Anyone started a sort of co-op at your home?

[Gamom3]

Just curious...I know 3 families in our subdivision that homeschool, I have heard of a couple more families but have not meet them...age range from 2nd to 7th grade
I would love to do something here in our subdivision, maybe switch houses.

I have thought about doing Latin for Children...but I know nothing about latin, but own the program..not sure if this would work!!

Things I would love to do is science, IEW, and latin.

Any ideas?

[Amie]

My mom and some of her homeschool friends have done this off and on for quite a while. I was able to join them some (and even "taught" a couple of little classes one semester). It can be as formal or casual as you want and it really helps share the load with other moms. One mom took on an elementary science and could devote a lot of time to preparation and projects, while another mom devotes her time to another subject to teach. It gives the kids fun interaction (different ages) and the moms usually enjoy it as well. The preschool kids played outside and some of the older students helped the youngers. We would also do art or a fun project periodically. Like making candles in gourds or learning how to knit together, etc. Sorry, I'm not really helping you or offering suggestions--I just wanted to say that yes, from my experience it can be a lot fun.

[happygrrl]

I am doing Real Science 4 Kids for the neighborhood kids. It is really informal, but I am surprised how much they enjoy it. It is as easy as you want it to be! I suggest starting with something you are familiar with first, even as a mini-course during the summer, just to get the feel for the group. I also had to stress that the kids should eat *before* they come. They were going through my groceries like locusts!

[prairiegirl]

We are doing this with the living math history plans at the living math (http://www.livingmath.net)site. I have only asked one family so far and the response was very enthusiastic. I haven't decided whether we will do it with just this family or whether I will ask more families.

I would think latin would be hard to do in a co-op setting (however formal or informal) if you don't know it yourself. Also, the other families might not be on board with latin as we are. I think science or history would be a great beginning then, seeing how it works out, you could try something a bit more "serious."

[LisaCA]

Sounds like something I'd like to do someday. Keep us up to date I'd be interested in hearing what you choose and how it goes!

[Peek a Boo]

Just curious...I know 3 families in our subdivision that homeschool, I have heard of a couple more families but have not meet them...age range from 2nd to 7th grade
I would love to do something here in our subdivision, maybe switch houses.

I have thought about doing Latin for Children...but I know nothing about latin, but own the program..not sure if this would work!!

Things I would love to do is science, IEW, and latin.

Any ideas?


we did!! had a great time this last semester :)

you can read more about it here.....

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?p=30204&highlight=lego+robotics+knitting#post30204

Good luck!

[melissel]

I'm contemplating doing one for REAL Science Project Life starting this summer. We have a little playgroup of 4- to 6-year-old girls and their toddler sibs that meets at my house each week, and I know my one good friend is interested, so I'm going to ask the others if they'd like to too. Should be easy enough, and fun too. If it doesn't work, then we'll let it go, but I think having more kids involved will heighten the appeal.

I think you should go for it, and just let everyone know upfront that you're really new at it and may fall flat on your face, or it might be great. You never know! And wow, how excited would I be to have that many HS families in my immediate neighborhood :thumbup1: So cool!!!

[TFJ]

We have been doing science and some art this way for a few years. We love it and it really adds to our homeschool. We started out more ambitiously... both in terms of what we would cover and how many children we could keep focused and happy. Smaller has worked better for us in all ways... fewer kids with close attention to how they interact and less subject matter. That said, chemistry was a hit last year and it is not a subject I feel especially confident in. Having a co-teacher really motivated and helped me to keep going with enthusiasm. We will continue with Life Science this year and may add art back in. We have needed to set parameters about food and to provide play time as well as work time. Also, being really regular seems to help keep them focused and enthusiastic. When we have to miss a week, it can be hard to reel them back in! :001_smile: We do keep it flexible and casual.

We did this as a play/activity group when the girls were younger. That was lots of fun, too!

TFJ


but own the program..not sure if this would work!!

Things I would love to do is science, IEW, and latin.

Any ideas?[/quote]

[frogpond1]

I think it is important to have it well run with everyone having the same expectations of the kids etc. Ours meets 2X a week and I think it is the best thing for my children. They love having classmates.

[Cadam]

A start would be just to get everyone together and ask them what type of thing might be helpful. Unless you are all classical homeschoolers latin may not be the most appealing but if you wanted to do something that people struggle with it might have a wider appeal. I am trying to set up science or history projects with two other families. I sure wish they lived in my neighborhood!

[Tina in WA]

I have done summer ones and others at different times. It isn't a yearly thing (though zoology this year was a whole year).

Last summer we did TT Colonial Life here at my home. I asked a couple friends if they would like to join me with a study I was doing with my own children. They said sure. I figured out what we would need to get the study done (copies, supplies, etc) and we all chipped in by gathering different things. It worked wonderfully. I did the main teaching, but was VERY blessed to have mom's here to help as well as give talks on different topics as well. It was a wonderful experience.

This summer we will be doing a horse study and "hopefully" a chocoloate study. :) It will run basically the same way as the last summer get together.

I have also opened my home from time to time when we lapbook. I will invite another family over and we will lapbook together. This is done during the school year.

Have fun!

[melissel]

I have also opened my home from time to time when we lapbook. I will invite another family over and we will lapbook together. This is done during the school year.

What a great idea! That would be a lot of fun to do occasionally for our playgroup. Thanks!