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Input appreciated
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We have used SCM since my kids began school (for 6 years). We love having everyone work together on so many subjects as a family. It makes it much easier on me. We have had laid back schooling as my health fluctuates. My delima right now is that many of our friends are starting a co-op next year. I’d love to have a co-op where we could do “extras” (music, art, etc.) and continue SCM at home. That is not an option in our small town. The co-op our friends are starting is a spin-off from the classical conversations they have been doing, as they will be using Memoria Press. We’d love the time together in a co-op, but I’m having a hard time jumping curriculum, especially knowing my kids are behind where I’d like them and are used to laid back schooling. I’m concerned about having all my kids (next year Kind., 3rd, 6th) doing different things. Any wisdom is appreciated.
My suggestion is to wait a year. Being a part of a start-up co-op is a lot of work, a lot of tweaking, and a lot of “figuring things out.” In short, it is more work than relief of work. If you give it a year, you will hear feedback from your friends and can better gauge how and whether it will meet your needs.
The fact that you love SCM (me, too!) and the way it fits your needs for schooling as a family would also give me pause re: joining a classical method co-op.
What if you brainstormed other ways of fitting the “beautiful” in that would also fit your style of living and goals?
Just my .02.
I agree that switching from SCM to MP could be very jarring, based on what I’ve seen of MP, especially since you love SCM. It would be one thing if you were seeking something different from what you were doing now and the support would be helpful. But since you’re not, it seems like there would always be a sort of “feeling out of place” aspect to your gatherings (for you as a family, I mean), as the philosophy and practice between the two are so different.
For me personally, no amount or quality of socializing would be worth giving up materials and a philosophy that I love for one that could be very overwhelming scholastically and physically. And for my current student, the switch you describe would be a disaster. Not to say that it would be for your kids, but for mine, it would invite stress on so many levels that even if I thought it would be a wonderful place to meet people, it just wouldn’t be worth it.
Is this co-op all or nothing? Or could you be part of just the “riches” part of the feast and not the academic portion?
Not sure how helpful I will be, but I tend to be a switcharella so I have some experience trying new things. I have finally accepted that I am truly CM at heart. Anytime I try a different method I end up regretting it and coming back. Most recently we decided to do latin with an experienced friend. We started MP First Form with her teaching at my house, just her kids and mine. It was as laid back as a classical style latin class could be, we were even going 1/2 pace. It was still way too much for us. It is a phenomenal curriculum and we learned a ton for sure, but so, so stressful for me. It took the joy out of learning latin for us. Classical is just a different approach and if you arent on board with that style it may be a difficult transition. I would do a ton of research into the classical philosophy and be sure you are ready to commit. I hope I dont sound like I am criticizing a classical approach, that isnt my intent. I love the idea of classical education, I just think you need to really embrace it in order for it to be enjoyable, which is undoubtedly true of any educational philosophy you choose to follow. Best of luck to you.
Charlotte Mason Poetry has a podcast with a guest that discusses her experience with Classical curriculum. It was very informative.
http://charlottemasonpoetry.org/from-classical-teacher-to-charlotte-mason-educator/
Agreeing with the others who have already chimed in.
As the old saying goes-if it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it! It sounds like you’ve found a great groove for your homeschool. I think the cons of the co-op would outweigh the pros.
Every single time I try to involve my family in these types of things, I find myself regretting it. It interrupts the natural flow of our days and I end up losing school hours to things that do not matter so much to me.
If you are doing SCM at home, do you need to add extras in? Those things are already scheduled into the educational life with SCM. If you are already doing them at home, I would not do the co-op because it messes with your schedule. At least for me. I ended up not liking it at all. I prefer the smaller, more intimate opportunities to spread the feast to my children.
I also think that the philosophies do not truly blend, so if that matters at all to you, it is something to consider. If you are doing this for social reasons, I would urge you to find a different venue for that.
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