To Co-Op or Not To Co-Op:
That is the Question!
by Tina Jacobi, founder TLC Homeschoolers

There are at least a dozen successful homeschool cooperative groups in the Frederick area. Each group has a different focus with different demands and joys available for the homeschool family. But before you start your search for the perfect co-op, you should ask yourself a very important question. Would participating in a homeschool cooperative group enhance or drain your family at this season in your lives?

There are many advantages to homeschool co-ops. One is socializing our kids with other homeschool kids. Many long-term relationships come out of meeting often with your buddies. Classroom etiquette and participation is yet another skill that homeschool children get exposed to in co-op classes. Group games and activities are also much easier to pull off in a classroom setting.

Utilizing the different talents of homeschool moms is a wonderful plus for co-ops. Some moms are awesome in science and just love to pull off science experiments, while others enjoy teaching creative writing, cooking classes, or art. Saving money on professional instructors by pooling resources as a group is another advantage. Professional art, drama, and language classes often mark big savings this way.

I believe the biggest advantage of being involved in a successful co-op is the abundance of encouragement and support for the homeschool mom. We homeschool moms are all in this together, so support and new ideas from our peers just comes naturally in a cooperative setting.

Now with every great thing, there are some draw backs. Co-op classes can take away available time your family may need to actually have school as well as maintain your household. Constantly leaving your home for even a great thing can be draining in homeschool life. You may also have to prepare and teach a course to participate in a co-op. This takes valuable time directly from your family, so be careful what you agree to teach. Consider co-teaching with someone to split up the work.

Another drawback is the additional commitment on your family. A lot of preparation goes into managing a co-op, so a family's commitment to actively participate is very important. Reporting on-time and consistently is very important and should not be taken lightly. If your family is already overcommitted, save co-op for another school year. Interviewing and finding the right co-op can also be time consuming, so start early if you decide co-ops are right for you and your family.

About the author: Tina Jacobi, homeschool mom of 3, has been homeschooling for 7 years. She is the group leader for the Training for Life in Christ (TLC) Homeschoolers which offers many services to the Christian homeschool community including cooperative classes. Visit her website at www.tlchomeschool.com