If you participate in a co-op, would you answer a few questions?

[gandpsmommy]

Why do you participate in a co-op? How often does the co-op meet? What subjects are offered? What are the biggest advantages for you? What are the disadvantages? How did your co-op get started?

[Linda]

I don't know how our co-op got started. I think it started five years ago . . . this is our first year.

The advantages are purely social. The boys get to play with some other kids. They take gym, art, music, drama--the kinds of things that often get pushed to the back burner around here. (Who am I kidding? They get pushed off the stove completely.)

One disadvantage is that we "lose" a day at home. The other is that I find the co-op disorganized. From what I can tell, this is my issue only as nobody else there seems the slightest bit annoyed about starting late, making last-minute schedule changes, etc.

[Soph the vet]

We've been in a co-op for four years. I think it has been in existence for ten years. We have science, gym, and music this year for 1st-8th grade. We also have classes for the younger crowd, and a nursery. We run on a tight schedule, there are seven members on our board, and we pay our teachers rather than share duty. The moms spend time going over an agenda of field trips, socials, fundraisers, etc., we have a time of prayer, and then we spend the last hour discussing different topics. It has been a wonderful group of women to get to know and my kids have developed some great friendships. We meet twice a month, about 15 times during the school year at a local church.

[Peek a Boo]

I've been in several different co-ops, all for different reasons.

Why do you participate in a co-op?
That depends on which co-op!
One we are is mostly around a theatrical performance. The parents who have children not in the play set up classes as time killers for them while waiting for rehearsal. My two older ones are in the play; my 6yo takes classes, and my younger two are in the nursery.
Another one is a weekly academic one -that one is specifically intended to reinforce subjects already taught.

Previous ones have been every other week for fun supplements and every week for PE and academics.


How often does the co-op meet?

One meets every other week, the other meets weekly. i prefer weekly. Myabe even a couple days a week :)

What subjects are offered?
In the theatrical one, you're either in the play rehearsing or you're not. For those who are not [usually younger siblings] classes offered include a Kids Konkoction [kids making goop n stuff], cooking, Pet Studies, and PE.

had to edit: in the weekly ones, we have Apologia Lab classes, Robotics w/ NXT [lego building science principles], speech, Gvt [citizenship for youngers], and knitting.

other co-ops have included periodic table of the elements, greek, music, cooking, critical thinking, science topics, birds/bugs, and preschool stuff.

What are the biggest advantages for you?
The theatrical one offers a wonderful group project experience. akin to a team sport. The kids love the performances. We'll be performing at Scarborough Fair again this year. what a treat!

The younger kid classes I count as fun. Other classes have been very helpful: robotics, gvt [discussion], public speaking, apologia lab classes, critical thinking classes, and dissection come to mind.

We also are a very social family, so the opportunity to get outta the house and have some fun is huge. Well, ok, so one co-op is IN our house, but it's still fun!

What are the disadvantages?
I tend to want as many classes that deal directly w/ subjects i am teaching at home. Since a well-run co-op requires a lot of give and take, I can't MAKE someone teach something. Not for very long, anyway! and I can't teach EVERYTHING and be in two places at once [though sometimes it seems like i try too]. i wish i could find a day-long co-op to fit everything I want. I would also like to see more commitment to a time schedule, both in start time and changing classes. I'm working on that, lol.

How did your co-op get started?

some were organized before I got there, some were there but not quite as organized, and the one in my house was started by me and a friend :-) all the really great ones have a "command central" yahoogroup that helps facilitate discussion and planning.

[Hillary in KS]

Why do you participate in a co-op?
We wanted a chance for our children to have classes that were difficult to do on our own. Some of us wanted to offer classes that maybe intimidated other parents.

How often does the co-op meet?
Once a week, 14 weeks before Christmas, 14 weeks after.

What subjects are offered?
Choir, drama (we're doing an abridged version of "Annie"), Latin 1 and 2, Art (grades 1-12), Apologia Astronomy, PE, Spanish, beginning ballet (for ages 4-8), and FIAR.

What are the biggest advantages for you?
The opportunity for dc to take classes like choir and drama, that are hard to do at home. I also teach Latin, which forces me to stay on top of our Latin studies at home. :) I love accountability!

What are the disadvantages?
Having to be there every week (if you're teaching).

How did your co-op get started?
At the time, there were classes in town, but everything was at least $100 per child, per semester. We wanted to form classes that were affordable for homeschooling families.

[abbeyej]

Ours isn't a co-op, it's classes for home schooled kids. Some are taught by parents, many are taught by outsiders.

