About six years ago I started getting together with my friend Betsy for a weekly geography lesson with our kids. The following year a couple of moms expressed interest in joining us, and they did. We decided to study the same history curriculum and meet once a week to do a more involved and hands on lesson. The year after that more joined, and we continued to study history using a combination of the Veritas Press and Sonlight curricula. Last year we were up to ten moms and thirty kids. This worked out alright, although we continued to meet in each others homes and 40 people is a lot to accommodate. Plus, you needed to have 3 separate rooms – one for the pre-schoolers, one for the K-2nd grade class, and one for the 3rd-7th grade class.
This year there are 16 moms and 47 kids! (That’s 63 bodies.) We discussed splitting the group in order to stay in homes, meeting in a church with classroom space, as well as contemplated what it would be like with that many people in a house were we to stay large and still meet in homes. (Will anyone’s driveway, or street for that matter, accommodate 16 mini-vans???) We’ll also need to split the kids into 4 classes instead of three. And even with more classes, there are still about 12 in each group!
A few moms thought splitting the group would be best – keep meeting in homes, smaller class size, ability to have a backyard to play in, depth of relationships is more likely, etc. But the majority of moms wanted to stay together and meet in a larger space. I was in the minority, but I also didn’t like the idea of not seeing everyone every week! So the plan is to stay one large group, meet at a local church, increase to 4 classes, and bring your own snack. Each mom will have to teach 6 times, and sign up for two “recess” duties!
Add to this that BOTH local private Christian schools decided to close within the last couple of weeks! So now we are getting phone calls about whether or not more families can join our group!
What to do?
Anyone interested in a homeschool co-op coordinator position?
Wow! At least you have a very good answer when someone asks you, “are you sure your child is getting enough socialization?” I think it’s a good problem to have!!