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3ringcircus
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| Posted: May 08 2012 at 9:38am | IP Logged
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I just visited a coop yesterday. It seems well-organized, although they are experiencing a lot of transition this year, and will even need a new site for the fall.
Good:
-Christian
-different age groups (my guy will see high-schoolers)
-oriented toward doing the projects/experiments/activities that might be cumbersome at home.
-opportunity for G to do academic work alongside similar-aged children
-might be a way for me to anchor us & be consistent & accountable
-I'll be interacting w/ HS moms weekly, and they seem like a nice enough bunch
-I'll be teaching or co-teaching. I could even be singing (my previous profession).
Questionable:
-it will be a challenge to pick up my other two from preschool & run back to get him. That might be easier depending on their new location.
-it isn't Catholic, although I also belong to that group
-I'm thinking of a lot of activities already, and this one will be a huge commitment even though it's 1/2 day, once-a-week. CCD, Blue Knights, piano, sports/swimming, lego league, Tiger Cubs, Catholic group.
-I will have to conform to their chosen curricula: Phonics, history, & science. I wasn't planning to do history at all, and was planning to unschool science because he's so interested already. As long as it's not drudgery, I think he'll enjoy it well enough. I just don't want to have to push when we're at home, and I won't know until we're there.
-They ask that you commit for the full year, due to teacher & class planning.
How did/do coops work for you? Do you appreciate the structure, or start to resent it?
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Christine
Mom to my circus of boys: G-1/06, D-1/04, S-4/10
Started HS in Fall'12
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Erin
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| Posted: May 08 2012 at 9:44pm | IP Logged
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Christine
Brainstorming thoughts here  You already have a full load of extra curricula commitments. Is this really the season for you to do a co-op? With your others at pre-school this could be your time together, just the two of you. What does your dh think? Often I forget to ask mine and rush in blindly (well I used to more) Are you a person who likes/needs that structure or would you grow to dislike it? A year is a long time to commit, so many variables occur in that time.
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Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
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AmandaV
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| Posted: May 08 2012 at 9:57pm | IP Logged
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I agree with Erin, though I'm no expert. I have a wonderful Catholic co-op 5 minutes away, but I backed off this last year to have more time for school and other activities- nature classes, Catholic homeschool monthly gathering, and just being home. It's so easy to overcommit as a homeschooler. And your oldest is still young- first grade next year? You can always add more your 2nd year. Just my 2 cents.
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Amanda
wife since 6/03, Mom to son 7/04, daughter 2/06, twin sons 6/08 and son 7/11, son 1/2014
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guitarnan
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| Posted: May 08 2012 at 11:10pm | IP Logged
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What Amanda said.
We've participated in a co-op for several years, and there are many benefits involved. But, if I were in your shoes, I would put Tiger Cubs over Co-op any day (disclaimer: my son is an Eagle Scout...I'm biased, but with good reason!). Toss in Blue Knights and swim team and your schedule is, well, toast. Do you really need to spend Fridays away from home every week, with all the other activities on your calendar? Plus, a co-op is, well, co-operative, so you will have to spend time preparing for whatever job you do at the co-op. For me, as a teacher of older students, that's 4-5 hours per class hour per week.
This is the perfect time to give your son a chance to try out a few things each year (sports, Lego league, Scouts, etc.) and see what appeals to him and (important!!) works with your schedule.
Do pay attention to how your younger boys react to your oldest son's activities - it is so much easier when everyone does the same things! (In our house, that's archery - and it's nice to have one thing that my children have done together, year after year.)
You can always add in a co-op later if you feel that your son(s) need(s) more social opportunities, but I think you will find that you have a very full schedule without a co-op. Tiger cubs, sports and Legos will provide plenty of chances to build friendships and team spirit.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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3ringcircus
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| Posted: May 09 2012 at 8:26am | IP Logged
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Yes, Tigers is non-negotiable here, too. My boys will be the 4th generation to get Eagle (on my side). They are excited, too. As you pointed out, it will be hard for D to wait.
The coop happens when the other two are already in school, but the other things may be a stretch. D will do some activities, but not all, and S may have to sacrifice or change the timing on some naps.
You all are giving me a lot to think about. I was so hoping to get clarity from others w/ experience!
