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Posted

Please share with me! Some other local homeschooling moms and I are meeting to figure out how to make our homeschooling community stronger for our kids. We live in an area where there are mainly two large groups- one that is faith-based and another that was originally formed for radical unschoolers in the area. There are many of us who fall in between and we're working to come up with ways to support our current members and hopefully attract new ones.

 

We moved a few years ago from an area where we had a great homeschool group but my kids were so little then that I didn't have much of a hand in making it so great, but I remember celebrations for the kids throughout the year and an end of the year party, as well as weekly park days.

 

What else am I missing? Please share your thoughts with me. Thanks!

Posted

Friendly people (I've been to a couple where the people really weren't)

 

People willing to talk about what they are learning along with their children.

 

True co-op activities. We had this where I lived before. But where I live now, there are two kinds of homeschooling groups --- the ones that have "park days" (then sometimes attend city wide home school events together) or groups that offer very formal classes (like high school science, etc) by experts. To me, neither is a co-op. One is play group with an occasional field trip and the other is a part-time school which costs.

 

For me, a co-op is where parents co-operate in teaching. I wish my park day group (which we enjoy) would occasionally offer learning experiences. This is done in at least two ways -1) parents who are really experts at teaching could offer one time activities or classes and 2)holding occasional learning experiences where all parents pitched in several learning stations and activities which cover a variety of ages ... like KONOS style learning on a grand scale.

 

But I've learned different people have different ideas so I guess the best thing is to ask.

Posted

Friendly people (I've been to a couple where the people really weren't)

 

People willing to talk about what they are learning along with their children.

 

True co-op activities. We had this where I lived before. But where I live now, there are two kinds of homeschooling groups --- the ones that have "park days" (then sometimes attend city wide home school events together) or groups that offer very formal classes (like high school science, etc) by experts. To me, neither is a co-op. One is play group with an occasional field trip and the other is a part-time school which costs.

 

For me, a co-op is where parents co-operate in teaching. I wish my park day group (which we enjoy) would occasionally offer learning experiences. This is done in at least two ways -1) parents who are really experts at teaching could offer one time activities or classes and 2)holding occasional learning experiences where all parents pitched in several learning stations and activities which cover a variety of ages ... like KONOS style learning on a grand scale.

 

But I've learned different people have different ideas so I guess the best thing is to ask.

Posted

Friendly people (I've been to a couple where the people really weren't)

 

People willing to talk about what they are learning along with their children.

 

True co-op activities. We had this where I lived before. But where I live now, there are two kinds of homeschooling groups --- the ones that have "park days" (then sometimes attend city wide home school events together) or groups that offer very formal classes (like high school science, etc) by experts. To me, neither is a co-op. One is play group with an occasional field trip and the other is a part-time school which costs.

 

For me, a co-op is where parents co-operate in teaching. I wish my park day group (which we enjoy) would occasionally offer learning experiences. This is done in at least two ways -1) parents who are really experts at teaching could offer one time activities or classes and 2)holding occasional learning experiences where all parents pitched in several learning stations and activities which cover a variety of ages ... like KONOS style learning on a grand scale.

 

But I've learned different people have different ideas so I guess the best thing is to ask.

Posted

Friendly people (I've been to a couple where the people really weren't)

 

People willing to talk about what they are learning along with their children.

 

True co-op activities. We had this where I lived before. But where I live now, there are two kinds of homeschooling groups --- the ones that have "park days" (then sometimes attend city wide home school events together) or groups that offer very formal classes (like high school science, etc) by experts. To me, neither is a co-op. One is play group with an occasional field trip and the other is a part-time school which costs.

 

For me, a co-op is where parents co-operate in teaching. I wish my park day group (which we enjoy) would occasionally offer learning experiences. This is done in at least two ways -1) parents who are really experts at teaching could offer one time activities or classes and 2)holding occasional learning experiences where all parents pitched in several learning stations and activities which cover a variety of ages ... like KONOS style learning on a grand scale.

 

But I've learned different people have different ideas so I guess the best thing is to ask.

Posted

I love that our group is very inclusive, but there has been no drama. Everyone is respectful of the ability of others to hold different opinions and points of view. We have a pretty strict policy of no putting down the educational styles or religious beliefs of others, but have never had to use it. The people are very friendly. Everyone is willing to help with advice and in other ways too. We currently have about 80 member families from a 6 county area.

 

Our group uses a Meetup site to plan/post events and trips and that has been a wonderful way to have everyone get involved. For instance, if someone is going to the movies on a Thursday, they can post it to the group and immediately everyone will get an e-mail about it and can go if they want. Community and group activites as well as impromptu get togethers are regulary posted and attended. We have events ranging from weekly Friday school at the library (we take our stuff and do school at the library with our friends) to a Victorain tea at a historic house to a local university Saturday Science program to an art day on the caledar right now.

 

There is a 6 week fall and 6 week spring elective type coop associated with the group and members of the group along with some surrounding groups formed a school-year round academic coop this past year.

Posted

Well, some things that I've appreciated in our area are the big track and field day that is run at the end of the year. Also, there is a yahoo list where people share things. Some nice things that happen - a friendly spelling bee, weekly physical activities (sports lessons).

 

Someone in our area recently started up evening seminars/chat times for the moms and I think this could be a really positive thing. I went to one, unsure if it would be worth it, and am planning to go to more. It is nice to have people who understand what you are living, and to not have the kids there so you can talk about things more frankly than you might with the kids right there. I think these run once a month.

 

HTH

Posted

Our field trips. We have a mom that organizes one a month. We habe had a great time!

 

Park days

 

Lunch at McDonald's after co-op. Not my favorite place to eat...but the kids eat and play in the playroom and the moms visit. It is great!

 

Our co-op is great. Well organized and run by some motivated moms.

 

No pressure to do anything. We did nothing the first year, only co-op last year, and we have added field trips this year. We also have activities and parties geared towatd each age group - Christmas parties, volunteer opportunities (they go to the food bank monthly), skating....moms organize what they want their kids to do and invite the group. It just means we get lots of opportunities without all the work on our own.

 

I love the other moms, I have made some good friends.

Posted

Our groups has an attendance requirement-you must attend one activity per semester to remain in the group. They also enforce the rules about kid behavior, and about no-showing or arriving late, pretty firmly. If you no-show repeatedly, you can be dismissed from the group. These sounds like a small thing, but it really keeps the members involved and engaged, and keeps out people who will be a drag on the group's resources.

Posted

The best thing about ours: The people. Seriously. Beyond that:

 

It's informal. No rules or regulations to follow. Our group leader sets up park days - choosing a different park to visit each month and putting it on the group calendar. Easy Peasy. If you can join great, if not - oh well, hopefully next week.

 

From there, the group is all friendly and easy going. If one Mom has an idea or hears of a "field trip" opportunity, they'll share the info, possibly even "lead" the group for that particular project (reserving space, collecting fees, etc.). Again. No muss, no fuss.

 

We get together every Wednesday afternoon because we enjoy the company. Our little joke is that Park Day is for the Moms. If they kids have fun, bonus, if not - meh - at least WE got some adult conversation.

 

From this group, we have enjoyed an "exercise accountability" group (2 to 4 of us get together a few mornings a week - so extra park time for the kids!), mini co-op (3, sometimes 4 families), had a Mom's Night out (overnight at a hotel!), have attended a few various field trips, etc.

 

I absolutely adore our group!

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