Resources

What else can tweens and teens do outside of The Hub's community learning programs (or any other programs they're enrolled in)? There are countless options. 

Below you'll find a compilation of activity ideas that can serve as a starting point. (Please note that these lists are designed just to give a taste of what's out there; they're not intended to be comprehensive, nor are they endorsements of the listed items.)

Everyone's education is customized to some degree, but if you're interested in taking this concept further—independently mixing and matching programs, classes and other activities to produce a comprehensive education—you might want to start with this overview of how modular learning works, and what it looks like on a practical level. This primer goes into additional detail about how to account for your child's individual learning style when choosing programs. 

Zooming out further, the main philosophical approaches and styles of homeschooling are summarized here; each features a different type and/or degree of customization. The documentary "Class Dismissed" follows a family's journey through several of these styles. And The Hub's YouTube channel features interviews with subject-matter experts such as Dr. Peter Gray, on topics such as what adolescents need to thrive, foundational learning skills, building resilience, and much more.

General Activity Ideas Sampler (self-directed or family-led, offline):

• Offline curriculum packages (e.g., Oak Meadow and The Well-Trained Mind) cover all academic subjects offered in schools; you can follow one in its entirety, or pick and choose elements (curriculum reviews can be found on sites such as this)
• Books and magazines
• Workbooks
• Printable activities (many free or low-cost ones can be found via Facebook homeschool resources groups or via platforms such as Teachers Pay Teachers)
• Music (playing, composing or performing, perhaps as part of a singing group or band)
• Arts and crafts
• Board or other games (these can build math, strategy, literacy, teamwork and other skills; for ideas, see gameschooling)
• Outdoor exploration and skills
• Sports and other active pursuits 
• Play 
• Field trips 
• Travel (short term or long term; many resources exist for worldschooling)
• Conversations (a key sense-making activity, especially during the teen years) 
• Reflection/journaling
• Story writing or family news dispatches (perhaps to publish online)
• Films 
• Tinkering (Make magazine can provide inspiration, as can the videos of Gabriel Mellan, who facilitated The Hub's inaugural program)
• Practicing other types of skills, alone or with others (whether purely for enjoyment, or with a view to using them in a profession someday; examples include producing e-zines or videos, creating apps, and designing landscapes)
• Co-op classes, field trips, meet-ups, etc. (run by groups of parents)
• Starting a business or non-profit (many examples out there of young people selling services or products, or organizing to help others)
• Day-to-day family tasks (aside from their immediate practical value, young people can learn about adult responsibilities and gain an appreciation and deeper understanding of subjects such as math, physics, botany, ecology, etc., from activities such as cooking, gardening, yard work, and home and auto repair)
• Notes: The "Subject Explorer" tool generates a list of subjects that are learned through different types of life activities. Common Sense Media offers age recommendations for books, movies, TV shows, games, podcasts and apps.

General Activity Ideas Sampler (self-directed or via third parties, online):

• Comprehensive curriculum packages (many options, such as Prenda's "Familyschool" bundle, also allow you to pick and choose elements, and some nonprofits, such as CoreKnowledge, produce free curriculum packages; reviews available on sites such as this)
• Targeted academic programs (many options for self-paced programs focused on individual subjects, e.g., Art of Problem Solving for math and language arts)
• Individual or group tutoring sessions (arranged independently with tutors, or via platforms such as Varsity Tutors, Wyzant, and Preply)
• Outschool (wide-ranging menu of classes offered by independent teachers)
• Aim Academy Online (live, graded classes on many subjects, with a special emphasis on college prep)
• Khan Academy (instructional videos on many subjects)
• DIY.org (hands-on projects plus sharing options)
• Scratch (beginning coding plus sharing options)
• Raspberry Pi (computing) 
• Art of Inquiry (science classes)
• Nobel Explorers (collaborative STEM programs with a global emphasis)
• Desmos (math exploration tools and programs)
• Science Mom (live and recorded lessons on science and math)
• QuantumCamp (science courses with lab kits and history-of-science themes)
• Blue Tent (math, science and English classes)
• Beautiful Math Minds (math and more)
• YouTube (videos on almost any subject of interest; there are also curated compilations for different ages, e.g.: https://medium.com/the-graph/60-youtube-channels-that-will-make-you-smarter-44d8315c2548, http://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/197-educational-youtube-channels/#ixzz2kwAGp4td and https://www.lifewire.com/best-educational-youtube-channels-for-kids-4176195)
• Homeschool with Netflix, Amazon streaming, etc. is a popular forum for tech-enthusiast families to exchange educational online resources 
• Wikipedia (and Wiki for Kids; browse articles about subjects of interest)
• Blogs and podcasts (read about or listen to programs about subjects of interest; curated compilations also exist, e.g., https://www.weareteachers.com/best-podcasts-for-kids/)
• Massive open online courses (MOOCs, on platforms such as EdX and Coursera, offer access to high-level classes on many topics)
• Video games (education researcher Dr. Yong Zhao talks about how to differentiate between engaging and educational video-game playing versus passive video-game playing in this interview)
• Lots of other specific examples can be found in compilations such as this list of secular resources, compiled by the Relaxed, Older, Secular & Eclectic Facebook group, or this list of individual online courses on Cathy Duffy Reviews (her site has a corresponding list of religious courses too)

General Activity Ideas Sampler (third-party providers, in person) 

(Some examples and more general ideas are below. Note: A good way to learn about options in your area is to search local parenting forums or local homeschooling groups on Facebook.)

