So I wrote earlier about the joys of being in a co-op- the comradary, the effortlessness of having someone else teach something you stink at, the feeling of being in larger community and, of course for me, being able to teach the subjects I truly love to others. BUT! It's seems only fair, as the worst of it come crashing into my email box, that I mention the shadowy side of running the co-op. Much a like a well rehearsed play, little to none of the work that I do and have to deal with ever hits the hands/ears/ or eyes of the many members of my co-op. None the less, they are invisible hurdles the admin jump over each year, and for the benefit of all other future and current homeschooling co-op leaders I will note my observations:
My co-op has about four seasons; two of them very dramatic, like summer and winter. I called these the "May bloom" and the "drop zone". The other two are smaller and less dramatic, but no less cyclical then the first two mentioned.
The "May bloom" is that optimistic time of the year when flowers fill the gardens, field trips are an every day event for homeschoolers and the optimism of the new year as the old year winds down is fresh and cozy as a newly laundered down blanket. Ah, yes. Classes in Shakespeare, beginning Latin, taking your first AP class! Very exciting stuff. People will sign up for almost everything on the roster. Some classes do have low sign-up, but not even the teacher is worried, as summer hasn't even begun, advertisement for classes have been few and far in between, and all the participants have yet to decide on curriculum. From joiner to teacher, there is a freshness in the air that nothing can spoil the mood of. I do love this part of the year. Questions that flood my email box are incredibly polite, & the tone is eager for information and inclusion. The season winds slowly down. With sudden, unpredictable bursts of emails sprouting up in random weeks in June and July.
Then, two weeks before co-op hits. "The DROP zone". The year is more clear. It's here upon homeschooling mom and child like a flash of summer lightening; hitting as hard and just as fast. The bright flash of light was their summer screaming from view. And then they look to all the classes they have- perhaps it's that last line of our registration that sits in red (I really wish the site would make it blue or green or some other non threatening color like that) but reads as plain as day- the total amount due= $100s of dollars. Can they do all this and the shining , still plastic wrapped curriclum they got at the convention? Or maybe it is their life that has changed. Summer puts things into perspective for many homeschoolers who for the first time that year can really evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of how it went. Work on doing more of what works, less of what doens't. One class sign-up can affect the entire list. A child who really wanted one class and can't get in, will drop everything else since it's no longer worth the drive to go to 2nd choice classes. Unfortunate events like job loss, happy events like moving, or lateral events like public or private school instead of homeschooling cause the changes. But whatever the reason, something will effect 1 out 4 registrations and class sign-ups (1 in 2, if you're unlucky). Teachers go from "hanging on" straight to "not enough to teach" in that hour. A one student government class isn't really worth the 45 mintues drive once a week, especially when both your kids finished the class last year. As much passion as the teacher has for the class she's facilitating, that doens't even cover gas now a days.
Then season 3: the "September RUSH" comes. It's not as noisy as the "May bloom". It creeps in, often just shows up with the intention of signing up for classes. We have had, and bless their souls 'cause I love each one of them, moms who come on the first day of classes and say "what's left?" The rush crowd is late, and they know it. They make the class that almost got canceled- famously our children's publishing class that went from 3 students to 8 in the opening hour- succeed. You can only dislike them a little because they are your fellow homeschoolers, of course, and they really make the co-op full of excitment and ppl.
It is only irritating from my leader's perspective because I now have many more registrations to deal with in a small herd. Since they tend not to like computers, it means volunteers- or myself- adding them to classes manually. We have developed an "open house" which draws them in a week prematurely. Nay, they are on time when they come for the open house. It's the really Johnny-come-latelys that reach into my class times with dozens of questions on the actual first day of classes that spikes high blood pressure and attempts to divide my neurons between remembering everything single thing in the co-op registration pack, where it is and how to fill out, and teaching- simultaneously . I have appointed a Queen of Chaos for the first day of classes. This person speaks for the head of our organization and answers all questions. They are empowered to make any and all decisions, and their decisions are final. Free registration from the Queen, ok then. Don't have your paperwork, get the Queen's approval and come to class. They only thing can't decide, of course, is to let in more students; that is always the teacher's domain.
September RUSH is that moment of exhale where, as the teacher of a class, you get resolution. You are teaching or you are not teaching. Now you know for sure. The day comes and goes and then it's smooth sailing through the rest of the year.
The last season, almost so small it would easy to miss, is the "January Bump". We get a few new registrations at this time of year. Usually, they are not new to homeschooling families, but families who made it through the winter and really need/want to see other places/people each week. They are comfortable with where they are in their own curriculum and want to enrich their child's week with a fun class. We don't see too many core class sign-ups, but it does happen. There is a small loss of student body. I see one maybe two students drop off second semester, but often they are replaced by the bump of new comers. Sadly, most core classes who lose ppl will not see replacements.
