My church will be starting a homeschool co-op. I am very excited about this. Of course I have my own ideas but I would like some more. Now, currently I am the only person at my church who homeschools but we will have several more with K students and one family taking their children out of school by next fall. So, other than a few teachers, a well meaning pastor and a couple who were homeschooling, a former homeschooler, there is me who is homeschooling currently. So, I want to be certain my recommendations are sound. My pastor wants all co-op teachers to be certified for experts in the field they will be teaching. I find this a bit unnecessary and not really a draw to outsiders anyway. What do you think? Keep in mind, he does not homeschool...he will be next year...but not now...never has and admits he knows nothing about it. What do you look for in a co-op? What do you think about having different kinds of classes such as one on starting a business, etiquette, hands on workshops for math or science, craft classes, nature studies, art studies etc...or what do you suggest? I do a weekly book focus with my little ones...what about something like that? We focus on a book and do activities all week based on it. I blog about it every Friday. Now, the few teachers involved were not homeschooled nor have they ever homeschooled. So, my fear is they will make it too traditional....is that a valid concern? Do co-ops with a classroom feel appeal? To me, yes and no...but I expect more hands on type stuff and fun learning. What do you think of progress reports or grade cards? now, no one has mentioned that but all but the homeschooled couple come from such traditional schooling backgrounds I think they may think of doing it...lol. What advice do you have or what classes do you suggest? I thought of having a homeschool 101 class for parents thinking of homeschooling and a K readiness class for all kids regardless of their educational choice. We want this to be kind of a ministry as well...so I think that would reach more people. Just a thought. Thanks for your time and valuable input. I have a feeling that my Willy Wonka crazy mind will clash with traditional schooled minds...LOL.
Can you give me a specific number of how many kids you are expecting? Expecting teachers to be certified is a bunch of nonsense. Sorry, but it is! Co-ops are generally taught by parents. If you've got a certified parent, GREAT!!! Especially when it comes to a higher level class. But, especially with small numbers, that isn't likely to happen. I'm hoping to teach at the co-op next year, but I haven't been certified to teach in quite a long while!!!
I was thinking the same thing, Jackie. However, I think the inexperience of my pastor is showing in this area...lol. I think he thinks it would be a draw to others..I don't think it matters. We will have 4 kids in upper elementary school and junior high. My dd will be the oldest. We will have about 6 toddlers, 5 K students...if not a few more. This is VERY small...but we are trying to start it at our church but not confine it there. We will present it other homeschoolers...so we want to build it up outside of the church. However, we need to get a structure in place. I think one of the ladies will start a MOPS for the little ones though.
I think "experienced" is a better word than "certified". Let him know that certification isn't even required in private schools (and then show him some stats about private and homeschooled kids doing better on standardized tests).
Personally, I think it sounds odd to say you only want teachers teaching the co-op anyway. I mean...it's a homeschooling co-op...lol. Also...you can teach effectively without a teaching degree. My background is in educational psychology...and I have homeschooled for 9 years...I think I can teach a co-op class. lol. Honestly, I think he just doesn't get it. I think in theory the idea of teachers teaching sounds like a good idea. He did mention the doc at our church teaching science and he does not have a teaching degree...so maybe he intended to only want "experienced" people but it did sound odd to say only teachers would teach..and he did say "certified". lol. Again, I think he didn't know what he was saying. I am the ONLY homeschooling parent so hopefully they will take my perspective seriously.
I do like the word "experienced"! I've been part of two co-ops. The first one started small, mostly for families in the church, then grew, then shrunk again. Every mom took a rotation teaching, roughly four weeks. When we had more students, each mom took a rotation as an aide. Babysitting was provided for the small children of teachers/aides. I think we charged about $20 per family supply fee. The other one is VERY large. It's the one I'm part of now. It's main emphasis is for high school. You may not be a part unless you have a child in high school. BUT they DO offer classes for younger kids, but all these children have an older sibling. The cost I think is $35 per semester, plus each teacher charges a fee for their individual class. This is paid directly to the teacher. The teachers are mostly parents, but to teach you really have to jump through hoops! I've been tryng to teach for three years now. Each parent is also expected to "volunteer" for two hours (one hour if you're only taking one class). They want two adults in a class at any given time, which really is a good policy. I lucked out this past year in that I was volunteering in the class of the lady in charge of teachers. She saw first-hand how I worked with the kids, so it gave me an "in" for teaching. So hopefully next year! This co-op runs like a miniature school. There is a schedule, and several classes going on at the same time. They have a year book, choir, junior/senior dance, graduation, etc.
Jackie - we have one like that here, but it's much more expensive. Sounds like a great group for you! I haven't joined ours yet, but it sounds amazing. I just have a problem with co-ops in general because of the difference in academic age vs. writing ability... and the lack of flexibility in speeding up or slowing down during the year. We do a lot of that at home. Sorry to hijack the thread. I just wish I could find a flexible group around here that had multi-aged classes (like K-6th apologia, for example) without having to pay hundreds of dollars, or go through a "complete" curriculum homeschool group, or whatever.
WOW...Jackie that large co-op sounds amazing. In fact, it kinda sounds like what my pastor envisions in the long run...a mini school with lots of kids. he just needs guidance and perspective since he is unfamiliar with homeschooling and co-ops. Honestly, my experience with co-ops isn't much experience at all. So, I wanted to know from other homeschoolers what they look for in a co-op and what types of classes are the most successful.
I was a member of a co-op one year that was held at a local church. They offerred 8-10 classes each time including gym, science, cooking and art. My children enjoyed it and I was able to help out by bringing snacks or helping a teacher here and there. The teachers were parents. They held a Christmas and Valentine's party for the children, too. We enjoyed being a part of it and would do it again if we are able to find one in the area we just moved to.
We joined our co op because of the fact it was taught by moms who knew the subject so I can understand him wanting proof of the knowledge,a certificate? lol! I don't think I would go that far. I needed a place that had class time and free time for my kids to fellowship so they could talk a bit in class or could have a break to get to know new friends. For class ideas We did Geography this year because I was doing it for ds. We have joined Science each year so they can do experiments there... with agroup its always more fun to see what happens. We have the plans for a creative writting class and a bible class... for middle to younger kids lap booking ideas are great to work on together! they offered music, home ec, wood working etc this year too!
What are the co-ops like up your way? If you don't know of any, I have some friend that hs in your area that would probably know. Would you like me to ask them? One is an old friend from camp, one from Bowling Green. And one day, on FB, I found out they knew each other from hs'ing circles! Anlyway, perhaps your pastor would like to see one in operation and talk with them on how it is organized.
Thanks ladies! You have been very helpful! Jackie: I do not know of any co-ops in my area. There are groups...but not in the co-op sense where they do classes...they do field trips and parent night out type thing and have meetings. I was going to join this year. Oh wait..I did know of one co-op but it more geared toward little ones and I was more focused on my older kids at the time I was looking. Maybe I can look into that one. But I'd love to know more about one you know of.
I'll contact my friends and ask them if they know of any. I know there are several in central Ohio...five that I'm aware of, though I'm not sure about the fifth if it's a co-op with classes, or more a social/field trip kind.