Examples in Washington, D.C. and nearby parts of MD and VA:

• Ancestral Knowledge (outdoors education)
• Natural Leaders (outdoors education)
• Urban Adventure Squad (outdoor themed programs)
• Forest Explorers (outdoors education)
• RhizomeDC (art, literature, science, and other creative classes and programs)
• Learning Outside the Box (classes on geography, philosophy and other subjects)
• Compass Homeschool Classes (classes, clubs, and other activities)
• Inquisiminds (classes on a variety of subjects)
• Cheverly STEM Education Center (classes on science, tech, engineering and math topics)
• Makersmiths (makerspace for children and adults)
• Kid Museum (experiential education and makerspace)
• The Writer's Center (writing workshops)
• Prep Matters (one-on-one tutoring)
• Labyrinth Games (games shop that runs many game-playing events)

Other types of opportunities that are widespread:

• Community college classes (this can be a way to earn both high school and college credits, and lead to enrollment in a four-year college at a much lower overall cost)
• Networked programs focused on specific themes, e.g.,  Art of Problem Solving (math centers and programs); scouting organizations; 4-H clubs (these range from animal care to ham radio, board games, archery, etc.); Kumon (math); Writopia (writing, debate, role-playing games); 826 Centers (writing and publishing); and Stemtree (STEM-related programs and services)
• A growing number of schools (public as well as private, depending on the district) offer part-time enrollment options, giving students leeway to pick and choose classes, and to enroll in extracurricular activites too. Examples of networks in which some member schools offer flexible or p/t schedules, and/or dual-enrollment options: Liberated Learners; Acton Academies; Agile Learning Centers; Prenda; Fusion Academy. A lot of unaffiliated learning centers are listed on the AERO and ASDE websites, but many more options also exist; ask around to find out what’s in your area. The National Microschooling Center can also point you to micro-schools in your region.
• Independent teachers offer classes on a wide range of subjects for small groups of students, typically in their homes
• Tutoring sessions
• Pottery, theater, and art center programs
• Sports classes and leagues 
• Museums, historical sites, botanical gardens, etc. often offer educational programs
• Community center programs (some areas have both public and private gathering places for all ages, such as Alder Commons)
• Many religious, cultural and ethnic organizations run programs for young people
• Nature centers, national and state parks, and environmental organizations offer programs
• Library programs (including innovative ones, such as the "Human Library"; many librarians are also very open to trying new ideas, especially if there is already a critial mass of interested individuals)
• Martial arts
• Live action role play, and historical re-enactments
• Hobby clubs for all sorts of other interests (check Meetup, stores that cater to the hobbies, etc.)
• Volunteer opportunities (at farms, animal shelters, libraries, and many other places; ask around and offer to help!)
• Mentorships, internships and/or apprenticeships (opportunities may not be advertised, but lots of adults welcome opportunities to serve as informal or formal mentors to young people who are interested in their professions; find people who work in your field of interest, perhaps through the local chapter of a professional organization, and ask them if they need help doing things that fall within your abilities)
• Part-time job

If you can't find something you wish existed, consider starting it (by yourself or with others), or mention it to people whenever an opening arises; someone may jump at the opportunity to apply their time and talents in that way.

Putting It All Together—Scheduling the Days:

If you're curating a fully modular education as a homeschooling parent, how you approach each day is up to you. If you and your children like a lot of structure, you can create a daily/weekly/monthly schedule, and adapt it every so often as needed (some examples are listed here). A more organic approach can work well for others. It's useful to start with the ultimate goals of the educational journey, plus any official requirements that have to be met, and then work backwards to figure out what needs to be done by when. Bear in mind that learning also naturally happens during (or can be intentionally incorporated into) life activities, and that focused learning happens faster without the need for classroom management. 

Some parents—including those who are single, working for employers or clients, or handling extra responsibilities such as eldercare—face additional challenges but are often willing to help each other by brainstorming scheduling solutions, carpooling, trading off overseeing activities, etc. There are also international support groups such as The Working Homeschool Mom Club.

Putting It All Together—Keeping a Portfolio: 

Homeschooling parents can maintain a portfolio using simple spreadsheet, word-processing or hand-written documents, supplemented as needed with folders/binders containing physical documentation of a child’s educational journey (stories, artwork, etc.). There are also third-party portfolio services.

You can find additional ideas, and opportunities to discuss options with other parents who are also directing their children’s independent learning, on numerous listservs and Facebook groups, Pinterest and Instagram accounts, etc. They may be organized based on geography, childrens' ages, education style (relaxed, secular, faith-based, etc.), or other commonalities.