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,

Montessori Finds!

 Did you know Good Will, Etsy, Poshmark, Mercari, Facebook and eBay have Montessori equipment?  Okay, some is more authentic than other. Look for the gold standard in Montessori equipment and materials: Nienhuis.  (Some of the Etsy listing look homemade.). I took screenshots.  Once again, I think the best values are on Goodwill.

It’s your class! Teach it the way you want!

 You’re home-schooling for a reason.  Families want the best for their children.  Teach your class the way you want.  For a couple years I taught French for the local Co-op.  Yes, we used a textbook.  But we also set aside time each month to cook.  We watched Magnolia’s workshop episode to learn how to make a French Omelet. We made Bûche de Noël.  We started class with French prayers and sang Joyeux Anniversaire. (We picked our favorite YouTube version and sang along.)  The class had content, dictations, quizzes; but we played bingo to learn the numbers.  (Of course there were candy prizes!).  The kiddos learned classic French songs. We read bits of Le Petit Nicolas.  Have you ever read Dr. Suess in French?  It’s a hoot!  Okay, then there was the part where I learned MODG required teens who took a foreign language to take a test.  (Catherine explained she had to test.)  The test was entirely grammar!   Aaaaaarrrrgggghhhh!  At the end of the year, we had a cram session.  Yes, I had taught some grammar—but not the entire class!  Back to my point.  It’s your class.  You can teach it the way you want.

Grab and Go!

You need ‘grab and go’ resources.  Why?  You need sub plans!  What happens when the toddler has an ear infection and just won’t stop screaming? What if you’re sick?  I guarantee the rest of your family will all be disgustingly healthy while you’re suffering.  If you don’t have the band-width for your regular schedule, have activities in a bin, ready for emergencies.  Hey!  Your kiddos will enjoy the change and you won’t have guilt to top off your morning spent in the half-bath.

1. Grab and Go Primary Food Project has an introductory unit with all the links.

2. Grab and Go Vocabulary Memory is a great generic standby.  Have your kiddo use their reading book and write terms from their book.  Pick three from each chapter.  Look up definitions!  Have the kiddo write them on the index card.  Quiz kiddo orally.  For example, if the child is reading Heidi, define hobnailed, frock, laborious, etc.  Yes, one word definitions are fine.

3. Look over this 4H Art and Math Project kit.  Kiddos should be able to scrounge up the supplies on their own.  There is a bit of origami, symmetry, and Tesselations. Here is the cube pattern and here  is the cat template. (BTW I am allergic to both origami and Tesselations.  However, your family might love them!)

4. These two Grab and Go lessons are slide decks with instructions to make a movie or make music with a garage band.  Use these Story Prompts to come up with a short film idea if your kiddos are stumped.  Do you have a pet?  Could the dog go on an adventure?  Think Lassie!  They may need to watch an episode on YouTube.  Try VeggieTales for ideas, too!  Yes, YouTube has episodes.  Recreate Bible stories.  Have your list of suggestions ready.

5.  Take a look at Mercy for Martha’s Free Literature Guides. Check out Heidi , too!  We used Kolbe’s Primary Literature with Paul.  These types of literature guides have questions and vocabulary terms.  Keep the guide with the novel in the bin.  Practice hand-writing by answering questions in complete sentences.  Bonus points for using cursive!

WSJ Editorial: Why Send a Child to Public School?

 You should read this editorial, ‘Why Send a Child to Public School?’  The article is only available for a few days.  Be sure to download and save it!

Want another tip?

Want another tip?  Yes, it’s also a bit heretical.  If I don’t know much on a subject, I start with the children’s version.  Sometimes I use the same resource to teach.  For example, I’m teaching Brit Lit.  The textbook begins with the Anglo-Saxons.  What I know about the Anglo-Saxons can fit in a tea cup.  So I refreshed my understanding with  BBC BiteSize.  Yes, it does lead me down several rabbit holes, which is part of the process; Sutton Hoo comes to mind.  My Brit Lit class will be able to put the Anglo-Saxons into context before we read Beowulf.

I do this all the time.  Let’s say you are struggling with the fundamentals of electricity.  Start with a children’s book.  I don’t mean the middle school textbook.  I mean the ones for early grades.  Try the graphic or comic versions.  (NSTA’s Stop Faking It! series has merit, too.)  The next time you are stumped, look at a resource on the topic for kiddos.  It really helps when I’m struggling!