This is long, but here you go.
We just finished our first year of a CM inspired co-op and it was a success. We had ~ 50 kids babies – high school, but with the majority under 6th grade. We met 15 weeks per semester and offered 2 hours of classes, a big undertaking with 24 families. Each adult worked one hour & had one hour free for fellowship, unless someone needed a substitute – this did not work well with our small group. Next year, adults will teach/assist both hours & we’ll have “floaters.”
We had the following classes:
- Nursery (babies -2) – both hours
- Preschool (2-4) – Story Time Adventures & Music and Movement
- K & 1st – Science Explorations, Atelier Art, PE/Playground Games
- 2nd & 3rd – Apologia Astronomy & Atelier Art
- 4th -6th – Atelier Art, Apologia Astronomy, FL History
- 7th – 12th – Yearbook & Service Hour (lower grades)
The classes went pretty well, but we found room for improvement. Art was enjoyed, but lots of work & $$$ & storage space. History is hard b/c people are in different cycles and want different things. For the 2010-2011 year, all classes (1st & up) will have a syllabus/schedule so parents know what’s going on and substitutes have an easier time filling in.
Upcoming Fall Classes…
- Nursery
- 2s & 3s preschool – similar to 4s & 5s
- 4s & 5s pre-k and K – Storytime, Science Experiments, Music, Outdoor Playtime, etc.
- 1st & 2nd Grade – Science Fun! and Geography & Missions (8 wks) & 101 Things Kids Need to Know (7 wks)
- 3rd – 8th Grade – Jr. EMT (taught by a fireman dad and nurse mother)
- 3rd – 5th Grade – Apologia Botany w/ lots of hands on
- 6th – 8th Grade – Writer’s Workshop
- 9th – 12 Grade – Yearbook & Apologia Chemistry (outside teacher, college style, not CM style)
Upcoming Spring 2011 classes…
- Nursery, 2s & 3s, 4s & 5s – same or similar
- 1st & 2nd – Etiquette (8 wks) & Paper Construction (Origami) (7wks) & Drawing (7 wks) & 101 Things (8wks)
- 3rd – 8th – 101 Things Kids Need to Know (taught by different dads for the most part)
- 3rd – 5th – Critical Thinking Skills (through games)
- 6th – 8th – Apologia Anatomy (lots of hands on)
- 7th – 12th – same as fall
Other things we did or will do…
- Monthly mom chats (encouragement and fellowship) that starting this month will also have mini-CM lessons as a part.
- Weekly park play days
- At least 1 field trip per month
- Various get togethers (game, movie, crafts, swimming)
- CM Seminars. We were honored to have Sonya come for a 2 day seminar in March.
- Thanksgiving Feast & shoebox service project (name escapes me right now)
- Christmas cookie party & caroling at nursing home
- Spring Banquet & talent Show
- Family Field Day
To help share the burden, all families will have at least 1 additional job this next year. It might be setting up each week, leading assembly time, collecting Box Tops, etc. We have a big list. This way my leadership team and I won’t get stuck with all of the work.
Overall, it has been a privilege to help encourage others and lead this group and I’m looking forward to this next year. So far we have ~ 75 kids for this next year and we’ve set an upper limit of 100.
Oh, we also use a great website service to help with communication and lots of other things. It is from homeschool-life.com. If you want to see our page, click River City Homeschool Adventures. You will only be able to see our public pages as it is a secure site, but I highly recommend this co. it is very reasonably priced and well done.
We do have a Parent Info. Handbook w/ all of our policies, rules, our statement of faith, statement of behavior & responsibility, etc. If you are interested, I can email those to you.
This may be more than you wanted to know, but hopefully it helps.
Blessings,
Christie
