Thursday, December 9, 2010

To Co-op or not to Co-op

Some of you might be asking, ‘What exactly is a co-op?’  and ‘Why bother with a showcase?’  Co-op as many of you know is short for cooperative.  So, for me I would define co-op as a cooperative effort of homeschooling parents offering the classroom setting to our homeschool youth.  There are different co-ops and each meets the needs of those member families whether it be academic supplemental classes or enrichment classes.

As a homeschooling mom I believe co-op opportunities are a vital part of making our homeschooling successful.  It gives the kids an overall experience of a classroom setting on a small scale.  I have heard it described as ‘a private school feel without the private school price.’

When the kids were younger I was more concerned (along with the family pediatrician) that they were getting socialized, and co-op enrichment classes one day a week helped open that door.  As they have gotten older, our needs for co-op continue but what I want them to get from it has been modified.  Yes, they still LOVE the socialization aspect of co-op (as do I), but I am more interested in them gaining valuable information and learning responsibility and accountability. 

Being home on an academic vacation, the kids have been blessed with the opportunity to be part of a co-op we have been members of for several of the eight years we’ve been homeschooling. The kids got to take some fun classes and hang out with friends.   Unfortunately, Kassi is one of the oldest being 15 (actually 15 3/4) so classes for her are very limited and there’s only a handful of 15-16 year olds.  She enjoys the friendliness and socialization opportunity, but she needs more – I need more for her.

Since Kassi is a sophomore in high school she had an opportunity to take more academically driven classes at another well established co-op that puts older, high school aged students’ needs first. This co-op offers in-depth classes in high school level sciences (biology, chemistry, etc.), maths (Algebra I, Algebra II, geometry, etc.),  English (writing, grammar, etc.), Music (choir, guitar, orchestra), languages (Spanish, Latin, ASL), history, and electives (ACT/SAT prep, study skills, yearbook, etc.) – just to name a few.  They offer so many great classes over the six hour day – there’s no lunch hour so you have to eat in between classes, take an hour off for lunch, or wait till the class day is done. 

It’s a great resource for those classes that are better in a classroom setting, like a science w/lab, or the subjects that I don’t have an expertise in, nor enjoy, and someone else does.  The nice thing about these classes is the fact they require outside work – it’s not just an informational or social time when they meet they actually have to do anywhere from 30 min. to 4 hours of homework between classes depending on the class.

Of course, high schoolers may have younger sibs so this co-op also offers enrichment class for those from pre-k thru 2nd and then fun enrichment and academic classes for 3rd-8th grade.  Kassi has enjoyed this new experience because of the ‘real school feel with peers and homework.’ 

I am so thankful that I have tools that are beneficial to our current family needs between these two co-ops.  We split our time between them during the fall sessions and we will do the same again come the new year.  It’s hard to believe that classes will resume mid January, so our hectic busy schedules of shuffling will resume full force. 

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