The 1, 2, 3's of Starting a Co-op

Check out the podcast on the Ultimate Radio Network that will give you a simple plan for starting your own co-op!   Do not be intimidated.  It is not as hard as you think.  In fact, it's quite simple!!  The URL above includes a slide presentation that goes along with the podcast.  Yes, we have published a guide to co-oping, and it includes more details, but this podcast (along with the slides) will be enough to get you started!  So do not wait any longer.  Grab a view families and give homechooling co-op style a try!

Co-ops, money matters and more!

Join me as I interview Carol Topp, CPA extraordinaire as we discuss the ins and outs of money matters in regard to co-ops and other issues that pertain to homeschoolers (such as fund raising)!  If you are like me, the thought of formalizing your co-op into a non-profit might not have entered your mind.  However, there are benefits to becoming a non-profit and, if you hire teachers you may find it quite beneficial. 

Carol Topp is a retired homeschooling mom who is also an author, speaker and consultant.  Check out the products and services she offers at her website:  homeschoolcpa.com! 

The show will air on Wednesday, January 1, 2014, at 10:00 am, but will be archived and available via iTunes afterwards!

If there are other issues you would like to hear more about on future shows, let me know!

Co-oping in the Midst of Trials

Are you going through a rough time in your personal life?  Experiencing trials and tribulations in the midst of homeschooling sometimes requires thinking outside the box.  My recent interview with Charlotte provided insight for an additional reason to consider homeschooling, co-op style!

Content to homeschool at home (apart from co-ops) for years, Charlotte found herself in the midst of a divorce.  To say this trial wreaked havoc with her routine would be an understatement.  An invitation to visit a co-op changed her world and helped both Charlotte and her daughter in so many ways.

Whether you are going through trying times, or you know someone who is having a rough time, be encouraged that homeschooling co-op style may be the life-changing experience for such a situation.  Listen live on December 18, 2013 at 10:00 am EST or to an archived copy of the podcast afterwards.  The Ultimate Radio Network is the site for the live show, but the show will be available via iTunes as well!

January is usually a month for reflection, goal setting, and changes.  If you are not homeschooling co-op style, give it a try -- even if just for a short period.  You may be surprised and pleased with the many benefits co-oping has to offer!

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Podcasts, co-ops, ministry and Medieval history . . .

For those of you wanting to know more about homeschooling co-op style, listen to the podcasts from the Ultimate Radio Network (they are archived and available on iTunes).  Today I am interviewing Felice Gerwitz, speaker, author and friend, and she has a lot to share about co-ops, homeschooling and more!  Felice and her daughter authored the Truth Seekers Mystery series that my children loved to read growing up!  Future podcasts include an accountant who will discuss the ins and outs of co-op bookkeeping and an interview with a friend who discovered co-ops in the midst of trying times.  A lot of variety and a lot of information!! 

Now that our American Girl co-op has ended I am researching and planning a Medieval history co-op that will begin in January.  We'll go from an all girl co-op to a co-ed co-op.  We are switching from meeting on Mondays to Thursdays so that parents will have Sundays free from being used as the day to finish co-op preparation!

For years I planned our co-ops to end before Thanksgiving and to resume mid-January.  By doing this our family had weeks free to enjoy the holidays!  One year we had a holiday specific co-op.  I'll write about that soon because it may be something you want to try, especially if you are desirous of incorporating meaningful ministry into the holidays! 

Getting dads involved in co-ops!

The norm for most homeschool co-ops is to have the moms participate, often to the exclusion of dads.  This may simply be due to logistics (dad's at work), but when there is a desire to include men, there is a way to make it happen!  With intention and purpose men can become a part of your child's co-op and having men on hand to teach, lead, and show by example is very beneficial to the life of a child.

One year we had a ten week co-op with only teen boys on current events, persuasive writing and public speaking.  We purposefully met at night so that dads could attend, and many of them were able to join us.

Our co-ops often have guest speakers and many times the dads are the guest speakers.  Several of our co-ops have been blessed to have Ryan Sprague volunteer his time to speak into the lives of our teens.  Ryan is an author, athlete, dad, pastor, speaker, and friend.  I interviewed Ryan on my Homeschooing Co-op Style show and we talked about co-ops, footballs, dads participating in co-ops and more!  You can hear this interview here!  (Click on the MP3 button on the page.  It is also available in iTunes.)

Some of my friends have started a co-op for teens that is being taught by retired men who are training the students in skills such as small engine repair, computer programming, home improvements, and more!

Think outside the box, and invite the dads to be a part of your co-op!

Homeschooling Co-op Style Show has Launched!

Yesterday was the first Homeschooling Co-op Style show to play on the Ultimate Homeschool Network!  If you didn't hear the interview live, you can listen to the archived talk at any time!

During the first show I interviewed Suzanne who has organized a co-op for teens in Florida.  Her co-op includes such topics as worldviews, current events, the Constitution, economics, conflict resolution and more. Suzanne first joined one of my co-ops in 2010 when we studied the Scopes Trial.  The co-op was called Inherit the Truth and for those of you interested, here is a copy of the newsletter from that co-op!  (Click on the picture of the court house to see a copy of the newsletter.)

Next week on the show I will be interviewing Ryan Sprague.  Ryan is an athlete, an author, a speaker, a homeschool dad, a pastor and a friend.  Dads will appreciate what Ryan has to share to encourage them to listen in as well!   Ryan is currently one of the guest speakers at Suzanne's co-op.  Join us next week for the Homeschooling Co-op Style show on Wednesdays at 10:00 am!

Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking

One of the main benefits to homeschooling, co-op style, is providing a safe and friendly environment for students to develop and hone public speaking skills. Research shows that people are more afraid of speaking in public than of dying!  The longer you wait to require your child to speak in front of a group, the harder it will be for that child to overcome the natural fear of speaking in public.  However, if you begin having your child give presentations in front of a group at a young age, that fear is quickly conquered!

This fall I am orchestrating an American Girls co-op that my grand daughter, Karis (age 7) attends with 7 of her friends.  I have heard from two parents that their children were terrified of giving a presentation to the group.  If the parent hadn't told me that I never would have guessed that was the case because the girls did such a great job!  As the weeks go by the girls are becoming more and more comfortable with giving a presentation.  Some totally memorize their report while others use note cards.  One of the students has used power point several times and has even included video!  Several of the students have come to co-op dressed as the American girl we are studying that particular week.

It has been amusing to note that several times a few of the girls do not want to share some of the information in their presentation because they are embarrassed by the subject so they have their moms share that particular part with the group.  Karis will share embarrassing information (i.e. dye was sometimes made from duck poop), but then she will giggle.  It's adorable.  Younger siblings have participated as well, often holding a picture up during the report.

Whether you organize a co-op that becomes the center of your academic study, or you plan one that is simply to provide a safe and friendly audience for public speaking opportunities, I encourage you to give homeschooling, co-op style a try!  Some things are just better together!

Our "Homeschooling Co-op Style" show will begin on October 9th, so mark your calendars!

http://ultimateradioshow.com/show-hosts/homeschooling-co-op-style/  (There's a video on this page with a short introduction to the show.)

And, if you haven't entered our drawing for a free iPad mini, the contest is about to end so add a comment to the blog in order to enter!!!   Happy co-oping!