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Home Education CO-OP
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I am enjoying this year of homeschool. The Simply Charlotte Mason site has been a great help. It is when I do not stay tapped into it that I seem to loss focus.
Ok home educators of the SCM mind set, I have a question.
I am in a co-op which my kids seem to enjoy. However, the minds of the educators are extremely different. I am what you call a “relaxed” home school mom. But feel the presure to conform every day. I am wondering, is it worth being in a coop when the “style” is much like that of school. How many of you out there are in coops? Do you feel the same pressure? How do you handle it?
I believe in the Charlotte Mason method and want to stay on that track!!
Give me some advice and encouragement.
I am part of a large homeschool group that we do classes on and off with. There are a variety of homeschoolers, many who do Classical Conversations/different styles. This doesn’t put pressure on me, because we’re not all hanging out together regularly, talking about school. I also have a small co-op w/2 friends. We just meet once a mo. for presentations/roots/science experiment. And some fieldtrips. These are the moms who I’d be more concerned if their philosophy was way different….mainly if it was affecting my confidence. I’ve spent too long trying to be ‘more classical’ and I’ve finally become comfortable enough in my own shoes to not compare myself to others and worry about what I might be missing. If they steal joy from your life, I would probably try to find something else. Do they come off as ‘better’ than you for how they school? Or is it your own doubting? I understand where you’re coming from. For me, it would depend on the value of the time to my family and if I could shake things off and not compare. Sorry so verbose! Blessings, Gina
I am part of a co-op, but it is mostly CM style. All moms must be there the whole time with their kids, and we have a few that are the “main teachers,” but all moms help out in the different areas or as needed. If this co-op hadn’t been CM-style, I don’t know that I would have stayed in it, to be honest. I would rather, in that case, just get together with other HS’ing families for play dates or whatnots. I hope my co-op continues to be CM based. If not, I will truly be very sad. The kids and I have all made friends there, and I would hate to lose that, especially being in a small town where it’s hard to find other homeschoolers in the first place.
I lead a CM co-op and do not feel that pressure as a result. We have 23 families participating this year and a cap of 30. You can learn about our group here. All moms must work one hour co-teaching a class. The other hour is free for fellowship, but not for leaving campus and errand running. That leaves the realm of co-op and enters the realm of “community school”, imo.
Previous to beginning this co-op, I was a part of a large 100+ family eclectic co-op that did have a bit of a school feel to it. That is partially due to the size and to the variety of teaching styles.
Both have been positive experiences, but I greatly prefer our CM group. It is a tremendous blessing to our family.
Blessings,
Christie
I have been thinking about starting a CM style co op but am not sure how to approach it. Sara B, how does yours work? I have even been thinking about doing a Laying Down the Rails workshop at my house with a few moms so I can find other CM families. I was thining they could just buy the workbooks book and watch the CD then discuss and set goals together. Anyone here ever do something like this?
Becky
Our co-op starts with a half-hour of set-up and arrival (I’m always the first one there, so I get started while others trickle in). Then we have a few minutes for prayer and a hymn, then break off into smaller groups divided by age. They take turns with Artist Study, Nature Study, and Composer Study, then anyone in Spanish can go there (anyone not in Spanish can just work on Handicrafts or play or whatever). After that is free time for the kids and chat time for the moms. Then we come together again for a folk song, then lunch. Most people stay for lunch, then we either leave or stay for speech club, or just stay to help clean up (like me). I get there at 9am, and we officially start prayer, etc at 9:30am. Speech goes until about 1:15pm/1:30pm or so, usually. So not quite a full day, but mostly.
HTH!
My CM co-op schedule looks like this:
- 9:00 – 9:30 Optional Family Fine Arts – composer’s music playing during arrival & departure; we do hymn and folk song study; picture study, poetry study. Each week we share some bio. info about one of our 5 topics. All ages babies – Adults together. Little ones crawl around or color. This is a big part of our co-op, but optional because some families prefer to cover the fine arts 1 topic per day at home instead of all at once. However, I greatly prefer making sure we don’t leave anything out.
- 9:35 -10:35 1st Class – Our current classes include Storytime Adventures for 4/5 year olds; Monkeys on the Move for 2s/3s; Writing Outside the Box for 3rd and up; Tools and Techniques for age 6+ (misc. handicrafts); Ancient Weapons for age 8+ (a huge hit with the boys); Nursery for wee ones
- 10:35 – 10:45 Break
- 10:45 – 11:45 2nd Class – Current classes include Nursery; Create N Play for 3-5 year olds (art and games); Art Around the World for ages 9+; PE and Outdoor Games for ages 6+
- Masterly Inactivity at a local park. We bring lunches and the kids run and play and sometimes take a nature walk. Not required, but at least half of us go most weeks and we stay until whenever, usually around 2 PM.
