Are you involved in a homeschool co-op? If not, one reason you may want to consider doing one someday because there are some classes that may be better to do in a group rather than at home. Here are just a few of the best classes to teach at a homeschool co-op.
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Scroll down to download this list as a pdf!
Speech and Debate
There are several different speech and debate approaches that provide curriculum to help guide you through doing this at your homeschool co-op. These include NCFCA, Gavel Club, and the Institute for Cultural Communicators (ICC). This is our 4th year to be involved in ICC. One thing I love about it is that it’s for ages 6-18. The older kids, who are working on specific speeches and also doing public forum debate, are the student leaders who help guide and mentor the younger students. Each week we meet the kids have several opportunities to get up in front of everyone to present. We also speak in various places in the community as well as have a tournament each year.
Science Experiments
I am one of those moms who has a difficult time doing science experiments and projects at home. For a couple of years, we did them at a homeschool co-op, and the kids absolutely loved all the fun and interesting experiments they did there. See my post on Chemistry and Physicsand for Physiology and Anatomy.
Here are some science courses from Compass Classroom:
No Sweat Nature Study Live is such a fun class for elementary students! If you have a co-op where students can’t go outside to experience nature first-hand, they can still learn about it through Cindy West’s inspiring lessons. Each lesson contains some printables that you can work on and a nature study drawing with optional colored pencils or watercolors. The membership includes curriculum such as Defense Mechanisms of Plants.
History (Projects and Presentations)
We used to be involved in a Tapestry of Grace Fellowship Group (co-op), so each week the kids do projects, timelines, geography, food, art, etc. that go along with our history reading for the week. We have also done some really neat evening celebration nights to culminate our studies. See the one we did onThe Exodusand theRoaring Twenties.
Here are some high-school level history courses from Compass Classroom:
Many love to use my online courses from Learn.MusicinOurHomeschool.com at their co-op. You might like 20th Century Music Appreciation for older students or American Music for Elementary for younger students. Check all the options here:
Art is another subject that I have had a hard time teaching at home. We have had several forms at homeschool co-ops–drawing lessons from a certified art instructor, video lessons from See the Light (drawing, cartooning, and a variety of projects), and moms teaching from a script with Meet the Masters.
We have only been at a facility one year that was able to accommodate P.E. It was a sports complex, so it was perfect for the long cold winters we have here! There was an indoor soccer field, basketball courts, and other large play areas. One of the dads took a long lunch break and came over to teach the kids. It was great!
One year had a mom who wasn’t really a writing teacher use the IEW(Institute for Excellence in Writing) curriculum to guide the middle school students in writing lessons. This year we have a couple of moms who feel qualified to teach and grade the papers on their own. Either way, I’m glad my kids are getting extra writing instruction there. Another great curriculum to look into is WriteShop.
High School Writing Courses from Compass Classroom:
Drama at a co-op can be as simple as helping the kids learn, memorize, and perform a few little skits (like my kids do every month or so at our Tapestry of Grace co-op) or as complex as putting on a full-length play, like we did with middle school and high school students with the ancient Greek drama The Trojan Women.
Life skills such as using tools, emergency readiness, cooking, sewing, etc. are awesome to learn in a group setting. And if you need a curriculum, Skill Trek Academy is available now!
Preschool
Preschool “stuff” can be so fun for 3 to 5-year-olds. They love to do crafts, paint, listen to books being read aloud, and singing games. While the older siblings are doing their classes, be sure to have activities planned for the preschoolers!
A wonderful preschool curriculum that I recommend by Kathy Gossen is Encompass!
These courses are amazing! Christian Homeschool Entrepreneurship includes 36 weekly lessons to guide your students into learning all about being an entrepreneur–and putting it into action.
Both of these classes would be really fun in a co-op setting so the students can share and brainstorm ideas, practice their sales pitches, and even collaborate together! Contact the owners of each course about a co-op license.
This post has some fantastic ideas! I’m particularly interested in the science and arts classes. It’s great to see a variety of options that can cater to different interests and learning styles in a homeschool co-op. Thanks for the inspiration!
This post has some fantastic ideas! I’m particularly interested in the science and arts classes. It’s great to see a variety of options that can cater to different interests and learning styles in a homeschool co-op. Thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you!
~Gena