Build a trip around a book!

 We just stopped at Green Gables in Prince Edward Island.  Yes, they do serve raspberry cordial.  There were many excited little girls.  Why not base a trip around a book, a character, a short story, or a famous person?  One example is The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  Visit the village.  Read Longfellow’s poem about The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere and visit his house in Boston.  Have you read any of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books?  Her family lived in several house.  Look at this blog post about the author’s vacation to three of those houses.  Here are places with connections to Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Okay, you get the idea.  What is your child’s favorite book?  Where did the author live?  Where do the characters in the book live?  Take a trip!  Think how much more meaningful the book will be.

Teach by subject.

 Does this seem obvious?  Guess what?  It isn’t.  Too many literature, history, and science textbooks are a hodge-podge of topics—many disparate.  Don’t get me started on state learning standards and objectives—especially in Social Studies.  Instead, pick a subject: Early American History, Fables, or  Human Anatomy.  Apologia’s Science Curriculum has dedicated science subjects.  Look at Cathy Duffy’s History & Geography page on her website. I am partial to the Catholic Textbook Project’s History Series.  Kolbe Academy has Primary Literature and Elementary Literature guides with questions and vocabulary for classic literature.  Once your child hits fifth grade, consider Sadler Vocabulary Workshop.  This series goes from A (Grade Six) to H.  See what I’m saying?   Build your curriculum around subjects to create a robust program.

You should teach a Co-op class.

 Do you have a four-year degree?  You should teach a class.  It will stretch your talents.  It will provide experience if you need to work full-time in the future. Your Co-op needs more variety and more instructors.  Most of all, it’s fun.  

I hear you telling me that you aren’t certified to teach.  Yes, I have certifications; I’m not convinced they help.  Many teachers in private schools do not have any educational credentials—just a bachelor’s degree.  Right now desperate public schools are waiving requirements and slapping provisional accreditation on to people with a four-year degree to fill slots.

But, the best teachers care about kids and love their subject.  They get excited about teaching strategies and want to do a good job.  Sometimes they have professional experience they want to share.  But, I’ve seen many newbies with a passion and no experience do a great job.  You have the motivation.  Chances are your kid will be in the class.  You’ll learn a lot teaching the subject.

Here are a few tips.  Pick a class you like.  My friend, Jen, a former kindergarten teacher, is teaching American History for the high school Co-op.  She likes history.  You’ll be more enthusiastic about a subject you like.  At least the first time, follow the textbook.  Go ahead and supplement—but stick to the modules.  Stay one chapter or module ahead.  Tell the kids, ‘I don’t know’ when you don’t.  Go ahead and look up a question right there with the kids.  This still happens to me.  I give the kid my best guess as an answer and tell the child, ‘I’m not 100% certain.  Let me check.’  Don’t try to fake it.  What happens when a lesson is just terrible?  Start over.  Every so often, a lab or activity just bombs.  Start again the next class and move on.  Tell the kids that the lab, project, time-line, etc. was an unmitigated disaster which we won’t repeat.  We’ll go on and make new mistakes.  In other words, be fearless.  Expect both victories and defeats.  Teaching  is probably outside your comfort area.  Good!  This will be an adventure!

Types of Co-ops

  Co-ops vary enormously.  Our Co-op originally met Fridays at space rented from a local church.  The space had enough rooms for several classes, including a nursery.  The Co-op families met after Mass, at 10 am; classes were held until around 2 pm.  Moms taught different subjects based on demand.  This model worked well for kiddos 6-12 years old.  Older teens in the same Co-op met Tuesdays and Thursdays at the library.  Subjects taught varies from Economics to Chemistry.

Another friend attends Classical Conversations, which meets for 24 weeks, one day a week.  (This program can run over $1000.  Other Co-ops divide insurance and lease fees among the members.) Another example is Classical Cottage, a consortium.  This group runs more like a private school, but is oriented to home-school families.   Locally, the scope for each Co-op varies.  Younger groups might run play dates, LEGO clubs, or park days.  Other groups focus almost exclusively on field trips.  

Different Co-ops even teach the same subjects differently.  For example, I teach science classes twice a week.  Class is 1 1/2 hours and includes instruction, labs, projects,  and activities.  Tests and reading are done at home.  Another local instructor teaches using only the textbook.  Still another Co-op nearby meets once a week to do the labs, exclusively. All of the instruction, questions, and tests are completed apart from Co-op.

Ask some questions before you join a Co-op.  What does the Co-op offer? Classes?  Field trips? Performing arts?  Debate?   How often does the group meet? Where do they meet?   What are the parent responsibilities?  What are the fees?  How does your family hope to benefit from a Co-op?  Ask all manner of questions before you join.