We encourage everyone to communicate, work together, offer their particular talents and skills in meaningful ways to the group so that we can energize as a group instead of being lone planets of schooling. We have a WhatsApp Group, please ask to get on it if you are not already, we have a group calendar you could put events on or find possible events, we have regular emails to share events, classes, possibilities and connections of possible use or interest for our homeschooling community (J-LIFT). When you sign up for LHUG, please make sure you are hooked into these groups, they are valuable resources.
We ask that, throughout the year, if possible, everyone offer to the group at least one significant support piece, such as offering a short term class, or organizing a trip for the group or having a regular special interest group meeting (like Chess for 4th-6th grade boys, for example). It makes our group a rich and variegated community to learn in and strengthens our childrens’ social connections in the group, besides expanding their personal growth and skills.
LHUG Staff & Committee Members
Yehudis Eagle – Welcoming (Baltimore City & County)
Bethany Mandel – Welcoming (Montgomery & Howard Counties)
Rachel Goff – Legal Expert
Leah Lazar – Technical Support & Webmaster
Chaya Morasha Berkowitz – Internal Policy & Treasurer
If you’d like to contact any of the staff, use our “Contact Us” page or email us at lhug.umbrella@gmail.com
A. Assess Child’s best learning methods (i.e. physical workbooks, experimenting, reading, videos, etc)
B. Take note of your child’s interests and passions and build them into their plan. It all counts toward learning.
C. Assess Your Monitoring Needs and your budget – how hands off or hands on can you be; how often will you check work or child’s progress; do you want to have an all-in-one curriculum that notifies you of child’s completed work and progress automatically w/ emails; do you want to ‘walk with your child in learning’ – explore museums, historic sites and nature together?
D. Put together a sketch of a plan that will address state requirements for the required subject areas (English, Math, Social Studies, Science, Art, Music, Health and Physical Education). The older your child is, the more helpful and important it will be to include them in the planning. They will be more motivated to work in a program that they have helped choose.
E. Decide if you will report your child’s work directly to your city or county educational jurisdiction or if you will join an umbrella group for legal oversight, reporting and compliance for your homeschool.
F. Explore curriculum options, ask for input from experienced homeschoolers and put together your plan.
G. Create your “Homeschool Space,” Get your curriculum, materials, and memberships, pick a date to start and help your child get started for at least the first week or two. Like learning to ride a bicycle, support and guidance in the early stages goes a long way towards your child’s success in homeschooling.
Depending on how you choose to homeschool, it can be very inexpensive, just a few hundred dollars a year, or it can cost thousands for premium memberships, tutoring or outside classes and activities, larger homeschool co-op fees, supplies and high-priced curricula.
Our umbrella group tries to keep costs low by sharing available classes and resources that any of us are participating in or that we think are good possibilities for others, and also by encouraging our members to contribute to our learning and social community from their areas of talents, interests and expertise. It is possible to get started with a full homeschool plan for less than $100, but it does require some planning and effort. See https://cathyduffyreviews.com/homeschool-reviews-core-curricula/unit-studies-all-in-one-programs/all-in-one-programs# for all-in-one programs. Online, Easy Peasy: All inOne Homeschool and Kahn Academy are Free Educational Sites
No, you only have to submit the form once at the start of homeschooling for each child.
If you switch your umbrella group, or move for county to city (or vice versa), you have to submit it at that time.
If there are no significant changes, then no notification required .
Note, that Montgomery county requires a yearly notification form to be submitted.
When filling out the homeschool notification Form for city or county, use this address:
Lubavitch home-school umbrella program
770 Howes Lane, Columbia, MD 21044
This is the name and address on file with the state of md education system
If you would like to become a new member, please contact us here and a friendly and helpful Welcome Committee member will reach out to you shortly to make this a smooth and easy process.
If you were a member previously, and would like to renew your membership for this upcoming school year,
follow the instructions found HERE
An umbrella group is an entity, which serves to oversee homeschooling families and help them meet the requirements of their state’s homeschooling laws. Additionally it maintains records and assists with curriculum and course options for homeschooling families.
Yes! LHUG is officially registered with and recognized by the State of Maryland Board of Education as “Lubavitch Home-School Umbrella Program”.
We are in full compliance with all the legal requirements to be your Umbrella Homeschool Group if you live in Maryland and wish to homeschool your child(ren).