My husband is in charge of class for a week.

 Let’s imagine you’re out of commission for a week or so.  What do you prepare for your husband?  I’m out of Co-op for a week for surgery.  I am much more cavalier than my husband.  I created an outline and posted it to Classroom.  I omitted a topic under Classroom; the document is at the top of the page.

I modified a slide deck with instructions—which is in the Classroom lessons.  Explanations are printed and placed on the computer.  I queued up the slide deck and Classroom lessons on the computer and left print-outs on top of the laptop.

I pulled all of the lab materials and copied lab instructions.

I created a pile for extra assignments and quizzes.

Finally, there is a list of instructions on the whiteboard.  Really.  I should only miss one class.  Really.  Rob wants to review all of these instructions and materials again Monday.  I can’t make this up.

How is your routine?

 It’s still September!  How is your routine?  My friend, Linda, felt behind before Co-op resumed!  She is a mother of seven children and was dreading fall, Co-op, and commitments, such as American Heritage Girls.  My friend, Joanna, just moved.  Another mom in our Co-op is battling cancer.  I see first hand how hard it is to adjust to a home-school schedule.  Are you tempted to give up and enroll your kiddos in public schools?  One of the Co-op moms last year did.  She was expecting baby four and moving to a new house.  (BTW she pulled the children back out after Christmas.). Before you go nuclear, look at your routine.  Are the kiddos going to bed and getting up at regular hours.  No, they don’t have to go to bed at 8 PM and awaken at 6 AM; but families with regular hours tend to have a better daily structure.  How many outside commitments do you have?  Is your child enrolled in tennis, French, gymnastics, soccer, swimming, dance, and Mathnasium?  Pare back.  Focus on fundamentals: English, Math, History, and Science.  Select one activity.  Really!  Are you a busy volunteer?  It is hard to say no.  Do it!  Explain you need to focus on your family!  Pick a volunteer activity your family can do once or twice a year, such as sorting donations for the Food Pantry.  Right now, you want to home-school.  Make that your biggest goal.  Ask yourself what can go!  Hey!  Make breakfast for dinner!  Substitute a walk after lunch for soccer.  Put the kiddos to bed at 8:00 PM.  You and your husband can have a conversation!  Let’s get the routine sorted!

Let’s talk about electives!

Once your kiddo is in high school, you want to consider electives.  Our Co-op offers a few electives based on family interest.  Absolutely continue to focus on core subjects: History, English, Science, and Math.  Try to achieve a balance between your teen’s interests and ways to challenge your kiddo a bit.  Electives can take many forms.  Does your daughter want to shadow a vet?  Does the local museum accept historic reenactors?  (Think of all the research!  The costume, period details—even grammar!  Earlier eras avoid contractions and slang.)  Does your kiddo like robotic competitions?  Acting in local theatre?  Joining Civil Air Patrol?  Doing debate?  (Formal debate—not the on-going argument over wi-fi and cell phones..)  Play an instrument?  Volunteer at a Discovery Museum?  These types of electives are based on your teen’s interests.  

There are lessons which are just generally valuable, such as Google Education Tools.  Learn tips to make slide decks and spreadsheets. Can your kiddo code?  Khan Academy has an Hour of Code —along with a host of free courses. Easy Peasy All-In-One High School has some solid electives: Consumer Math, Computer, Art Appreciation, and several Parent Submitted Courses, such as Film Making.  What about Hillsdale College courses? (These courses are consistently excellent!)  I think every teen should have a class in personal finance,  Consider a Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University course.  (Ramsey’s course can dovetail well with a Consumer Math program.)  Path to Honor has free citizenship lessons from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.  Look for a free Civics class.  Civics is another elective most families want for their children.

Hillsdale College Online Courses are structured lessons with videos, study guides, and quizzes; the classes are easy to track.  Easy Peasy’s Consumer Math course uses a Glencoe Study Guide; the worksheets are easy to grade and correct.  Put the two courses together!  Buy a Dave Ramsey Financial Peace kit online.  Watch the videos, read the book, and complete the workbook.  Select a structured elective which is easy to document.  Instruct your teen to document his or her work and to maintain records.  Electives can be fun!  Just strive for a balance and include a few subjects which are useful.

Don’t let the cost of a microscope deter you from including microscope slides in your Biology course!

  Just like the other expensive equipment, parents balk at buying a microscope. Some families sketch the image from an online image. Noooooo! Yes, decent microscopes can be run hundreds of dollars.   I think kiddos should have the experience of focusing and sketching slides—not just looking at the image online.  There are affordable solutions!

