How to Find the Right Homeschool COOP

So you've started homeschooling and the inevitable question comes up about socialization. Coops are great ways to provide interaction with other children as well as taking some of the load off of you.
Coops can be as simple as monthly playground or roller skating play dates or as complex as weekly classes. In types like this the mothers or father usually participate by teaching something they are strong in.
While coops are important, it is just as important to find the right coop that fits into your family's lifestyle.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• internet
• telephone
• transportation

1. First you need to get a list of all the local homeschool coops in your area. You can usually find this by doing a search on the internet. If you go to google and search you should come up with results. You can also go to homeschooling.about.com where there is a list of coops by state and area.

2. Once you have your list you will need to find these individual coops' websites. Usually most have at least a simple website stating their values and what they teach or how often they get together. Bookmark each site for future reference.

3. Now you need to decide what type of homeschooler you are. A lot of times homeschool coops are founded on religious principles. Go through each coop and see if you find any that are similar to your own religion or that are not religious based, depending on what you're looking for. This will give you a list of those closely matching what you're looking for.

4. Read the fine print. On their websites be sure to read mission statements as well as the membership form you would have to sign. Be sure there are no small details that you disagree with or can't overlook. Contact the ones you are interested in via email or telephone as listed on the site.

5. You might have to try a few different groups before you find one that is a perfect fit for your family. If you don't like any that you find or are in a rural area with limited groups you may want to look into forming your own coop that fits your needs. More than likely you will find at least a handful of other homeschoolers who are in the same boat as you and looking to share a coop with your family.

[Cherrie]

on 1/12/2009 Very good and complete information. Thanks

[Aussiegirl]

on 1/3/2009 Great tips! Thanks for the article!!

[SeventhSibling]

on 7/27/2008 Socialization is vital in developing a well-rounded personality in children. Good article.

[JMButler1728]

on 7/14/2008 Good step by step instructions. Thanks for sharing!

[Susanh]

on 6/13/2008 We belong to an excellent homeschool co-op and my children love it. Be sure to check on cost - ours is around $100 for the year for two children. Some are free to join, but they will require that you give several hours of your time outside of co-op day. If that fits your schedule, then that may not be a concern for you. Great article!