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Christine
Mom to my circus of boys: G-1/06, D-1/04, S-4/10
Started HS in Fall'12
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SallyT
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| Posted: May 09 2012 at 8:45am | IP Logged
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Having done co-ops on different levels (including a high-school cottage school), I think less is more. My kids did love our co-op involvement, but what I found, albeit mostly with the high-school one, was that that became the center of our life, and nothing else got done. We also felt rushed, that we lived in the car, and so on, especially when you factored in scouts, choir, violin, and the children's community theatre with which my older children were heavily involved. It was too much.
It's so tempting to think that our children need all this activity in order to live a rich life, especially in a world where everyone's children seem to be doing doing doing all the time. It's tempting to think that to be good parents, and particularly good homeschooling parents, we have to ensure that they're really not stuck in the house all the time. What I've found, however, especially since our move to a small town with fewer extracurricular options nearby, is that my kids really are happier with less structured time and fewer scheduled activities. Right now my two youngers, 8 and 9, both do scouts (Cubs and American Heritage Girls) and an art class on Tuesday afternoons. That. Is. It. And it's perfect. We have relaxed time for school and plenty of open-ended playtime, with just enough "not-mom" activities. Even my high-schooler, who mainly just does Scouts right now (though he's working on his Eagle and involved in many different scouting-related activities), does not seem particularly hungry for more to do.
I would stick with the extracurriculars you've already mapped out -- picking and choosing the most important, even -- and avoid the commitment of the co-op, at least for this year. That's my $.02, anyway. As Amanda says, it's all too easy to overcommit, and my own take is that if you have to err on one side, it's better to err on the side of undercommitting. You can always add more activities if you need them, but it can be hard to get out of a co-op once you're in.
Again, that's what *I* would do! It doesn't have to be what *you* do.
Godspeed you in your discernment.
Sally
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Mackfam
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| Posted: May 09 2012 at 9:05am | IP Logged
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SallyT wrote:
Having done co-ops on different levels (including a high-school cottage school), I think less is more. My kids did love our co-op involvement, but what I found, albeit mostly with the high-school one, was that that became the center of our life, and nothing else got done. We also felt rushed, that we lived in the car, and so on, especially when you factored in scouts, choir, violin, and the children's community theatre with which my older children were heavily involved. It was too much.
It's so tempting to think that our children need all this activity in order to live a rich life, especially in a world where everyone's children seem to be doing doing doing all the time. It's tempting to think that to be good parents, and particularly good homeschooling parents, we have to ensure that they're really not stuck in the house all the time. What I've found, however, especially since our move to a small town with fewer extracurricular options nearby, is that my kids really are happier with less structured time and fewer scheduled activities. |
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Exactly this.
We were fortunate to enjoy a lovely co-op for a year when my kids were younger (6th grade, 2nd grade were the only school age kids I had at the time). It was only a half day co-op, and was light in terms of content and prep, but just leaving the home required very intentional organization with young children, and once we were home the rest of the day was spent putting away and catching up. It effectively removed almost a day and a half from our week. I only participated for the one year not because the co-op was not a wonderful opportunity, but because I was missing the relaxed and open space of our days which were lacking with more outside the home commitments.
Co-ops can be a wonderful blessing, and saying no-thank you to the opportunity is in no way a reflection of the good they may offer. It may simply be a matter of priorities, and acknowledging the very great good found within the learning spaces of the home over an outside the home opportunity. Many things can factor into this decision, and one of the biggest will be the ages of the children, and how many children are at home.
Outside the home commitments can quickly take over a homeschooling family's days and fill up all the quiet, relaxed spaces of the day with activity. This level of activity is suffocating, both to mom, domestic life, and the children's ability to grow and explore without structure being present all.the.time. It is a matter of priorities in determining how much outside-of-home time trespasses on the day. Our family works hard to constantly discern outside the home opportunities in order to fiercely guard enough quiet space for the children to thrive, explore, and just be children: climbing trees, catching fireflies, reading under a shady tree, riding bikes, exploring forests and creeks.
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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JennGM
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| Posted: May 09 2012 at 9:51am | IP Logged
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Yes!!!! Nodding in agreement to both of you!!!
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: s/o participating in a coop
