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Want to know what our members say they like and dislike about co-op? Here are the results of our Spring 2010 Survey.
What I like about co-op:
- We have thoroughly enjoyed everything about Co-op. Everyone has been so warm and welcoming and I feel like I have made such good friends in such a short amount of time.
- I enjoy one day a week doing the co-op. I think it keeps us from getting burned out on homeschooling.
- I have absolutely loved the "living history" re-enactments that the junior high and high school classes have done this year. They bring another dimension to their studies, and they are things we can't possibly do at home. Thank you, Jenny and Lori, for organizing them!
- My children learn in a supportive environment and have the opportunity to learn subjects I don't need to teach well. I love the friendships we have developed through co-op. It makes planning our schedule so much easier because we plan around our co-op classes.
- Like-minded families, gives us a break in the week, kids are able to be with other kids, fun classes, organization is wonderful!
- It's very organized.
- It runs so smoothly!
- The variety of classes, the organization, and friendliness of the parents
- Interaction with other homeschoolers with similar values. I really like the weeks with breaks included.
- The fellowship and enrichment of classes
- Fellowship; like-minded friends for my children; classes provided that I may not be able to teach at home
- Fellowship with friends
- Fellowship and having a different perspective than my own in teaching my children
- The fellowship
- Friendships, accountability, ideas from other moms
- Relationships and accountability
- Time with friends
- The people – the kids – this co-op has been a blessing for us.
- Socialization
- Socialization for my son, meeting new parents, people with different backgrounds, gifts, etc.
- Everything!
What I dislike about co-op:
- Getting up in the morning :) jk
- Thursday morning rush
- The drive from Montgomery, but it's worth it. :)
- Nothing
- Nothing – I really like it.
- Nothing
- Nothing
- Nothing!
- Not enough space :)
- Only one day (--ha--)
Co-op could be improved by:
- Encouraging newcomers to take a more active role in planning and teaching [Leadership Team: We hope that providing guaranteed space for teachers' children and teacher discounts on the registration fee will encourage newcomers to take a more active role.]
- Better PE facility/options [Leadership Team: Co-op is blessed to have a large playground and wide open spaces for dodgeball, kickball, soccer, ultimate frizbee, relay races, etc. We already have a parachute, various balls, and a few other supplies, and plans are underway to purchase a volleyball net to use with the church's poles. As co-op is limited only by the creativity of the volunteer teachers and the interests of the children, we encourage parents to step in and make the classes better! Please feel free to volunteer to teach PE. Your ideas are welcome and could make it better.]
- Just have to make sure the younger students have enough different things to do [Leadership Team: Co-op's stated mission is to provide classes for high school students, and we are elated to be able to include nursery through junior high so the entire family can participate. We schedule every elementary class that has a volunteer teacher and enough interested students. Parents have the responsibility to come up with classes and teachers for their children's grade levels, and every semester we have more than enough parents to serve as teachers and helpers. The Leadership Team works with what the parents themselves want and volunteer to do.]
- Allowing 5-6th grade classes to have “more required” – to prepare them for all the work in 7th grade classes and up – they go from just coming to class to having at least 3 classes (in 7th) that require homework – I feel if they did a little more in 5-6th it might would transition them better. Example: some map work completed for geography, or looking up a country and giving info prior to class, creative writing start working on paragraph prior to class, science maybe vocabulary words to study – just some basic ideas so hopefully going into 7th wouldn't be a shock to them. I have a kid who will transition well – however, I have another who might be really surprised. Just some thoughts. :)
- 2-3 homework assignments per semester for 5-6 grade [Leadership Team: Some families already have their children doing significant academics at home, and we do not want elementary classes to be a burden or interfere with those studies, but rather to lift parents' burdens and enrich home education. Co-op is not a school. It's a parent's job to prepare their children for future studies and responsibilities, whether for junior high, high school or college. Nevertheless, we plan to suggest for Fall 2010 that 5th-6th grade teachers consider a “homework” assignment one or two times per semester.]
- More families need to hear about it [Leadership Team: We “advertise” regularly on FHE, ECHO and MAHE yahoo groups during the winter and summer breaks and send photo releases to local newspapers periodically. As a result, we always have a short “notification list” of families waiting for sign-ups to start.]
- I think we need a bigger place. I think it is a shame some people get turned away that want to come to co-op. [Leadership Team: With this year's larger group, the Leadership Team is reminded of, and re-committed to, the original mission of keeping co-op as small as functionally possible while ministering to the needs of homeschooling families with high school students. So far, every semester all high schoolers and their siblings on the notification list have been able to enroll.]
- Maybe we could keep Grace Church for elementary and younger and find another place close by for the older ones. [Leadership Team: To fulfill both insurance and church requirements, a parent must be on site whenever the child is at co-op. Since parents can't be in two places at once, and many have multiple children, two locations would be impossible.]
Additional comments:
- It's somewhat challenging to balance the responsibilities of co-op. Sometimes I wonder if the effort is worth the payoff – but this is likely indicative of any education system – it is work! [Leadership Team: We ask parents to limit teaching to no more than two classes, so they can have two breaks in the day; plus, we encourage team teaching and relying on your parent helpers as much as possible. Nevertheless, co-op is unquestionably a commitment, but definitely worthwhile, judging by the number of families who return and volunteer to teach every semester.]
- A huge thank you to the leadership team for all you have done for the kids and to the teachers for giving of your time. :)
- Thank you for offering so much for so many homeschoolers.
- It has been wonderful so far – no complaints
- We have absolutely loved co-op!
- Thank you so much for the opportunity to be involved in co-op. We have learned so many things and are better cooks, chemists, and historians because of our time spent there. The leadership team are wonderful examples of leadership in motion!
Read more:
12 Benefits of a Homeschool Co-op
15 Reasons You Should Not Join Our Co-op
How We Overcome Common Co-op Problems
10 Ways To Make Co-op Work for You
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