Homeschooling Chronicles - Putting Together a Co-op
Co-ops are a great way to create group learning situations for homeschoolers.
By Kristen Kindoll
Gathering together like-minded individuals can be an exciting way to teach and learn. Homeschooling is sometimes seen as an isolating educational adventure. A common perception is that homeschoolers are not being properly socialized. While homeschooling naturally creates pockets of one-on-one time, there are many avenues to simulate a traditional classroom learning environment. Co-ops provide the opportunity for students to learn while simultaneously experiencing socialization.
What is a Co-op?
Parents work together to create a co-op where students can learn in a group setting. It can be organized so that the students learn a variety of subjects, or only one. Generally, parents share teaching, or trade areas of expertise. Perhaps one parent teaches Creative Writing, another Art, while a third parent teaches P.E. Each co-op is unique and decides for itself whether to group by age, how many classes to offer, and how each member will contribute.
How to Start a Co-op
The best way to form a co-op is to find other parents who are looking for a similar learning situation. Parents can find other families by networking, either through social media or by word of mouth. It is essential to have an initial meeting to discuss what each homeschooling parent is hoping to accomplish through the co-op. For instance, if one family is looking for enrichment classes, and another is hoping to cover challenging core curriculum, a co-op is not likely to be effective. It is of utmost importance to decide in advance what classes will be taught, who will teach, what age groups will be included, and how to accommodate younger siblings.
Finding a meeting place is very important. Churches, community centers and recreation centers are great options to investigate. They generally have multiple rooms for classes, as well as the facilities to accommodate large groups of people. Sometimes, your students can offer community service in exchange for facility use. If your group is not too large, private homes are a great venue. Here, the teacher has a readily available kitchen, television, and computer for use in instruction.
The Details of the Co-op
It may be wise to have a contract in place for all individuals. This helps prevent misunderstanding regarding parental commitments and the purpose of the co-op. If certain instruction methods are being employed, or faith is incorporated in the curriculum, this should be addressed in the contract as well. It is also wise to remember that co-ops enrich homeschooling, they are not meant as a replacement for homeschooling.
Cost is the final consideration to make during the formation of a co-op. Does the group want to include a nominal fee to cover general supplies, wear and tear, and business communications? If the answer is yes, then how much should be collected? Will the group have to rent space? If so, will spreading out the cost over a year can help the whole group? A general fee can also help people who are not as committed. Most people tend to show up more regularly when they have paid for something. Perhaps a family would rather pay an extra fee and opt out of teaching or helping for a season. The fee should be clearly communicated in the contract.
There are a variety of ways to form a co-op. The following links may provide more ideas.
Creating a Co-op
In this lesson students analyze Alice In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Students put into groups of four. The members must decide whether Alice made positive or negative choices. The children come together to compare results.
Students participate in a job internship. They devise their goals for their partnership with the company. This is specifically devised for children interested in photography.
In this lesson students design an ideal community. They compare their own homes to those of others. Students read the story “The Five-Bedroom, Six-Figure Rootless Life” read. There is an attached link.
Students work in groups to analyze a poem. Visual aides are used to help explain the meaning of the poem. There are several poems to choose from which cover a range of topics.
