how do you homeschool?

***Today's topic is "How do you homeschool?".   There will be many topics to read about today since this topic is so broad.  Simply scroll to the bottom of this post to find links to the blogs of other participants or to post your own blog post URL.

Tomorrow's topic will be Getting out there...  Please feel free to join in!

Co-ops

From the time we began homeschooling, we have been involved in some sort of co-op.  Co-ops are a perfect way to teach difficult subjects, let your kids learn from other adults, and they provide a nice time of fellowship on a regular basis.

Our first co-op was The Happy Hearts Preschool Co-op when my oldest was four.  We painted matching t-shirts for all of the kids, taught ABC's and 123's, and we took field trips to the grocery store and fire station.  (Hold on a minute while I sniffle because I just realized how very sweet that time was!)  This was a perfect way to begin those days of homeschooling when I lacked confidence and spent too much time questioning our decision.

Over the years we have co-op'ed simply by meeting with a few other families to teach a particular subject such as history.  Meeting once a week and sharing the teaching load allows for a fun learning experience and the kids enjoy being taught by someone new.  With kids older than 4th grade, you can let them do at least some of the research and sharing of information, and projects are a great way for kids to share what they have learned.  You can be as elaborate or as simple as you want to be with the kid's assignments.  Some co-ops make homemade costumes and recreate historical scenes, while some rely on poster board reports and short essays by the kids.  Either way is valuable.

Right now we are involved in a large, highly structured co-op.  Thirty-five families meet twice a month and the kids can choose from approximately twenty classes each semester.   Being able to work with people is crucial in a setting like this since there are so many ideas and opinions being shared, and with all things that involve parents and children, the "opinionating" can get a little heated!  ;)

If you are interested in starting a co-op of some sort, just start talking to other homeschoolers.  It won't be long before you find one or two (or maybe ten!) families that are interested too!

***This morning the auto-links didn't work so I posted these links below:

Sara, Rhonda, Tammy, Rebecca, Heather, Elaine, Mama Squirrel, Paulanne, Sheri, Trish, Tiany, Heather, Tricia, Becky, Amy, Amy, Barb, Cricket, Lori, Flo, Heidi, DebD, Lesley,Christy,...

You can post your blog URL below:

Comments

[chickadee]

i just noticed your new banner! i love it!

you know, i thought i would be all excited about participating in this and even started my first post and then i just gave up. it wasn't going right. i am just so not in the mood to talk about homeschooling for some reason. maybe i need to read a few posts and get motivated. after all, that's why you're doing this right?

[Dana]

I wish there were a coop near us. I know my daughter would enjoy the opportunities that that would afford us.

[Jennifer]

"Being able to work with people is crucial in a setting like this since there are so many ideas and opinions being shared, and with all things that involve parents and children, the "opinionating" can get a little heated!"

That was a very diplomatic way to say it. ;-)

We've also enjoyed our involvement with coops through the years.

[Tiany]

I have enjoyed your posts for your "Back To Homeschool Week" and I hope you dont mind I have decided to join in! Im sure many of the ladies particpating in the Homeschool Open house would be blessed by your posts and like to join in the fun themselves! You have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share, im so glad you stoped by and left a comment so I could find you!!!

Many blessings to you and yours,
Tiany

[Trish]

Randi,

We just started attending a homeschool co-op last school year. I wish we had been involved in a co-op before that ~ we didn't know how good they can be! We love our co-op, and we're really looking forward to starting again later this month. I'm the treasurer for our co-op; we've had 2 meetings in the past 4 days, planning and getting everything worked out. It's going to be another great year!

Blessings,
Trish

[Jodi]

Since we are heading into our first year ever with a co-op I was encouraged by your post. Still a bit nervous though!

[Tonsofsons]

Thanks for sharing the importance and benefits of being in a co-op. We are trying to start one with our homeschool group this year. I'm excited!

[Sheri]

I am still on the fence about Co-ops, which I mention in my post today. I've joined supports groups and found a Co-op for this year, but I just can't make up my mind. (It's a real heart issue, I like doing things on my schedule NOT someone else's...sounds like a serious problem I really need to tend to!!)

[Fatcatpaulanne]

I've posted about how we homeschool today!

[Mama Squirrel]

I've posted my Tuesday response--but I don't see the Linky thing here today.

[tracy]

You are fortunate to have great co-ops available, we have a few, but I would love a few more.

Sorry about the double link, I wanted to link JUST this post so if you can and want to take the first on off. I don't see the link thing now though.

Thanks.

[Heather]

I love the new header.

