Apologia in a Co-Op

[mom31257]

Has anyone used Flying or Swimming Creatures in a co-op setting? A friend and I are considering doing a co-op next year that would meet every other week. We would do writing (IEW) and science. If the families use the book at home, would you just do experiments/activities, or would you do more? I think we will have 1-1.5 hours for the class.

 

How many children would be the most you would allow to join? We will probably keep the writing class to 2nd/3rd grade through 5th/6th grade. I've never used Apologia, so I'm not sure the best age range for it.

[acurtis75]

I use Apologia but not in a coop setting. The books are designed to use for a wide age range. Younger students might have trouble reading the text on their own. If I were planning to use it in a coop I would probably have the reading done outside of coop and then do experiments and notebook pages for the coop assignments. It would be a lot of reading to try to do in a group setting. You could also do supplemental library books and/or dvd's. The notebooks have suggestions for each chapter.

[Dahliarw]

I would say applogia is probably best for grades 3+. It is heavy, packed with information.

[kbpaulie]

Our co-op does Swimming Creaturres this year for 3-5th graders. They meet every week for 1 hour. Kids were reading a few pages at home every week. Class size was limited to about 12 students in a classroom w/ a teacher and an aide. Reading at home, some reading in the classroom, quizzes in the classroom, building of a model/ diorama and exeriments.

 

The 1-2nd graders are doing a version of Apologia's Biology. It's being taught by a nurse, so I think it's mainly just her science class b/c we don't even have a book at home and it seems a tad young for Apologia w/o tagging along w/ an older sibiling.

 

Had to edit this to add that I hadn't looked at the Swimming Creatures book much during the school year. When we went on vacation to the beach my son suggested brining it along. I LOVED IT!!!! I wish they had an Apoligia class every year! I think it's a fantastic curriculum and I don't think you can go wrong do anything w/ it in a group setting.

[hopeallgoeswell]

We have not done Flying or Swimming Creatures yet. We have done Human Anatomy and Botany (last year) and are doing Astronomy this semester. We do them in a co-op setting. Last year it was K-5 with a teacher and an aide for 16 kids. This year it is 2nd-8th grade split into 2nd-5th (8 kids) and 6th-8th (3 kids). We decide to use Elemental Science Intro to Science for the K-1st crowd because Apologia was a bit much for them last year; it is going much better this year.

 

We meet once a week for one hour. 2nd-5th does a Jeopardy style review and the project. The older kids do a discussion to include current astrological events and lesson review. Sometimes their projects are from the Janice VanCleave book.

 

I think if you were to do one book the whole year, you could meet every other week. As far as class size, I think 8-10 is good for one teacher or a bit more for a teacher and an aide.

 

Best of luck!

[mschickie]

Our co-op is currently doing Swimming Creatures. We offer two classes one is 7-9 year olds and then the other is 9-11 year olds. The first class uses the junior journal and the other one is using the standard journal. The classes are usually kept around 10-12 kids at the max. Dd is in the younger class. We do the readings and the journal at home and then in class they do the try its/experiments along with making models for their box/display. They even had the zoo moblie come in for one class. Our classes last for about an hour.

[mom31257]

For those who are doing it in a co-op, what other subjects do you do in the co-op?

[hopeallgoeswell]

For those who are doing it in a co-op, what other subjects do you do in the co-op?

 

We do an hour of history using HOD PHFHG (projects, maps, and timelines in class), art using MtM (projects in class), and science using Apologia Astronomy (review/projects in class). The classes are once a week for 36 weeks (2 of those weeks are parties/art shows). We have about 20 kids from PreK-8th grade.

[momto2blessings]

We've used Apologia for years w/our little co-op of us and one other family, and now we have a third family. We just do the end of lesson experiments. We let all kids who are interested participate. Sometimes the teacher would also review the end of chapter qu. with everyone, too. That's it:) Blessings, Gina

[Emilylou]

I teach Swimming Creatures at our co-op. The class has 18 kids and we have 3 adult helpers. Advance 3rd grades - 6th grade.

We meet once a week for 1 hour.

I love this class!

I do some of the experiments at co-op. Some are just so messy- we skip them at co-op.

I have a pdf file of class plans if you would like it. PM me. :)

[momto2blessings]

We also have a Spanish teacher come every mtg. that we pay (my native neighbor). The other main thing we do are presentations. We meet 2x/month with presentations one time and science experiments the next. We're not picky about science exp. matching where we are with reading and will double up, or have a summer 'science day' to catch up if needed. Then on warm days we do some P.E. activities from a homeschool P.E. book, cold/rainy days we do hymns/poetry with cocoa and snacks.

 

We also do beg. of year/end of year celebrations. We go out for donuts or a cheap lunch, often followed by a co-op time or planning meeting/playdate. We bring valentines to our Feb. mtg. and do a bit of Christmas celebration at our Dec. mtg. Occasionally we'll do a fieldtrip, if somebody wants to plan and invite the other families. That's about it:) It takes about 2 1/2 hrs. We love it! Blessings, Gina

[Guest thewifie]

Looking forward to teaching this class in the fall. Thank you for all the suggestions!