Karen Moore <Malaika1@AOL.COM>: Re: Starting A Co-op

[Kristina A Alexander]

Replies I have recieved regarding co-ops. Thank you for your
experiences!!!

Kristina
Keller, TX

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From: Karen Moore <Mala...@AOL.COM>
To: SCHOMES...@LISTSERV.AOL.COM
Subject: Re: Starting A Co-op
Date: Sat, 12 Apr 1997 15:55:36 -0400
Message-ID: <970412155535...@emout06.mail.aol.com>

Kristina - I've been involved in a small co-op this year. It wasn't
really
coordinated through our support group, just a couple of moms got
together...one teaches science, and one teaches literature. We've
divided
into two age groups - younger ones are all 10 and the older group ranges
from
12 to 14. So on Thurs. mornings my two oldest children go to science and
lit. classes (at the home of one of the families) - they "flip flop" -
Tara
has lit. first then science. Jeff has science then lit... Then on
Monday
the older group has a science lab and I teach the younger group home-ec.
We
spent the first half of the year sewing and now we're doing nutrition and
cooking.

I was really hesitant to get involved in this at first, since one of the
things I love best about homeschooling is the FLEXIBILITY, but it was a
wonderful opportunity for my son, who has a great scientific mind and
curiosity (since his mother doesn't lean toward that. =)) I promise you
- if
he had not been in co-op he would not have gotten to dissect a cows heart
last week!!! It has also been good for my kids to be accountable to someone
else besides "Mom" - they now have another teacher who expects them to
write
neatly and in complete sentences - go figure! This class time has also
been
more structured then what they've been used to at home...giving them a
little
bit of a feel for what "real" school would be like. =)

I believe one of the most important ingredients to success will be the
committment and "compatibility" of those who are a part of your co-op.
The
three of us were good friends before we began and have similar
expectations
of our children as far as behavior, academics, etc. Our children really
enjoy getting together and look forward to co-op every week.

One of the drawbacks I've found is that it has tended to "cramp my style"
a
little bit...=) I like to tie all of our lessons, as much as possible,
into
our history study. With the older children in co-op they have a good bit
of
homework to do for that, which leaves less time for some of the reading
and
projects I would like to do with all my kids together...

Hope this wasn't too long-winded! Karen

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