TOS Crew Blog Cruise: To Co-op or Not to Co-op

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When one becomes immersed in the homeschool community, you are bound to hear about co-ops. Areas that have a plethora of homeschoolers may have several co-ops in existence while areas with few homeschoolers may have nothing in place. There are even online co-ops, such as the ones run by In The Hands of a Child which utilize project packs they sell. For many homeschoolers, the question can become “To Co-op or NOT to Co-op.”

We are now in our third co-op experience (and our fourth year of homeschooling.) The first one was a study of The Story of the World Vol. 1 with another new to homeschooling family when we lived in Kent, Ohio. The boys were used to learning alongside other kids, so they welcomed this experience to help break up their studies at home with mom. I enjoyed having a former social studies teacher being the other parent involved as she had a wealth of experience and resources to draw from while I felt inadequate at teaching a subject area I had found uninteresting in school. Usually, we spent a bit of time each time while the boys played to plan what we wanted to do for the next meeting. Overall, it went well, although we never did get our wrap up Roman celebration together as life got in the way.

Our second co-op experience was in Maryland with several families involved in a Catholic homeschool group with a few families not in that group. We joined late in the game, so the initial planning of subjects had already occurred. But, the boys and I really enjoyed having our history, literature and science being done in a group. This particular co-op divided the kids up into three groups (pre-school/K didn’t do the same studies.) I did get many complaints through the year from P as he was on the young side of the older group (5th through 9th graders), but I feel like he had more challenges and opportunity for discussion at a higher level than if studying alongside his younger brothers. I enjoyed pulling together the literature component for the 1st through 4th grade group, including an author study of Tomie de Paola and working on the Middle Ages project pack from HOAC.

Now we are a part of a co-op on base here in Alaska. The Youth Center on Fort Richardson is graciously acting as host for facility space, often an obstacle for a good sized co-op. Parents volunteered to teach different classes and then kids were signed up based on their grade level and interests. Being new to the area and having a little babe, I didn’t offer to teach a class. Since we are enjoying the group so much, that will probably change for next year. Once again, the boys can learn some material with kids that are around their learning level. Unlike most school settings, though, there is still a range of ages involved. D found that while his age had Gobble Up Math as his option for the second time slot, he is doing better in the arts and crafts class where he is the youngest. If he wasn’t so good at math as well as used to being around his big brothers’ friends, that might not have been the case.

In all three cases, the fees for any participation have been there to cover the cost of materials. Compared to a more formal class, the cost seems almost minuscule. R’s science class was the most expensive ($25), but the materials being used can add up quite quickly. Having seen that a single session at a science center could be more than that, I feel like we are getting a bargain. Plus, the boys are able to make new friends at the same time.

Aside from either having the kids exposed to material I might not have covered with them (or in a way I would not have been able to achieve), there is one benefit to co-ops that some do not consider. If it is well organized and all participating are on the same page for expectations, you just might find that the homeschool parent receives a new avenue for friendships and support. I still shoot an email over to the homeschool parent in Ohio with whom we studied Story of the World. Since moving from Maryland, I keep in touch with some of the moms from that co-op via email and Facebook. And, this current co-op has built in time for mom’s to socialize with one mother taking charge of hospitality which includes something yummy for JUST the moms.

I know that not all homeschool families will have the opportunity to participate in a co-op. And, depending on your family, this option just might not be a good fit. But, I would highly recommend that anyone homeschooling consider it as one possible avenue in their learning journey. The old adage says that many hands make for light work and I truly believe that in a well run co-op this adage is in action.

Here are links to some posts on this blog about some of our co-op experiences:

Hamlet for Homeschoolers (put on by the co-op we did in Maryland)

Friendly Chemistry Review talks about using the program with the co-op kids

Meeting new friends at co-op and A Week of Upheaval and Fun both talk about the current co-op.

Disclaimer: I am an affiliate with In the Hands of a Child. Purchases made through those links credit our family and support our future purchases of their materials.