Dear Mom, Feeling unsure and intimidated seems to be normal for many teachers, those who are home schooling and those who work in public or private schools. I remember feeling that way, and I hear this from certified teachers. It's easy to second-guess yourself. Nevertheless, remember that you are home schooling your children, not someone else's children. Do what is best for your children in light of their specific and unique needs and interests, strengths and weaknesses and your abilities. Starting a co-op can be a wonderful way for strengthening academics, staying on track, and providing social interaction. This process is going to take some work and planning to be successful. I asked several home schoolers who are involved in co-ops about advice. The following are guidelines for beginning and running a co-op: 1. Decide on the goal of the co-op--academic, social, break for mom, sports, or combination 2. Insist on volunteer help from all participating parents--if a child is attending the co-op, at least one of the parents of each child is assisting with the smooth running of the co-op 3. Provide clear expectations for parents and students--grading, material and book costs, lesson plans, student and parent behavior 4. Be organized You need a location, which could be your own home. And of course, you need interested students. You can begin with one class and then survey the parents and students as to their strengths and their interests. Offer to teach Spanish or chemistry for one semester and see if there is any interest in your local area. Don't be surprised if it takes a while to get your co-op noticed and accepted. As to books, the person teaching the course will need to choose the subject and the subject materials based upon the ages of the student and the knowledge of the parent who is teaching. You can teach a range of ages at one time for many subjects if you are very organized. I hope this information will give you a place to begin. I will be praying for your success. Best regards, Sandra Garant |