We have ~ 55 kids and this schedule works very well for us.
We’re in a co-op with nearly 90 other families. This is our third session (there are two sessions each year – fall and spring). My kids love it and it’s very well organized. The parents have to teach or work in a classroom during the co-op. The rule is work two periods and have one for visiting with other moms. My friend and I are teaching a sewing class and a science class this term. I like it okay, but the kids love it so that is why we do it. I’ve met many wonderful moms and have been able to connect with others which has been a blessing for me. It does take our entire Friday tho because it’s from 9:00 to 1:00 plus travel time of 30 minutes each way and then any errands I need to run while we’re in town. The blessing is, it’s only 8 weeks in the fall and 10 weeks in the spring, so it’s pretty short. There are a lot of fun classes for the kids and I’m okay with that. I think it’s okay to enjoy fellowshipping with others and learning a few new things, they are definitely not hard core classes by any stretch (at least none that my kids have taken or that I’ve been a part of).
So back to your questions, I think it’s fine to be in a co-op where there are a mixture of education philosophies. I enjoy learning about how others teach their children, but I think most people are open and realize that homeschooling is broad and can be done a million different ways. I wouldn’t think you’d have trouble sticking with CM, heck you might even enlighten some others on the beauty of it. 🙂
@Becky – yes, I’ve done the entire seminar on DVD at my house twice. Once open to whomever and once for required attendance for my co-op members. It works well and you can simply order however many notebooks you need from the site.
We love our co-op!!!! We actually drive 45 min. to get to the co-op that we go to. (That is a long drive in NJ.
) It is on Thurs. 12:30- 4:40. One parent must be present and helping in a class for each hour their children are attending. Our co-op has around 80 or more families. We have been there for three semesters now. I have to admit that the first session was a little tough. I was new to homeschool and felt very intimidated by the other parents/teachers, especially the classical ed. ones. There is a mix of different types of Homeschool families. I would guess about 20% traditional, 30% Classical, 50% CM or ecclectics. I have met some terrific people and they no longer intimidate me, because I have been able to nail down what my philosophy and methodology is!!! I have actually gotten some of my best ideas from other Moms at the co-op. The parents at our co-op seem to have an understanding that every child and every family is different and are very respectful of each others views.
Suggestions:
1. Don’t go to a co-op that is strictly academic unless it is your style of HS. I don’t put my daughter in any classes that are academic. (Reading, Writing, Math, Language arts) We do Academics at home CM style!!! First semester I made the mistake of putting my daughter in a Math class. It confused her because it was totally different from the way we did things at home. It was a learning experience. Besides Academic Classes our co-op offers classes in PE, Art, Music, Literature, Science, history, sewing, cooking,etc..
2. Don’t go to a co-op that will discourage you, but make sure that you give it a fair chance. If people are truly treating you rude because of the HS choices you have made, find another co-op. Make sure that it is not just your perception. I almost didn’t go back after the first semester, but I’m glad I did. I realized that most of the people that I meet are just as intimidated by me as I was of them. I now make every effort to go out of my way to meet and assure new moms and dads coming in for the first time.
3. Nail down what your philosophy and methods will be and don’t let people who use other styles intimidate you. Only you know what is best for your children and your family!!!!
4. MAKE SURE YOUR KIDS LIKE IT!!!! If they don’t, you are wasting your time and money!!!
Thank you all so very, very, very much!! What great encouragement!! Gina, Sara, Christie, Becky, Melissa and NJcountrygal, what a blessing you have been to me!!!
I loved reading all of your posts. They are all very helpful. Much to think and pray about.
Love being part of this forum!! You all are great!!
Hi, I can’t figure out how to do a PM, but I wanted to ask NJCountryGal where in NJ you are, and what co-op you go to? I am new to NJ (northwest, in Hunterdon County), and I dying to meet other homeschoolers in the area. So if you have any info for local or online groups for NJ (or even eastern PA, as we are close to the border), that would be wonderful!
Thanks,
Diana
This is our second year hsing. Last year we did Classical Comversations but now we are doing SCM plus a Monday working co-op of about 100 families who use many different methods. I don’t particularly enjoy dragging six kids out the door on Monday mornings and I think that the CM education my kids are getting is rich enough so that a co-op is certainly not necessary but my kids LOVE it, esp the older ones who used to be in a private school, bc they get that big kickball game experience with a bunch of other kids, etc. I do make them do some lessons during their hour of quiet time when we get home bc I don’t like getting off track w all of the wonderful learning we are doing using the SCM lesson plans.
) It is on Thurs. 12:30- 4:40. One parent must be present and helping in a class for each hour their children are attending. Our co-op has around 80 or more families. We have been there for three semesters now. 
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