Classes meet once a week (Tuesdays or Thursdays) for ten weeks on the quarter system. There are 55 minute classes on the hour from 9AM-1PM and sometimes little co-ops from 1-1:30 (simple things like a time for kids to play chess after chess class, a book club, or other kid-lead things mostly). Cost for classes ranges from about $40-150 for the ten weeks, depending on the expertise of the teacher and the preparation / materials required.

Subjects offered in the last year include:
French
Spanish
Latin
Fencing
P.E. (the PE coach we have is so fabulous! her class really is what PE *should* be)
Kung Fu
Swimming
Healthy Cooking
Mad Science
Backyard Science
Writing
Drama
Literature (middle / high school)
Mixed Media Art
Drawing
Painting
Clay
Needlework
American Girl Club
Chess
Recycled Art
Violin
String Quartet
Intro to Music
Guitar
Folk Dancing
Jazz and Modern Dance

and more I can't think of right now...


The best parts about it for me are:
a chance for the kids to spend time with other home schoolers
a chance for *me* to spend time with other adults (who also happen to be home schoolers)
the kids can take a variety of classes in subjects I couldn't or wouldn't teach them at home (with minimal driving for me)
the kids love it
teachers from outside the home school community (as well as within) who bring interesting skills and seem to enjoy our kids

The worst parts are:
it eats into our school day, and even though we only choose to do classes one day a week, that has an impact on our schooling (which so far has been worth the trade-off)
it can be expensive since it is *not* a co-op (but families choose only the classes they wish to take, so some spend a little and some spend a great deal)
it's a *ton* of work for the volunteers who run the organization (and only teachers get paid for their work -- the administrative stuff, which is significant with ~150 families involved -- is all handled by those of us who are working to home school our kids, care for our families, perhaps do jobs inside or outside the home as well, etc)
since it's large and not selective in any way, there are sometimes behavior and discipline problems with some children

It's also not a drop-off program -- parents must stay on the property with their kids. This is really the way it has to be at a program like ours, though certainly there are times when dropping my kids somewhere for a few hours sounds nice! ;)

[Ferdie]

We joined our co-op for social reasons, since we were new to the area and wanted to connect with other hs families. We meet every Friday, 8:30-12:30 for 20 weeks.

Our co-op offers classes in academics, (math games, science, Spanish, writing, around the world) creative arts, (music, voice, rubber stamping, drawing, art, knitting, beading, Lego robotics) life skills, (cooking, quiliting, manners, study skills) and PE.

Biggest advantage is that it gives my kids something to look forward to each week. We work hard four days a week and then we put away the books and go to a different environment one day a week. Secondly, it has been a great way for my kids to make friends and for me to get to know the kids I teach. Also, it has been rewarding to watch my kids mature as they learn from other teachers. Lastly, my children get to try things that they have an interest in and that I don't want to teach like labs for science, formal cooking class and quilting.

Biggest disadvantage is that it cuts into our school schedule. Since we don't homeschool with our normal curriculum on Fridays we have to make up the time we spent at co-op for some of our courses, (mostly math and english that have 160 lessons). We went on less field trips this year so we could get our work done on the 4 days that we school.

Our co-op was started in 1992 by 5 like-minded homeschool moms. It is extremely well run and several other co-ops have been spun off this one. The director of our co-op is amazing.

[FloridaLisa]

Why do you participate in a co-op?

It meets the need for some classes in our family, is taught by well-qualified parents, and is with a group of families with whom I share similar academic and spiritual goals for our children.

How often does the co-op meet?

Once a week.

What subjects are offered?

Can be eclectic because it depends on the needs expressed and what parents are willing to teach. This year it's been literature, logic, cooking, writing, science, Precepts and Shakepeare. (Also a chapel with some teaching, hymn and memory work.)

What are the biggest advantages for you?

1) My dc love the outside accountability; 2) it's taken a couple of subjects off my plate; 3) we all enjoy the fellowship; 4) exposure to some excellent teachers; 5) it serves the high schooler all the way down to the nursery age.

What are the disadvantages?

While I've known disadvantages previously with co-ops, I seriously have none this year with this co-op situation.

How did your co-op get started?

It's the remnant of a co-op started 18ish years ago, some of whom are still involved.


HTH,
Lisa

[Suzanne in ABQ]

We mainly do co-op for music, and art. We have a homeschool chorus that has about 50 kids. I can't create that at home. We have also done drawing, and art history. I teach Kindermusik at our co-op so that my preschooler will have it, and so that the other kids (who wouldn't normally have an opportunity) will get to enjoy it, too.

