Starting a Homeschool Co-op, Update

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continue with what we already have going: board and table games, science, art, and discussion of current events all happening indoors. Outdoors, we do an organised activity such as skipping rope or playing kickball and finish the day with a big free play on the playground and reserve near the Community Centre.</p><p id="33c2">Some weeks, someone will volunteer to prepare a dish to share for lunch and that has been fun but it isn’t a part of our regular workshop schedule.</p><p id="9157">There are talks happening about an excursion into Melbourne for a tour of Parliament House and also a camping trip.</p><h2 id="ef6a">Administration</h2><p id="e853">Organising a co-op is a bit of work at the start and ongoing, but it is so worth it. One thing that I have to remind myself regularly is to stay focused on meeting my daughter’s needs and keep her interested. For the amount of time and energy I am putting into this, if I lose her focus, then I’m wasting my time.</p><p id="977b">My co-op won’t be a good fit for all families based on what their child’s needs and interests are, and that is ok. There are enough homeschooling families in the area, they can start their own co-op if a group learning experience is high on their list.</p><p id="098d"><i>Ann Leach is a Homeschooling Mum, studying Stoicism, and writing about living Mindfully, Within her Means, Child-Rearing, Outdoorsing, and more. She lives in Sunbury, Victoria with her daughter and 2 cats, and enjoys an afternoon cuppa, t

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ime with friends, working jigsaw puzzles, and time outdoors walking and bicycling. She would love for you to join her community by FOLLOWING and SUBSCRIBING. There is much more to come.</i></p><p id="f5de">Previous article: <a href="https://readmedium.com/a-new-to-homeschooling-parent-asks-whats-the-difference-between-homeschooling-and-unschooling-3f67ee30e2fa?sk=f944e6ad6a2b7e8f36d9581bcb591335"><i>A New-to-Homeschooling Parent Asks: What’s the Difference Between Homeschooling and Unschooling?</i></a></p><p id="181a">Next article: <a href="https://readmedium.com/a-new-to-homeschooling-parent-asks-should-i-send-homework-with-the-children-when-they-go-to-4951c5037aca?sk=fd3ee7e57fbe2ff7812c4d583539f3fa"><i>A New-to-Homeschooling Parent Asks: Should I Send “Homework” with the Children when They go to their Dad’s?</i></a></p><div id="01b0" class="link-block"> <a href="https://annleach.medium.com/membership"> <div> <div> <h2>Join Medium with my referral link - Ann Leach</h2> <div><h3>Enjoy unlimited access to ALL the stories on Medium by subscribing. Read every article written across 1000s of topics…</h3></div> <div><p>annleach.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*-Tthh9j4PXGCSZIB)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

It’s going very well so far!

Image created by Ann Leach

Term 3 of the school year here in Australia has just ended and so ends the 2nd term of the co-op I’ve started. It’s growing and going well.

So far, there are two families who have joined us and are committed to continuing in term 4. Additionally, there are three families who have indicated an interest in coming along for the 3-week trial to see how we do things and if co-op is a good fit for them.

New Location

Last term, we started using a room at the Community Centre which is a HUGE improvement over having the co-op at my place. The main reason is that now my daughter and I go to co-op. This carries a higher level of commitment than having people just turn up at our home. It is good for us to get out of the house and have activities to go to. The other reason is the spaces that the Community Centre has that we can use. The room we use has space for up to 30 people, an adjacent kitchen, and access to an outdoor enclosed playground which is perfect for the younger siblings of the tweens and teens who are in co-op.

What We Cover

No suggestions for new topics or workshops were made so we will continue with what we already have going: board and table games, science, art, and discussion of current events all happening indoors. Outdoors, we do an organised activity such as skipping rope or playing kickball and finish the day with a big free play on the playground and reserve near the Community Centre.

Some weeks, someone will volunteer to prepare a dish to share for lunch and that has been fun but it isn’t a part of our regular workshop schedule.

There are talks happening about an excursion into Melbourne for a tour of Parliament House and also a camping trip.

Administration

Organising a co-op is a bit of work at the start and ongoing, but it is so worth it. One thing that I have to remind myself regularly is to stay focused on meeting my daughter’s needs and keep her interested. For the amount of time and energy I am putting into this, if I lose her focus, then I’m wasting my time.

My co-op won’t be a good fit for all families based on what their child’s needs and interests are, and that is ok. There are enough homeschooling families in the area, they can start their own co-op if a group learning experience is high on their list.

Ann Leach is a Homeschooling Mum, studying Stoicism, and writing about living Mindfully, Within her Means, Child-Rearing, Outdoorsing, and more. She lives in Sunbury, Victoria with her daughter and 2 cats, and enjoys an afternoon cuppa, time with friends, working jigsaw puzzles, and time outdoors walking and bicycling. She would love for you to join her community by FOLLOWING and SUBSCRIBING. There is much more to come.