I have alot of friends that homeschool and we do stuff together but I tend to be the stay at home and get stuff done type and hate driving here and there and everywhere--so we don't belong to an official co-op. It is a great resource however and is a blessing.

I posted here:http://www.gracedbychrist.com/?p=1114

[heidi]

i think it would be difficult to do without any kind of co-op! for th parents as much as the kids.

[Tammy]

Oh, this ended up being a harder topic choice than at first glance. There was so much pressure and legalism when we first began homeschooling twenty year ago. I ended up writing out posts that I deleted, but it was healing for me to process. We are in a much healthier happier place with our homeschooling today :-)

I, too, don't see the Mr. Linky thing (?), so I hope it works to post it this way. Here's my day two:

http://agarden4tam22.blogspot.com/2007/08/
back-to-homeschool-week-day-2.html

[carol]

This is SO much fun! I can't wait to go get reading everyone else's posts this morning.

[Sara]

It was interesting to write about this topic as I spent so much of the Summer "agonizing" over it. It is definitely a subject that is always in flux in most homeschoolers lives.

Here's my entry link:
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/domusschola/369075/

Sara

[Rebecca]

Here's my post for today's topic. Lots of great stories yesterday!
http://little-homeschool-on-the-prairie.blogspot.com/

[Tricia]

I posted my How Do I Do It post today on my blog.

I wish I could help you figure out the Link Thing but I'm not that computer Savvy!

[Heather]

I'll have to look to see if there are co-ops around here. That sounds neat. Here's my post for today!

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hrlabonte/184962/

:-)
~Heather

[BeckyB]

I posted today too!!
http://bilbybunch.blogspot.com/2007/08/back-to-homeschool-week_04.html

[Amy (Milk & Cookies)]

Here is my post for today:
http://milk--and--cookies.blogspot.com/2007/08/back-to-homeschool-week-day-2.html

[Mt. Hope Academy]

I enjoyed all of the posts yesterday! Thanks

Here is my post for today's topic:
http://mthopeacademy.blogspot.com/2007/08/how-of-homeschooling.html

[Flo at Yieded Heart]

Hi, Randi!
My link must have disappeared with the autolink. It was here earlier this morning. lol
Anyway, it's http://yielded.wordpress.com/2007/08/07/back-to-homeschool-week-how-we-homeschool/

Thanks!

[Amy]

I am loving this! Here's my link:
http://amyswandering.wordpress.com/2007/08/07/how-we-homeschool/

[Barb]

Sorry this is happening. Hope it's not too much trouble/work for you. I am enjoying the series. please link to my blog for my daily entry. Thanks

[Terri Sue]

I pray you don't get this twice. Have a blessed day!

[tonia]

I posted a general/overall post about our homeschooling philosophy today. :)

[Melissa]

This is just what I needed to begin a new school year; to remind myself why we do this! Thanks and my post for Tuesday is up! :)

[Ann'Re]

I added my post. Now I'm off to read all the others. :)

[At A Hen's Pace]

Hi Randi--

We've been really blessed by various co-opping experiences over the years too!

We've been gone, visiting family, and just returned--so don't know if I can pull anything together for this week or not. But what a great idea, and thanks for hosting!

[erin s]

Wow, I have so many questions already Randi, but I think I will save them all up and send you a nice big email. I have always struggled with the idea of home schooling. Should I or shouldn't I? My kids are now both in the public school system and so far they both love it. But I have definite issues with it. Anyways, I will save my homeschooling questions for the end of your series.

[Daja]

I just posted! But,I forgot to mention co-ops, which I love. Maybe my post will have a "Part II" if I have time later!

[M Light]

Thanks for the link opportunity! Off to read some more...

[rohanknitterr]

Great topics!
It's helping to get me in the mood to start school up again soon!

[Tracy]

WOW! This is really popular, Randi!We start in the morning...good-bye extra sewing time. )0:

[Elaine]

I'm always so late in posting, but at least I got today's done while it was still today. Thanks for hosting this!

[ComfyDenim]

Got it done, finally.
Gosh. I'm afraid to look at what other's have said - I'm not feeling very "together" at the moment.

[Lawanda]

Last year, my friend and I shared kids and teaching responsibilities. It was nice to have help and a break at times.

[Jimmie]

ARe you a woman named Randi! Way cool! I\'m a woman named Jimmie! :-) Nice to meet you! I\'m stopping over from a link at Heather\'s blog -- Stepping Heavenward at HSB.
blessings to you and yours.

[Dawne]

Another great topic!