They offer other courses, like Latin, and Grammar, and Geography, but we don't do those at co-op. We're happy tackling those at home. They offer several courses specific to the Catholic faith (it's a Catholic co-op), but we're not Catholic, so we don't do those courses either.

We meet once a week, on Friday mornings. The advantages are that my dd gets to participate in choir, for a very low price. I would have to pay big bucks, and drive her all over town, for the city girls' choir. I like this better. Also, they enjoy the social benefits. I believe it's good for my dc to get to know people in another faith, and to actually be in the minority among them.

Disadvantages are the loss of time we could be spending on "real" school. We're done by 1:30 every week, but the whole day is pretty much shot after that. Also, working so closely with other moms and other kids is stressful sometimes, expecially when parenting styles don't align.

I don't know exactly how it got started. I know it started with three families, and has just sort of exploded in the past few years. The leaders aren't quite sure what to do with it sometimes. It's just gotten so complicated. I can see them bowing out in the coming years, but I believe that there are others who will take the baton, and run with it.

[kate in seattle]

Why do you participate in a co-op?
outside accountablility for high school kids. encouragement and support. academic rigor. friends in like-minded families.

How often does the co-op meet?
once a week, on Thursdays, 8:30 - 2:30

What subjects are offered?
Our co-op is based on the 4 year history/science sequence recommended by SwB. We also have an early morning elective period and an all-family (except Rhetoric kids) Bible time. Schedule looks kind of like this.

8:30 - 9:30 is early morning elective
Grammar level - art/art history
logic level - mapping the world by heart
rhetoric - 2nd year latin

These choices change from year to year. For Rhetoric students we have offered Aplogetics in Year 1, Latin for years 2 & 3 of the sequence and Understanding the Times for Year 4. We have offered IEW for younger kids and formal logic, as well.

10 - 10:45
all children & parents - Bible
Rhetoric (high school kids) - Toastmasters

11:00 - 12:30 - AM session
12:30 - 1:15 - lunch
1:15 - 2:30 - PM session
We meet for 5 6-week units. At the younger grades we have 3 history units (1, 3, 5) and 2 science units (units 2 & 4) Right now we are in Year 3 (Early Modern). We are in Unit 4, which is a Chemistry unit. Each mom teaches one 6 week unit at one of three levels (beginning grammar, advanced grammar or logic) We have two moms who teach Bible all year (we also go through the Bible in a 4 year rotation) And two moms who do 'hands-on' projects/re-enactments. We have two paid positions for Rhetoric. They do great books and history in the AM and have a lab science (using either ABEKA or Aplogia) in the PM.

What are the biggest advantages for you?
Outside accountablility for older students. Meeting with other like-minded families who are committed to classical, Christian home-schooling.

What are the disadvantages?
Losing one day a week. Having to work really hard on Fridays, as it is our 'monday'. After all those years of Sonlight and Friday afternoon field trips and art lessons, it is hard to change!

How did your co-op get started?
A group of moms who wanted more accountability for academic rigor. It had been meeting for several years before someone found WTM. This is our second time through the cycle (i.e. we have done WTM for 7 years). I started out as just a mom but am now the Rhetoric great books and history teacher.

Our co-op is amazing and wonderful. The leaders pray, pray, pray and co-op runs really well.

kate in seattle

[Laura K (NC)]

Why do you participate in a co-op?
Peer Pressure. :)

How often does the co-op meet?
Once a week most weeks. We didn't meet between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we had off Ash Wednesday,and we're taking off two weeks for Easter.

What subjects are offered?
The kids range in age from baby-toddler to high school. The kindergarteners get story time, science, and free time. The 3-5th graders get logic puzzles, latin, and geography. The 6-8 graders get apologetics, Fallacy Detective, and Geography. The high schoolers have had classes like music history, SAT prep, Latin, Spanish, and art history. All the grades have had science classes before.

What are the biggest advantages for you?
Foreign language. I have a hard time teaching it. And my younger two sons have good friends in co-op.

What are the disadvantages?
Our co-op has several big families, and if one kid in the family is sick, there might be 6-7 kids gone, plus a teacher. It can't be helped, but the problem is worse in a co-op situation than it would be in a public school situation. Also, another disadvantage is that all the moms don't have the same expectations from the co-op. I've prepared demanding courses for high schoolers, and half the class regularly comes to class without the book (when they bother to show up). I have given up on the high schoolers altogether, and lowered my expectations when I teach a younger class. I don't think you can have any expectations for learning unless a teacher assigns homework and the parents actually make sure it's done. After 5 years of co-ops, I don't think this is possible unless you pay money into a co-op so people feel obligated to show up and get their money's worth.