Does your library have a microscope?  They might!  Ours does!  They may or may not have microscope slides.  You may need to use the microscope at the library.  BTW I don’t think you have to use the specific slides recommended by Apologia.  It’s more important your kiddo gets a microscope experience.  A set of 25 prepared slides has enough variety for a high school Biology course.

Another option is a clip-on or zoom lens for any cell phone.  Do you have an old cell lying  in a drawer?  Use it!  Clip-on microscopes are around $10-20.  Your kiddo will get the experience of focusing, taking a screenshot, and sketching the image.  

Another choice is a USB Microscope, which runs about $20-30.  They attach to a laptop or a Chromebook.  Again, teens focus the microscope, snap a screenshot, and sketch the image.  I have a box of these microscopes.  Kiddos bring their devices.  Some brands work better with a laptop; others interface with a Chromebook.  I can’t get any to connect with an iPad.  

Do I use traditional microscopes?  Yes!  Typically, we set up every variety of microscope and have teens use all of them.  I have an adapter for a traditional microscope which allows students to position their cell phone and capture the image.  My favorite brand is Amscope.  The one immediately below is around $100 and includes a few slides.  Yes, we use kiddie microscopes, such as My First Microscope, too.  I can’t recommend buying a used microscope at eBay or Good Will. Have I tried?  Oh yes!  It’s been a very mixed bag.   If you have a microscope slide, test any used microscope from the thrift store.  

Can you tell I am passionate about this topic?  Don’t blow your budget!  Do sketch microscope slides

Lest we forget….9/11

 

You just agreed to lead a Co-op class for the first time ever. Now, what?

 Let me guess!  Your Co-op group has a gaping hole.  The mom who agreed to teach a course has bailed.  Arrgghh!  In a moment of insanity, you stepped up and agreed to teach.  Good for you!  Do you need a background in the subject to teach it?  Nope. It’s nice!  I had college literature, but was not an English major.  The first time I taught Brit Lit, the school had a hole in the schedule and I was available to teach. The most important aspect of teaching is willingness to both learn and teach.

Anytime you teach a class for the first time expect moments of sheer terror.  What if they ask me a question I don’t know?  They might!  Google it.  Right then, in class.  Repeat after me, ‘What a great question!  I have no idea.  Let’s see.’  Yes, you will have days when you feel as though you are drowning.  You aren’t.  Instead you are going to do another Google search.

Do your homework.  While I’ve taught Brit Lit a few times, I’m no expert.  I use a textbook!  The first time you teach any course, try to use a textbook!  Follow it verbatim!  Read the lesson.  The first lesson we do is Beowulf.  Why is it important?  See what critics say.  I researched a little about the Anglo Saxon period to put the lesson in context.  Why was Sutton Hoo significant?  Look at other teachers’ lessons.  Make decisions.  Do you want to listen to an excerpt?  Select a few activities.  I want to assign Beowulf’s Resume.  

 Try to determine a pacing guide.  For example, I use Master Books British Literature, which has 34 lessons, one lesson each week or 34 weeks.  There are also 31 additional books and readings.  This may take us two years.  We may not read all 31 additional pieces of literature.  In other words, we may not complete all of this.  Frankly, the teens in my class struggle enormously.  The course was pretty daunting when I had exceptionally strong students!  All of this is normal.  You, the teacher, will face choices.  How much of the textbook can you reasonably cover?  Try for two-thirds.  (This is the MODG  standard for any textbook, for any class, in order to receive credit.  I consider MODG as the gold standard.)

Take a big breath.  You are going to experience imposter syndrome.  Some lessons are going to bomb.  There will be moments you bang your head on the table or door.  All normal.  There are also going to be sparks of insight.  Quote an expert!  If I can’t quote Tolkien or C.S.Lewis who can I quote? You’ll come across an especially interesting idea.  One of your lessons will resonate with the class.  Yes, you can do this!  Teach your first class!  Warning!  Teaching is addictive!  You’ll want to continue!

What if your kiddo is exceptional?

 Yesterday, our Co-op resumed.  I’m teaching three classes; one is Chemistry and Physics, the Young Explorers course.  Before class began, John was discussing alpha particles and ionizing radiation with me.  He’s 12.  Charlie’s in the same class; he’s 15.  Charlie is going to fit well.  I emailed John’s mom.  I think he should take Chemistry instead.  You are home-schooling!  Let the class fit the child,