your family.
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Most simply defined, homeschooling is the education of children at home, typically by parents or guardians. The seven main approaches to homeschooling children are: classical, Charlotte Mason, Montessori, unschooling, school-at-home, unit studies, and eclectic education methods.

Because the virtual learning territory is so new for us all, there aren’t many specific resources targeted toward students learning at home with the aid of school districts — yet! When those resources become more readily available, we’ll be sure to add them here.
The following groups and co-ops are traditionally geared toward fully homeschooling families, but many are welcoming hybrid learners at this time.
State Wide:
AHEM (Advocates for Home Education in Massachusetts) Networking Forum
A common space for independent, family-based homeschoolers to network, share resources, plan face-to-face events, classes, and get-togethers.
Homeschooling Special Needs in MA
A support group for parents homeschooling their children with special needs.
MASalamHSers
A support group for Muslim homeschoolers in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Homeschool Organization of Parent Educators (MassHOPE)
A Christian ministry encouraging home educators across Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Home Learning Association (MHLA)
An advocacy and education organization endorsing home learning as an alternative to public or private schooling. Serving all of Massachusetts.
Specific Areas:
Amesbury MA Homeschoolers Community Group
A homeschooling support group for families in the Amesbury area.
Attleboro Area Homeschoolers
Serving many communities in southeastern Massachusetts and northern Rhode Island.
Berkeley Area Homeschoolers
Serving Berkley, Dighton, Taunton, and surrounding areas.
Berkshire County Homeschoolers
A homeschooling group supporting families in Pittsfield, Lee, Lenox, Lanesborough, Stockbridge, Great Barrington, Housatonic, Adams, North Adams, Williamstown, and Dalton.
Berkshire Mountains Homeschool Co-op
A secular homeschooling group in the Berkshires of Massachusetts.
Billerica Homeschooling Association
A group supporting families in the Billerica area.
Coastal Free Learners
A homeschool group serving families living in the coastal towns of Southeast Massachusetts.
Essex County Inclusive Homeschool Group
A homeschooling group open to all homeschoolers in Essex County, Massachusetts and beyond.
Family Educators Resource Network (FERN)
An informal networking group for home educators in the areas of Columbia, Rensselaer, and Albany counties in New York and in Berkshire County in Massachusetts.
Hamden County Homeschoolers
A group supporting homeschooling families in the Hamden County area.
Haverhill Area Homeschoolers
A homeschooling group supporting families in the Haverhill area.
Hub Homeschoolers
A support group located in the Boston Metro area.
Living and Learning
Providing support for homeschooling families in the greater Milford area.
Metrowest Homeschoolers
An inclusive group for homeschoolers throughout the Metrowest area of Boston.
Moms In Real Life
A support group and play date group for home educating moms.
Newton MA Homeschool Group
A group for people homeschooling or considering homeschooling in Newton
North Shore Inclusive Homeschoolers
A homeschool group for families who are currently or considering homeschooling on the North Shore of Massachusetts.
Nuts About Learning
A group of unschoolers who are seeking real-life connections with others in the Northeastern MA/Southeastern NH area.
Pilgrims Progress Home School Association
A Christian nonprofit organization that offers support to homeschooling families in the Duxbury area as well as the South Shore.
RI Homeschool Teen Scene
A place to share info on in-person hangouts, events, classes, and opportunities for homeschooled teens in RI, MA, and CT.
Salem (MA) Homeschooling Association
A homeschooling group supporting families in Salem and surrounding areas.
Sharon Homelearners
A group for homeschooling families in Sharon and the surrounding communities.
South Shore Home Learners
A group of South Shore families who share similar values regarding education and parenting.
South Shore Homeschoolers
Tri-County Homeschoolers
A support group connecting homeschooling families in the counties of Norfolk, Middlesex, and Worcester.
Western Mass Whole Life Learners
A welcoming community of homeschooling families who live in the Pioneer Valley in Western Massachusetts. Supporting learners of all ages.
Worcester Home Educators Network
A group for Worcester, MA area home educators who meet for support, activities and discussion. This group is open to anyone interested in homeschooling in the area.

Transitioning from classroom learning to home learning can be difficult, no matter what the situation!
Many students will be starting this school year by attending a hybrid school model, where they attend school in person a few days a week and perform school activities at home on other days. Some will continue remote learning, and still others will begin fully homeschooling for the first time. Boston Moms has compiled some helpful hints for remaining focused on education in your new schooling environment, wherever it may be!
- For younger kids, pick one place where they can consistently do virtual classroom calls (like Zoom). Routine can really help!
- Free the space from major distractions. For example, having another child in the same room watching television would detract from the learner’s experience.
- Have all the materials you need “ready to go” in one classroom space. Think about your child’s desk at school — they have crayons, pencils, erasers, glue, etc. Not having to search for these things every time your kiddo needs them is a huge time saver.
- Invest in headphones. Ideally, for younger kiddos, headphones should have a “maximum” setting for volume control.
- Add plants and a rug. They may seem like silly details, but they really help absorb some noise and create a comfortable environment.
- For older kids, consider setting a boundary that they need to “check in” their phones before they sit down to attend a virtual classroom session. Teachers in some schools have strict phone policies because they’re so distracting. Even though I know they can “just use the device they’re on” to communicate with their friends, at least they’re only looking at one screen!
- A “wiggle seat,” fidget toys, or sensory items that can help wiggly fingers, bodies, and the nervous system in general.
- Plan for needs only — not what looks nice on Pinterest! Quiet learning spaces should be just that — quiet.
- Declutter, declutter, declutter!

For homeschool, getting kids to focus is all about design. The more organized and well thought out a lesson (or day in general!) is, the better the chances are that you’ll have a positive result. First of all, remember that homeschool learning does not follow the same timeframe/schedule as classroom learning. You should aim to homeschool between two to four hours each day. The most important thing to remember is that learning can happen in the kitchen, outdoors, in the car, and just about any other place you can dream up.
In virtual or hybrid school, sometimes helping your kiddos focus is about what happens in the “in-between” times that they aren’t on Zoom. First off, a visual schedule for the day and week may help immensely (using words or pictures). You may want to add on to that and utilize a visual timer. Try to utilize tricks that elementary teachers use in the classroom but can’t do virtually, such as prize boxes and sticker charts.
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This guide is brought to you in part by Code Wiz Arlington!
Code Wiz Arlington offers year-round, highly personalized tech classes with rolling enrollments. They’re perfect for the beginner, with options for the more advanced kids! Code Wiz offers flexible timing and class options!
Read more about how Deanna’s kids loved their experience with Code Wiz!
Watch us interview a Code Wiz Arlington coach and see an example of a Code Wiz camp!