Then rolls in the "may bloom" to do it all over again. Like tides in the ocean and the evening stars, we have come to expect these fluctuations. There is comfort in knowing what the seasons are and when to expect them. When to be worried and hold on, and when to drop a class that is clearly defeated. I guess I am most proud of our continued growth and the fact we stuck around long enough to know what to expect when. We are in our 4th year of co-op. A new record for Williamsburg co-ops who tend to implode in year 3. Happy 4th Birthday Williamsburg Classical Academy :)
Here's a niffty link to an article about starting co-ops-
http://homeschool.lifetips.com/cat/64324/homeschool-co-op/index.html
My co-op has about four seasons; two of them very dramatic, like summer and winter. I called these the "May bloom" and the "drop zone". The other two are smaller and less dramatic, but no less cyclical then the first two mentioned.
The "May bloom" is that optimistic time of the year when flowers fill the gardens, field trips are an every day event for homeschoolers and the optimism of the new year as the old year winds down is fresh and cozy as a newly laundered down blanket. Ah, yes. Classes in Shakespeare, beginning Latin, taking your first AP class! Very exciting stuff. People will sign up for almost everything on the roster. Some classes do have low sign-up, but not even the teacher is worried, as summer hasn't even begun, advertisement for classes have been few and far in between, and all the participants have yet to decide on curriculum. From joiner to teacher, there is a freshness in the air that nothing can spoil the mood of. I do love this part of the year. Questions that flood my email box are incredibly polite, & the tone is eager for information and inclusion. The season winds slowly down. With sudden, unpredictable bursts of emails sprouting up in random weeks in June and July.
Then, two weeks before co-op hits. "The DROP zone". The year is more clear. It's here upon homeschooling mom and child like a flash of summer lightening; hitting as hard and just as fast. The bright flash of light was their summer screaming from view. And then they look to all the classes they have- perhaps it's that last line of our registration that sits in red (I really wish the site would make it blue or green or some other non threatening color like that) but reads as plain as day- the total amount due= $100s of dollars. Can they do all this and the shining , still plastic wrapped curriclum they got at the convention? Or maybe it is their life that has changed. Summer puts things into perspective for many homeschoolers who for the first time that year can really evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of how it went. Work on doing more of what works, less of what doens't. One class sign-up can affect the entire list. A child who really wanted one class and can't get in, will drop everything else since it's no longer worth the drive to go to 2nd choice classes. Unfortunate events like job loss, happy events like moving, or lateral events like public or private school instead of homeschooling cause the changes. But whatever the reason, something will effect 1 out 4 registrations and class sign-ups (1 in 2, if you're unlucky). Teachers go from "hanging on" straight to "not enough to teach" in that hour. A one student government class isn't really worth the 45 mintues drive once a week, especially when both your kids finished the class last year. As much passion as the teacher has for the class she's facilitating, that doens't even cover gas now a days.
Then season 3: the "September RUSH" comes. It's not as noisy as the "May bloom". It creeps in, often just shows up with the intention of signing up for classes. We have had, and bless their souls 'cause I love each one of them, moms who come on the first day of classes and say "what's left?" The rush crowd is late, and they know it. They make the class that almost got canceled- famously our children's publishing class that went from 3 students to 8 in the opening hour- succeed. You can only dislike them a little because they are your fellow homeschoolers, of course, and they really make the co-op full of excitment and ppl.
It is only irritating from my leader's perspective because I now have many more registrations to deal with in a small herd. Since they tend not to like computers, it means volunteers- or myself- adding them to classes manually. We have developed an "open house" which draws them in a week prematurely. Nay, they are on time when they come for the open house. It's the really Johnny-come-latelys that reach into my class times with dozens of questions on the actual first day of classes that spikes high blood pressure and attempts to divide my neurons between remembering everything single thing in the co-op registration pack, where it is and how to fill out, and teaching- simultaneously . I have appointed a Queen of Chaos for the first day of classes. This person speaks for the head of our organization and answers all questions. They are empowered to make any and all decisions, and their decisions are final. Free registration from the Queen, ok then. Don't have your paperwork, get the Queen's approval and come to class. They only thing can't decide, of course, is to let in more students; that is always the teacher's domain.
September RUSH is that moment of exhale where, as the teacher of a class, you get resolution. You are teaching or you are not teaching. Now you know for sure. The day comes and goes and then it's smooth sailing through the rest of the year.
The last season, almost so small it would easy to miss, is the "January Bump". We get a few new registrations at this time of year. Usually, they are not new to homeschooling families, but families who made it through the winter and really need/want to see other places/people each week. They are comfortable with where they are in their own curriculum and want to enrich their child's week with a fun class. We don't see too many core class sign-ups, but it does happen. There is a small loss of student body. I see one maybe two students drop off second semester, but often they are replaced by the bump of new comers. Sadly, most core classes who lose ppl will not see replacements.
Then rolls in the "may bloom" to do it all over again. Like tides in the ocean and the evening stars, we have come to expect these fluctuations. There is comfort in knowing what the seasons are and when to expect them. When to be worried and hold on, and when to drop a class that is clearly defeated. I guess I am most proud of our continued growth and the fact we stuck around long enough to know what to expect when. We are in our 4th year of co-op. A new record for Williamsburg co-ops who tend to implode in year 3. Happy 4th Birthday Williamsburg Classical Academy :)
Here's a niffty link to an article about starting co-ops-
http://homeschool.lifetips.com/cat/64324/homeschool-co-op/index.html
No comments:
Post a Comment