How did your co-op get started?
Several Catholic moms got together and thought it would be a good idea. Here in the south we're somewhat isolated and ostracized from the large county homeschool group, so this was a way for us to expose our kids to schooling in a Catholic setting, and for our kids to make Catholic friends. I love the friends. For my younger kids, we just say we're schooling 4 days a week and don't much count the co-op day.

[mcconnellboys]

I helped start a coop here about three years ago. A very strong-willed person, who has a lot of control issues, ended up pretty much taking it over by the end of that first school year and folks were dropping out like crazy. She then disappeared due to various family issues and I joined with a couple of other people to re-start coop for our second year. So I would say that it's hard to start a coop alone, but it's also hard, sometimes, to deal with the personalities of those with whom you'll be working....

The re-organization worked out very well for us, however, and we offered a variety of extras as opposed to basics during our second year. I did a Kentucky history class for fall and a Tree of Life (bio/classification) class for spring. A geography class, some great art appreciation classes, a chemistry class and some other things were also offered for elementary and middle school age children. We had some high schoolers that year and we offered health for them; logic; political science; and a test taking/study skills type class through local tutoring center personnel. We had a journalism group going throughout the year, as well as a theatre group, which culminated in a spring play production (Secret Garden, that year). Unfortunately, one of the folks who helped start it again staged a coup and took it over completely. I'm not quite sure what it is about women and coops, but they seem to have the same tendency as military leaders with small countries..... To that end, I don't think I'm ever going to organize a "formal coop" again, LOL. I tend to think that coops should be run by a majority group decision making process, as opposed to one or two making the decisions they want for their family and forcing those on others.....

This year, we actually have a REAL coop, by accident, I suppose. It's wonderful! I just started scheduling things that I thought my son would like and advertising them over our area yahoo group for homeschoolers in case anyone else wanted to join us. We have over 350 area families who post to this group, so it's really good for getting information dessiminated.

We've always had around two dozen to three dozen participants (sometimes more) for the things we do. When we go to an event, other folks will generally begin talking about things they'd like to do and I'll encourage them to schedule those things. In some cases they do, in others, they ask me to schedule for them (don't have a computer at home, etc.). Sometimes, we work together, and they contact the business/person about a field trip, etc. and then I'll post it online for them.

We've done a large variety of things this year through a greater variety of community agencies, so our kids have experienced a larger variety in their teaching staff. I feel like this has been more what a coop really, truly should be, and I hope it can continue, loosely organized as it is.....

For ideas of things we've done this year:

Area library: three week session on writing poetry (90 minutes each week); she's getting ready to do another spring writing class - not sure yet what the focus will be.... Six week Spanish enrichment class with a native speaker (@1 hour each). Monthly "Extreme Explorers" group exploring topics of history and science (at about 45 minutes each).

UK Arboretum: "All About Fall", four week (@2 hours each) class, covering seeds and their dispersal; leaves and their pigments; winter tree identification; seasonal light change, migration, hibernation, etc.

4-H: A series of introductory topics which will lead us into further study of at least one of these areas for spring: Kentucky regions; life cycles of trees; water cycle; entomology (@1 hour each).

Group golf lessons at an area golf course where the pro does an *excellent* job working with children! (@ about 75 minutes each)

Weekly group activities that allow for some physical exercise, as well as free play/socializing. These have included free swim at an area YMCA, gym and swim at the same Y, open gymnastics time, free play in a large, indoor tunnel system, bowling, etc.
(2 hours each)

We began meeting at the library once a week with an area artist in the fall. She's been so good with the kids that we've continued with her all school year and since January have been able to meet with her at the neighborhood clubhouse of one of the folks in our group.
(90 minutes each week)

This same person was able to arrange friends of hers, who are native Spanish speakers, to do a great, fun Spanish class for our children which began in January and will continue to year's end. (@ 1 hour each week)

I try to schedule weekly field trips when we don't already have theatre dates. We have to schedule in fall for the whole school year with our local children's theatre to attend school day performances of their events. This year, I've been trying to schedule two similar trips, back to back. So we may do two biology related things, then two Kentucky history related things, etc. I generally try to do these on Fridays. Length varies by event and location.

