homeschooling in Silicon Valley

[dachapman]

Hello,

 

Can anyone share information about homeschooling groups (mainly focused on academics) in the Silicon Valley area?  I'm looking for a cooperative group where dedicated parents prepare and teach lessons to the group at weekly meetings.  Does anything like this exist in that area?

 

Also, any suggestions on housing areas to seek or avoid on a limited budget?

 

Thanks!

[quark]

You can check out Academic Antics: https://sites.google.com/site/academicantics/

and if suitable, Live Oak: http://liveoakacademy.org/

 

No personal experience, sorry as we live far away from both. I'm quite sure there are others.

 

It will help to know ages of children and the radius around the Bay Area that you are willing to drive. We are in the outskirts of the Bay Area (east/ north east) and depending on where you choose, homes can be cheaper while still giving you access to good facilities for homeschooling (museums, co-ops, math circles etc.).

[desertflower]

I would avoid Cupertino.  Housing is really high.  A 2 bedroom apartment can be $5,000 a month.  Although, the library is exellent.

 

I hear parts of East San Jose is not safe. 

 

Listening in because I just moved here myself. 

 

 

[dachapman]

Thanks for the info!  I have kids currently in 10th grade, 7 grade, and 5th grade, if that makes a difference in what you recommend.  Thanks!

[Carol in Cal.]

Have you signed up for BAHFT yet?  That's a yahoo group that publicizes this kind of stuff for the whole Bay Area.  Also, frequently it's a means of getting tickets to cooperative field trips that are excellent--some homeschool parent will sign up for a 'classroom' type spot and then put the tickets out on BAHFT for others to purchase.  It makes up a critical mass of kids, and gets you exposed to excellent science and arts events.  I particularly enjoyed these field trips to the San Francisco Ballet, San Francisco Opera, and the Lawrence Hall of Sciences in Berkeley.

 

Let me also suggest that you join the Exploratorium in San Francisco--it's an absolutely outstanding science museum for older kids, with the best biology and physics interactive displays I have ever seen anyway.  The Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose is fine for younger kids, but the Exploratorium is far better for older ones.

 

Also, sign up for the mailings of the MidPeninsula Open Space, and you'll be notified of local nature hikes.  

 

Now is the time to plan your summer camps.  You might consider the Seymour Center in Santa Cruz for excellent marine biology camps.  Fairyland in Oakland has outstanding drama camps.

[Arcadia]

If your 10th grader is interested in taking AP exams, these private centers are willing to take candidates outside of the kids they teach. Registration will close Feb/March for these centers.

Los Altos http://www.sileducation.org/ap2016/

Cupertino http://legendcp.com/registerap/

 

There is also Coyote Grange classes which may be near to you, depending on which part of Bay Area you are staying in

https://sites.google.com/site/coyotegrangeclasses/

 

If your kids are into LARP (Live Action Role Playing), there is an active group at Palo Alto Mitchell Park.

http://www.fanwar.com/events/category/paleague/

 

If your children like math circles, they are at SJSU, Stanford and UCB.

http://www.sanjosemathcircle.org

http://mathcircle.stanford.edu

http://mathcircle.berkeley.edu

[Malory]

If your 10th grader is interested in taking AP exams, these private centers are willing to take candidates outside of the kids they teach. Registration will close Feb/March for these centers.

Los Altos http://www.sileducation.org/ap2016/

Cupertino http://legendcp.com/registerap/

 

There is also Coyote Grange classes which may be near to you, depending on which part of Bay Area you are staying in

https://sites.google.com/site/coyotegrangeclasses/

 

If your kids are into LARP (Live Action Role Playing), there is an active group at Palo Alto Mitchell Park.

http://www.fanwar.com/events/category/paleague/

 

If your children like math circles, they are at SJSU, Stanford and UCB.

http://www.sanjosemathcircle.org

http://mathcircle.stanford.edu

http://mathcircle.berkeley.edu

Arcadia, I wonder if you know where a homeschooled kid can take an AP Computer Science course in Silicon Valley.  I have not explored online options because I think my kid would work better with a physical class but I am open to all suggestions.

[Carol in Cal.]

Arcadia, I wonder if you know where a homeschooled kid can take an AP Computer Science course in Silicon Valley.  I have not explored online options because I think my kid would work better with a physical class but I am open to all suggestions.

At the local community college, rather than AP, would be more typical.

 

That also gives you the start of a college record.

 

Also, do you know about the CHSPE?   https://www.chspe.net/about/

 

It enables you to enroll your high school into the community colleges more easily.

[Amimers1]

Have you signed up for BAHFT yet? That's a yahoo group that publicizes this kind of stuff for the whole Bay Area. Also, frequently it's a means of getting tickets to cooperative field trips that are excellent--some homeschool parent will sign up for a 'classroom' type spot and then put the tickets out on BAHFT for others to purchase. It makes up a critical mass of kids, and gets you exposed to excellent science and arts events. I particularly enjoyed these field trips to the San Francisco Ballet, San Francisco Opera, and the Lawrence Hall of Sciences in Berkeley.

 

Let me also suggest that you join the Exploratorium in San Francisco--it's an absolutely outstanding science museum for older kids, with the best biology and physics interactive displays I have ever seen anyway. The Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose is fine for younger kids, but the Exploratorium is far better for older ones.

 

Also, sign up for the mailings of the MidPeninsula Open Space, and you'll be notified of local nature hikes.

 

Now is the time to plan your summer camps. You might consider the Seymour Center in Santa Cruz for excellent marine biology camps. Fairyland in Oakland has outstanding drama camps.

[Amimers1]

Wow, thanks for all the resources! I'm new to the homeschooling idea and in the researching faze. I'm in Martinez, CA and have a 6yr old and 8yr old boys. I almost reached out the the Homeschool group you mentioned but need to get a Yahoo account first as I have a Hotmail account.

[desertflower]

Not exactly on topic, but thought I would let you know that my kids love Gilroy Gardens and the tech museum.

[mirabillis]

Arcadia, I wonder if you know where a homeschooled kid can take an AP Computer Science course in Silicon Valley.  I have not explored online options because I think my kid would work better with a physical class but I am open to all suggestions.

 

We took AP Comp Sci through Edhesive online. Great course. Son earned a 4 in 9th grade with no previous programming experience. Just a shout-out for a great online class! He likes the format so much he's thinking of taking their AP Stats class too...