tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8229536235091412031.post7960415431666480740..comments2023-10-27T09:00:48.405-04:00Comments on Joy in the Journey: What Do You Think About Co-ops?Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12973935666122146258noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8229536235091412031.post-64871700390759062652010-03-09T20:43:49.781-05:002010-03-09T20:43:49.781-05:00Nikki,
I agree with your and others that a co-op...Nikki, <br /><br />I agree with your and others that a co-op that requires you to get a sitter for a sick child has their priorities mixed up. Stay away..stay far away.<br /><br />You offer great advice when you mention looking into policies before joining. Great idea! I would add visit the co-op and talk to some members outside of co-op and ask what frustrates them. You'll learn a lot.<br /><br />I hope this co-op changes before it drives other parents away.<br /><br />Don't give up on co-ops all together. They can be a huge blessing.<br /><br />Carol Topp, CPA<br />Author, Homeschool Co-ops: How top Start Them, run Them and Not Burn Out<br /><br /><br />I think you were very smart for carefully examining what you want from a co-op.Carol Topp, CPAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11668445884168706897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8229536235091412031.post-62288095119989250462010-02-25T18:37:57.107-05:002010-02-25T18:37:57.107-05:00I think clubs are a great idea, Sheri! Right now w...I think clubs are a great idea, Sheri! Right now we are in a club (sort of) for field trips. We are emailed the details of a trip, and if we are interested and able, we join in. It's great!<br />I really, really, really, like the idea of a Nature Study club! Think about all the fun nature hikes, picnics, photography, sketches, etc...The ideas are endless!<br />Something else that has been on my mind is a writer's club. I got the idea after reading the WeE-book called "Writer's Workshop" http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=170&products_id=10162Nikkihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12973935666122146258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8229536235091412031.post-26122984904750112402010-02-25T18:29:20.516-05:002010-02-25T18:29:20.516-05:00Nikki-that is just plain nuts! How sad and I bet y...Nikki-that is just plain nuts! How sad and I bet you were not the only one to experience the fall-out of their policies.<br />Funny you mentioned that Co-op you'd like b/cuz darling-I am so very close to deciding if that is what I want to put together and it would be based on CM stuff-no core, but nature study classes with art lessons, music and artist studies with lesson on art/music to complement...stuff like that. I am reading all these posts to see what folks truly want and don't want and will leave the rest up to the good Lord...but I am wondering if having "clubs" instead would be better-like you pay for that club and the teacher runs it for a certain amount of time under the HS group? hmm...now I am thinking of more possibilities...move next door to me and we can figure this out together! :0)Sherihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18061727625555735292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8229536235091412031.post-50502186812491572162010-02-23T16:41:13.184-05:002010-02-23T16:41:13.184-05:00I really debated whether or not I wanted to share ...I really debated whether or not I wanted to share our experience because it was so negative. But, I do hope it will help others be thorough in investigating a co-op before jumping in like we did.Nikkihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12973935666122146258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8229536235091412031.post-45856827459719704962010-02-23T15:36:23.343-05:002010-02-23T15:36:23.343-05:00What a nightmare experience! I don't know if ...What a nightmare experience! I don't know if I could have held my tongue and been quite as gracious as you seemed to have handled it. <br /><br />Ideally, the philospophy and expectations should have been provided up front BEFORE you committed to anything. The one we joined here in Alaska does just that. Then there are no suprises down the road.<br /><br />The more structured one we did in Maryland was not so rigid about things. There was one time that I was sick and another mother covered my class (actually she did a double dose of her subject and then I got to do a double dose of mine a few weeks later when she had to be away.) I quit working to avoid the "sick child care" issue altoghter and there's no way I'd leave a sick kid home alone for a co-op.<br /><br />I hope you are blessed to find a group that better fits your family's needs. Instead of looking, maybe you should just start up a Nature Walk Club with a set time and location. A Catholic homeschooling book had suggestions for a LOT of things like that with the idea that people came and participated as they could.Laura O in AKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16553515030417720783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8229536235091412031.post-83282562157865145692010-02-23T14:22:02.853-05:002010-02-23T14:22:02.853-05:00My mouth literally dropped open when I read about ...My mouth literally dropped open when I read about your experience. What a nutty policy! I would never leave my sick child with someone else so I could do be a "helper" to a co-op class. They should have "on call" people to help out in those situations. Even public school teachers stay home with sick kids & call in subs! Wow....<br /><br />I like your ideas for co-ops. That's what I would be willing to do as well.berrypatchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05549788623907370094noreply@blogger.com