So those are some of the things we've been doing. There's a huge variety in what's available through coops. If you don't find one that suits you, it really is possible to keep working until you find a perfect fit!

Regena

[mom2att]

How did your co-op get started?
We started 4 or 5 years ago with just a handful of families at our church. We had kids of similar ages, and we wanted to get together for things like park days, field trips, parties, etc., so we did just that. We still have most of those original families today, though our group has grown considerably.

How often does the co-op meet?
We meet on Friday mornings for 12 weeks in the fall, and 12 in the spring.

What subjects are offered?
Whatever the parents want to teach. I usually ask what kinds of classes people are looking for, and what they are willing to teach, and it all seems to work out in the end. We also have a couple of classes that we bring in outside teachers for, and the parents pay them directly. The classes taught by parents in the group only have a small fee. This year we've had classes like engineering, cooking, p.e., art, American Girl, All-American Boy (a scout-like class), marine biology, yearbook . . . and more I can't think of right now.

What are the biggest advantages for you?
Friendships for both my kids and me. I've met so many amazing families through our co-op. As the leader, I always pray that God will send us those who need us and whom we need. I'm constantly amazed by how He continues to do this.

What are the disadvantages?
Time-wise, it's a huge commitment. Our families pretty much have to be there each week, or else arrange for a sub, since we rely wholly on parental participation. We also lose a day each week in our schooling, and I'm afraid my children are a little too accustomed to three-day weekends, since co-op day is often even more fun than a weekend day!

Why do you participate in a co-op?
We've all gained friendships and relationships that will last a lifetime as a result of our co-op. I think of my co-op as my extended family, and I am so glad they are a part of my life. :-)

[Sandy in Indy]

Why do you participate in a co-op?

It provides some social outlet for my children...and it's a great support system for me. Our group is small and will cap at 25 families. Right now, we have 18 families.

How often does the co-op meet?

Classes for the kids are twice a month during the school "year." We have a monthly Mother's Meeting (read 10% business and 90% fellowship/snacks). There's also a monthly field trip for the kids.

What subjects are offered?

It varies because it depends on the families want and what the moms are willing to teach. This year we've done a Challenger Mission (which we accomplished by inviting other non-member homeschoolers to participate) and Finance Park (a Junior Achievement program). Next year we plan to do drama in the spring. In the past we've done science, art, music... We try to do things that require a group or that are just more fun in a group. We don't generally do academic subjects (no algebra or chemistry!).

What are the biggest advantages for you?

We love the support of the families. It's a great group of moms, and I've made wonderful friendships. Our neighborhood has no kids; our church doesn't have a lot of activities; this is the group that forms the basis for our kids' fellowship.

What are the disadvantages?

The only disadvantage has nothing to do with the way the group runs or what it offers. I'm the current director, and have been for going on 4 years, and it can be a big time thief. I consider it a service project, though, and feel it's worth what I put into it.

How did your co-op get started?

It started about 7 years ago. A good friend, who had homeschooled 15 years and been involved in lots of groups, wanted a group that personified the best in what she'd seen in other groups. GRACE (Generations Reared Around Christ's Example) was born out of that.

[JudoMom]

Why do you participate in a co-op?
Dh wanted the boys to have the experience of learning things from other people, and to experience more of a classroom type setting.

How often does the co-op meet?
We meet once a week for 3 hours (the kids participate in three 1 hour classes). Moms are supposed to work 2 hours and have a 1 hour break (but not leave the campus), but we often have to help cover classes during our break hour because of families being out sick.

What subjects are offered?
It varies. Ds2 is in the nursery, ds4 is in preschool. Ds5 is in PE/Spanish, Weather, and a state History class. Ds7 is in Art, PE, and Chess/games club. Ds8 is in Art, PE, and Geography. For kids a bit older than mine, I know there is an Apologia Biology class, and a general science class. A writing class and a speech class are also offered. Since the Moms teach, it really depends on who wants to teach what.

What are the biggest advantages for you?
The boys are enjoying spending time with different kids. They are learning things that aren't high on my list for what I have time to teach at home. We decided it would be worth giving up 1 day of "core" subjects/week for the boys to participate, so it's nice having a day where I don't have to teach by they still are learning.

What are the disadvantages?
I have to leave the house :). I enjoy it once we're there, but I dread the thought of getting everyone ready and out of the house.

How did your co-op get started?
This is only it's second semester (and our first there). I guess there used to be one at this church a few years ago, but the organizer moved and it fizzled. A mom who was in that co-op really missed it and decided to organize another.