I didn't read all the replies. I am just going to state how ours is run. We have a group of four moms who pretty much plan everything. They ask for input and then set things up. I have a few issues with this, but it is working so... Anyway, basically everyone that has a child in the co-op is assigned to help somewhere. They are not permitted to just drop their child off. If you aren't teaching, you are a hall monitor, snack preparer, preschool helper, clean up after snack helper, etc. I do really like this part of it This year they taught science and PE all year. They rotated between art, drama, and music for the extra class. Next year, they are doing science, art, drama and music again. But they are adding in geography and social studies. I believe they are using either Apolgia or Abeka curriculum. Obviously we didn't do the science this year thus I am not positive on which they used. With twins, I couldn't get there early enough. We did the PE, art, drama and music. I am not sure if we will sign up to do the earlier classes or not next year. We will see towards end of summer. Our fees were $50 to belong to the homeschool group in general. $90 per child for all the classes. Then book fees for the curriculum and supplies. Since we didn't do the curriculum, our supplies fees were maybe $20 per child for the whole year. I haven't heard if they are increasing or decreasing these fees next year. I know they had enough extra to have a big end of year pizza party and to cover our field day this Friday.
After reading the whole thread, I wanted to expand on this more. These 4 moms have sent out questionairs and have spoke to a couple other moms about what to do and when, but then they just set things up the way they want. They haven't had a group meeting, invited anyone else to come have a say, etc. Yet, I heard one of them today say how she was tired of doing it all and not getting much help. I was told early that I didn't have to help at all because anyone with infants was exempt from helping. Yet, I got a glare today (even though I have always helped at every meeting even with twin babies doing either clean up or directing traffic in the halls) that apparently I am not doing enough either. If you want everyone to help, then everyone should have a voice. If you want to run the whole thing, then run the whole thing and be happy with the help you get. Sorry to be preachy, it just really upset me today when my daughter wasn't accepted into the preschool room because I wasn't helping anywhere with the testing that we are doing this week (Stanford Achievement Tests).
we've done so many, here's a few Friday Forum- Monthly 9mos/yr HUGE (50 families) the day is split into 4 periods, 2 adults in each "class" classes are in grades (preK,K and 1-3 and 4-6 and middle/high school) there's a moms break room & a nursery. each mom works 2 classes and has 2 breaks. No homework, no stress, slightly academic, mostly social. My kids are taking speech, photography, cooking, show & tell, art, ballet... snack is served. fees for each family $40/yr and some classes have additional fees for supplies. Latin- 2 fridays/month we were all usign Prima Latina and we'd get together to recite and play a word game and play. no charge, we took turns bringing snack. The mom who was most interested in the topic decided she wanted to do all the leading, but the kids ended up doing it on their own without much input after a few months. Science club- we limited to 9 families. lasted 9 months (did this 3 yrs) each family hosted a month COMPLETELY, planning activities, bringing snack, etc. we had an annual theme, based on TWTM (one yr was life science, another year was earth science...) the rest of the months your family didn't have to do anything but show up. Art- someone bought Atelier & spent a fortune, we got together twice a month and the other moms financed the supplies History Club- we were all using TWTM curriculum, and we took turns bringing supplies and "teaching" projects. ----------------------------------- so your oop can be whatever you want, i hope that helps. for the record, latin for children is way better than prima latina imho
I would love to hear some details on exactly what was used and done for this!!! I may try to implement WTM at home but am not sure where to start... and probably won't try until fall. I'd also love more details on this. I'd love history club around here, but am not sure if there's interest. Glad to see you still popping in here!
When we first started our coop a few years back only three other moms showed up to the meeting. We each planned a few classes we were willing to teach, then we called our homeschool group letting them know what stuff we will have offered that semester. At first the newer moms just wanted to help but it changed later as more moms joined. We have over 40 familys now. What types of things do you do? I think coop should be fun classes or classes that supplement a subject not teach it. The kids at our co-op just love their classes. They want to come every day if they could hahaha. Our science classes are more like a lab for example we have no preasure on the kids we want them to enjoy and want to come back. We ask at a meeting what everyone would like to see next semester we get our ideas from that. We have meetings for that but not on the rules, that is done with older members who are part of a board. Do you have dues and how much are they? If not, how do you pay for things? We keep it as low as possible $15 a semester no matter how many kids. Some classes have small fees of $5.00 or we have a list of things they need to buy. We try to keep it low. How do people get in? Is it by approval or invitation or can anyone join? We are a Christian group so we expect them to sign a statement of faith. Baptist, Church of Christ, Methodist, we have a large variety of different church religions though we are christians we dont push our own church religion. We have a lot of problems with kids getting thrown out of public school because of behavior problems and they try coming to us right away, thinking we are some sort of drop off point for them to dump their kids. We encourage them to teach at home at first then try some other outlets before joining us if they are serious about homeschooling. We let them know right off the bat that they have to be there at all times and we work the new people keeping them really busy. They either stay with us or leave. Its word of mouth how we get the word out on new members. They also have to be recommended by a member too. What do you do if someone isn't carrying their weight? Either they're constantly late or don't teach etc. Everyone helps at our coop if not teaching then they have to help as helpers for the teachers. We encourage them to half a class with another mom. If they dont help out in class then they help out in the kitchen with lunch preparation. We also have clean up duty afterschool, clean up the caferteria, play ground duty. If its filled all postions then they are floaters incase someone is not there or they need extra help. If they dont help at all they can't join its that simple. Our motto is what we look for in a family is not "What can your coop do for me? Its what can I do to help out!" If they are constantly late we tell them they need to go home. We had one mom keep saying she had a doctor appointment at first we said ok then it happened again, then again. We just told her we will see her next semester. She had high school kids and thought since they were old and driving themselfs it would be ok to just leave them. We never saw her back again. I guess she figured it was too much work. Oh and if you live in a highly regulated state, IHIPs)..... Sorry we dont do that here. It may sound strict, but I tell you because we are picky we have some darn good families in our group that I just adore and they are such good influences for my kids we are truly blessed. Sam
