How to Start a Co-op
You might be tempted to skip this section but hear me out. Have you ever thought about starting a co-op? It’s not that hard and the benefits are totally worth the effort. All you need are three things:
- People
- Place
- Purpose
Take a moment to take inventory of your homeschool circles. Are there homeschool friends you wish you had more time with? Do you know of a nearby park, church classroom, or community center that might be willing to share a space with you? Is there any activity you or your kids are particularly jazzed about? With these simple questions, you might find your thoughts drifting to the what-if’s of starting your own group.
If that’s the case, here are a few practical tips.
- Don’t take it on alone. Let others be involved. Laulima.
- Charge a fee. It can be $5 per kid. $10 per family. It forces us non-committal homeschoolers to be in all-in or not.
- Communicate a clear purpose. Are you getting together to learn a foreign language? Is this a PE co-op? An art co-op? A “we just want to meet at the playground and chill” co-op? Give clear expectations and parameters.
- Consider your time. If you come up with a beautifully color-coded schedule, who’s going to maintain it? In the beginning, less is more, so start small and simple.
- Lastly, don’t underestimate the power of community. The friendships my family has made with other homeschooling families have far outweighed any expectations I had when I first started.
If you have any questions about how to start a co-op group, check out the CHOH website!