Name: Thrive! NCHE Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-05-22T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-05-24T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Tagged: class catalog, class ideas, co-op, co-op class catalog, co-op classes, homeschool groups

This topic has 17 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 9 years ago by Kristen.

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October 19, 2013 at 4:39 am
missceegee
Participant
I’m trying to build something by collecting ideas from everywhere, a catalog that can benefit any homeschooler in a co-op.
Here is the link to my website page for the catalong information. This is a brand new and ongoing endeavor and I may end up needing to purchase a larger storage amount from Jot Form, but I am excited to see how this develops.
https://homeschool-life.com/sysfiles/member/custom_public/custom.cfm?memberid=464&customid=14720
Many homeschool families are a part of homeschool cooperative groups (co-ops) across the USA and abroad, participating in programs and classes that enrich the children’s educations by sharing the strengths of the parents and other adults who graciously volunteer their time and efforts. All of those co-ops mean a lot of WONDERFUL ideas are being implemented all around the world! I got to thinking, “What if we homeschooling parents pooled our mental resources and share our class ideas, outlines, and lesson plans with one another?” What a blessing that could be to homeschoolers everywhere!
Co-ops depend on parent volunteers to step up and offer classes and lessons to benefit the members. Let’s be honest, though, sometimes a parent is willing to volunteer to teach a class, but needs an IDEA to get going with. Other times, a parent is willing, but needs an OUTLINE upon which to build an exciting class. Still, in other seasons, parents arewilling, but need a fully fleshed out, OPEN AND GO PLAN to easily implement. I decided to try to build a catalog of ideas, outlines, and lesson plans shared by homeschoolers everywhere FREE to any who wish to use them.
Need an Idea, Outline, or Lesson Plan?
Check out the growing list we have to share. You just might find what you’re looking for!
THE CATALOG LIST OF HOMESCHOOL IDEAS, OUTLINES & LESSON PLANS
Password: Share Strengths
If you see any material on this site that is copyright protected, please let us know and we will immediately remove it.
Have and Idea, Outline, or Lesson Plan to Share?
Take the time to complete this form to help other homeschool parents along this cooperative journey. The only required fields are Class Title, Grade Level and Class Description, but the more information you have to share, the better!
Thank you for helping to build what I hope will become a valuable resource to many.

HOMESCHOOL CO-OP CLASS SUBMISSION FORM

I hope this will be of use to more than just my co-op.
Blessings,
Christie
October 19, 2013 at 3:07 pm
TailorMade
Participant
I appreciate all that you are doing and sharing with the rest of us.
Blessings,
Becca<><
October 19, 2013 at 3:19 pm
missceegee
Participant
You’re welcome.
It seems silly to be reinventing the wheel all the time when we can share the burden easily by sharing work we are already doing. At least that’s my thinking. I don’t know how many outside of RCHA (my group) will use it, but rcha will be adding all of our elective class plans and maybe even our nature study and artist, composer, poet plans here for anyone to use as they see fit.
October 19, 2013 at 3:24 pm
TailorMade
Participant
I can assure you that our co-op will be watching your every move. ;0) I will also try to learn how to utilize jot and (I think box??, too) and share what we do.
October 19, 2013 at 4:02 pm
HaRae
Participant
I teach music classes (this is my 3rd year doing it at our co-op) and would be willing to pass on my info…I will have to think about how I would write it out.
I use different songs and materials each year for singing, listening, and recorder (because some kids do the class again) but go over the same sequence of concepts in roughly the same order every year (high and low, melodies going up and melodies going down, steady beat, rhythm patterns with quarter notes and eighth notes and then increasing in complexity, using words to describe music). For the older age groups I do the same concepts but advancing much more quickly and we also play recorder.
It really depends on the skill level of the group how quickly we go through new songs to sing or play so even if I gave specific instructions of what songs we introduced and reviewed each week I’m not sure it would work out for someone else to follow that.
Do you think it would be most useful to have a generic outline of concepts and activities (rhythm games, etc.) spread through approximately 20 weeks, and then some suggestions of songbook resources to help “fill in the blanks”?
Any suggestions you have would help me get this done in the most efficient and useful way possible.
October 19, 2013 at 4:04 pm
HaRae
Participant
I should also add that I’m not sure if my class is specifically Charlotte Mason.
We do listen to music, learn about the composer, and take time to have the kids say what they heard or enjoyed about the music. But I’d say the bulk of our time is spent in games, singing, and other activities to build up musical skills.
October 19, 2013 at 4:31 pm
missceegee
Participant
HaRae – no need to be specifically CM. Any and all class ideas are welcome. You just might skip the CM specific questions on the form. Check the submission page. It’s laid out like this:
Class Title
Developed By
Grade Level (choose all that could apply) or specify specifics
Class Description
Cost
Resources (list format works best)
Sourcing Materials
Week 1 Topic
Lesson Plan
Week 2 Topic
Lesson Plan
….
There are 12 total weeks because that’s what co-ops around here run. I could expand this if need be.
Then there are CM specifics about narration and habits.
There are a few fully developed plans added that you could see now for comparison like Dangerous Book for Boys and Girls, Too! or Logical Fallacies.

I’m open to considering other fields that might be useful but want to keep the form as simple and user friendly as possible.

