Should I Join a Homeschool Co-op?
Six years ago, my young homeschool family was growing up and we were ready to start adding some outside activities. I had always been wary of homeschool co-ops, as co-op means co-operative, and co-operative means working with other people! As a very independent person, I wasn’t sure if I was the kind of mom that would like to work in community.
Our Early Homeschooling Years
We had always had lots of homeschooling friends, and our early homeschool days were packed with playdates and field trips and park dates. I relish those early homeschool days when my kids were little. Having babies, toddlers and elementary students meant that I needed to have a lot of control over my home and it wasn’t until my oldest kids were in 5th and 7th grade that I was even open to the idea of joining a homeschool co-op.
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A Homeschool Co-op Was Born
My oldest was in 7th grade though, and I was feeling that learning in community might be good for my family. I also thought that I had learned enough on our homeschool journey to have something to share with other kids. This was a huge shift for me, as I had always felt very satisfied with my small tribe of children and had never felt called to teach other children. We are always growing on this path of life!
While I felt ready to teach the things that I was loving in homeschooling to other kids, I found out that some of my closest friends also had this call. So, with a deep breath we decided to start something together.
My homeschool mom friends and are independent. They are smart, talented, interesting, stubborn and fun. As a group, we are uncomfortable with traditional education systems. Rules can make us squirm. We don’t want too much, we don’t want too little. Time spent can’t be shallow.
Planning for Our Homeschool Co-op
We met and planned and thought and read Afterthoughts and books like For the Children’s Sake and Leisure the Basis of Culture. We listened to The New Mason Jar. We considered our schedules and spaces and family situations to design a group learning situation that worked for our families.
Encouragement for the Wandering Homeschool Mama
If what you want in a homeschool co-op or school isn’t available to you, I want to encourage you to build your own thing. You might have to put out quiet (or loud) feelers to find your tribe. You might also have to give and take for the sake of building a community. And, like any community, conflicts will arise. You must act like a grown up to resolve. But it might be worth it.
Our Homeschool Co-op Blessings
Over the past six years, we have taught dozens of classes. We have studied geography and branches of science, we have made art and handicrafts, we have studied politics and entrepreneurship and history. We have swung dance, learned to do handstands and learned to make soap and candles. We have done so many things together.
Check out our Ellis Island Interactive Challenge Game! It was a huge hit for our American History Class this year!
That is the important part of a homeschool co-op. Learning in community. Making memories. Friendships.
The mothers in my homeschool co-op make me a better woman – a better wife and friend and mom and Christian. We welcome babies and pray for each other in life’s sorrows. We read books together and talk about EVERYTHING. We watch the children grow up. We have fun.
A Vision for Your Homeschool Co-op
Our homeschool co-op isn’t particularly academic, but we learn. Our co-op only meets 14 times in an academic school year, so it doesn’t take a lot of time. But it has provided layers upon layers of richness in my family’s life.
I hope that I can encourage you to build or join a co-op that works for your family to bless you in the homeschooling years to come.