Thanks so much!
Christie
October 19, 2013 at 9:13 pm
teachermom
Participant
What a wonderful idea, Christie! I am letting others know about it and hope to be able to contribute to the project at some point myself.
Thank you for organizing this project and sharing it!!
-Kim
October 20, 2013 at 1:03 am
missceegee
Participant
HaRae – here’s a thought for two ways how this might work for you.
1. Create separate forms for separate age groups with the WEEKLY TOPICS being like this “the same sequence of concepts in roughly the same order every year (high and low, melodies going up and melodies going down, steady beat, rhythm patterns with quarter notes and eighth notes and then increasing in complexity, using words to describe music)” and then the lesson plans offering specifics about songs used (even a listing of rotating songs)
2. Create one form based on the concepts taught and then within the lesson plan get specific like this
Week 1 Topic – High & Low
Lesson Plan – Gr. 1-3 ……
Gr. 4-6 …..
October 23, 2013 at 4:39 am
Julia Myers
Participant
Christie,
I just finished roughly planning the first of our two four-week composer studies. We run three eight-week modules rotating different subjects. My only concern is that I don’t plan everything out in detail in advance – just a rough sketch. I am also not terribly explicit. For example, I don’t say “have students listen to music with eyes closed and imagine a rough sea.” Is that a problem? Is this what you are looking for, or is this helpful to others? I am just going to paste here for commenting purposes. Thanks! Great idea!
Claude Debussy – 4 weeks
http://www.pinterest.com/thegeyser/sdg-music-13-14/
CD recommendation for all families:
http://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Hits-C-Debussy/dp/B000002A23/ref=tag_dpp_lp_edpp_img_in (
Other Materials:
Themes to Remember, Classical Karaoke for Kids (Persons)
Story of the Orchestra (Levine)
Weeks
1.) Biography and Reverie
Quote: “The century of airplanes has a right to its own music.”
Notebooking page: http://www.scribd.com/doc/128234813/Claude-Debussy-Notebook-Page (page 1)
Bio info: Story of the Orchestra
more info/background: http://www.favorite-classical-composers.com/claude-debussy.html
YouTube Overview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvBeCkIFrrs (2 mins)
Song: Themes to Remember: Classical Karaoke for Kids, Reverie
2.) Claire de Lune and The Children’s Corner: Golliwog’s Cakewalk
Quote: “Works of art make rules; rules do not make works of art.”
Song: Voyage to the Moon ($0.99)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005HZVAWK/?qid=1349730076&ref=dm_dp_trk13&ie=UTF8&sr=1-2
Golliwog’s Cakewalk
Background: http://www.classicsforkids.com/shows/showdesc.asp?id=59 (6 mins)
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5g9jjWCfWI
3.) The Toy Box (Ballet)
“The attraction of the virtuoso for the public is very like that of the circus for the crowd. There is always the hope that something dangerous will happen.” -Claude Debussy
YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWJJENWBGTY
The Story: http://pudl.princeton.edu/viewer.php?obj=ms35t871w#page/7/mode/thumb
4.) La Mer
“Music is the expression of the movement of the waters, the play of curves described by changing breezes.” -Claude Debussy
http://www.favorite-classical-composers.com/debussy-la-mer.html

October 23, 2013 at 4:46 am
Julia Myers
Participant
Our co-op is split into two groups: K-2; 3-5. We teach the same lesson twice – just tweak it up or down depending on the ago group. Same material learned to keep the family on the same page. I will splitting my 60 min. time slot with SCM African Geography (condensed and spread over 24 weeks), so I will have a little flexibility to run short or long of 30 mins. We may or may not continue to keep teaching knot every week. We are transitioning from a manners segment and we had time to devote a few minutes each week to knot tying. It will just depend on time.

October 23, 2013 at 1:02 pm
missceegee
Participant
@thegeyser – this is great! I’m calling it a catalog if ideas (just names and descriptions), outlines (rough sketches of each week), and lesson plans (full fledged plans). I think having a little info to go on is better than none and a lot is just icing on the cake! Please Add your ideas, they are wonderful as is. If you have a specific idea to add re instructions, feel free, but otherwise simply add what you wish! I do think adding the composer’s name to the class title is helpful.
One idea, in week 1 lesson plan add the basic instructions of how the class works and then the other weeks simply repeat.
Thank you!
Christie
PS – I am trying to work on the form so it will email you a link to edit your class info, but not display your email in the catalog. It is doable, I just haven’t quite figured it out.
April 4, 2014 at 5:50 pm
missceegee
Participant
I’m bumping this. It’s that time of year when we start planning for co-op classes for next year, so let’s help one another.
I would like this to be a go-to spot for anyone looking for class ideas and for sharing our own ideas with others.
When submitting a class idea, you can upload a doc. or pdf file or fill out the form, please include as much information as you have and don’t forget the CM specifics at the bottom, if applicable. You can submit an idea at any time.
The submission form asks for your e-mail, but rest assured that it remains private. The only use is to send you confirmation of your submission with a link to edit your submission.
Thank you very much!
Christie
April 4, 2014 at 11:24 pm
Katrina in AK
Participant
Love this idea, and will gladly peruse and contribute.
April 5, 2014 at 10:08 am
Kristen
Participant
This looks like a great resource! I am trying to come up with ideas for an all age range play for our co-op next fall. If I ever find it and do it I will definitely post it on your site.