How to Start a Homeschool Writing Co-Op
A homeschool writing co-op is a great way to provide extra writing practice for students of all ages. A writing co-op can offer something for reluctant writers, avid writers and those students who fall somewhere in between. It can be a good time of learning and socialization, where the parents tailor short lessons and assignments to their students’ needs. Parents or even older students can initiate a writing co-op. With a little planning and creativity, a co-op can be a great teaching tool and an encouragement to parents and students alike.
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Instructions
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The first ingredient to a successful co-op is to find other homeschool families that are interested in starting a writing co-op. Brainstorm together to see if your ideas and goals are compatible. Families that share your homeschool educational philosophy might be your best option. Be flexible and decide what your ultimate goal is. Do you want your students to get practice with creative or other forms of writing? What age range will you address? Will the co-op address the elementary ages, middle or high school, or all of them? How many students will be included? Smaller co-ops can build closer relationships and provide an easier transition for shy students. Large co-ops have many benefits too, but require more and careful planning to run smoothly. These decisions will affect how you proceed.
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Once you decide roughly what your larger goals are, formulate a loose statement of purpose just to keep the group focused. Something like “Our purpose is to provide supplemental writing activities for middle school age homeschool students. We are not a replacement for studies at home.” This may sound more formal than you’d like, but give it some serious thought. A simple statement like this can clarify goals for existing members or any newcomers who join later. It can also serve as a reference point if any disagreements arise. A statement of purpose is not mandatory, but it can be useful.
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Consider the specifics of your plan. Need ideas? One successful co-op format is to present a short lesson about writing to the students. This lesson could be about nouns, for example, if you are teaching younger students. Older students could have part one of a series about journalism. Keep lessons short, fun, and to the point. Then consider playing a game that reinforces points from the current or a previous lesson. Next, give the students a writing assignment, due the next time you meet. Finally, have students read their previous assignments to the group. The order can be switched around to suit your preferences. They may balk at reading aloud at first, but it is a great way to add public speaking skills to your co-op. Among the benefits of reading aloud is that students get to practice among friends. Remember, writing and speaking skills are important life skills for everyone to have, no matter what they do in life. See Step 8 for more lesson and assignment tips and ideas.
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Still feeling a little unsure of what direction to go with a writing co-op? Keep it simple. This takes the pressure off the parents and the students. Consider adding other relaxed activities, to make the co-op a special day of learning. Science projects, cooking and baking, or art projects are always a good idea that can span any student age range. Consult a homeschool curriculum guide, such as in the resources below for grade level English and writing requirements and activities.
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Get everyone involved. Require all families involved to help in some capacity, whether it be doing lesson plans and teaching, game planning, bringing snacks, or watching toddlers. It is a co-op, which means it is most successful with everyone’s help. No one family should do all the work while the rest reap the benefits.
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Consider keeping it small. Groups of 3 to 10 students can help the students interact and bond more easily and comfortably. Students will be more comfortable if you have them read their stories, and you avoid the students that “get lost in the shuffle.” Smaller groups require less planning and expenses. A small co-op offers more flexibility if this is important for your family’s lifestyle. There will be less demands on the parents, meaning less stress overall. So be sure and assess schedules before committing to anything.
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Consider your goals carefully. Whatever the ultimate choice for a writing co-op--large or small--keep them in mind. A writing co-op is beneficial if you want the students to get exposure to a broader range of writing lessons and assignments. This helps students stretch their writing skills; often they will produce more creatively for their peers. A co-op can help them gain confidence in their writing. Encourage students that they really can write. Naturally, every student will not become a famous novelist, but they will improve with encouragement, good writing tools, time, and practice. You can be instrumental in inspiring students that they all have something to say and that they can write.
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There are many good resources available for a writing co-op. They may be as close as your English and grammar books at home. Consult with the other parents involved to decide what you’d like to cover. Depending on the students’ ages, the basics, such as a review for punctuation, or good paragraph structure, are always good places to start. Consider a theme, such as how to write tall tales, a news story, or a short story. Themes can be done over several weeks, with each lesson covering a facet of this theme. Provide examples and have some activities that the students can do together for practice. Then have them put things into practice in their assignment for next time. When the co-op is finished, assemble a simple booklet of students' work for each student to take home. Other assignment ideas include allowing the students to write about whatever they want. Some students enjoy this; others would rather be told what to write. Decide what approach is best for your group.
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Once you know better where this co-op is headed, consider finances. You may not need to spend anything of consequence if your group is small, with each family contributing paper, game supplies, snacks, etc. A larger co-op, or a co-op where projects are more extensive or costly will require planning. Consider and divide expenses fairly.
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Don’t forget, that you need a place to meet. This can be in a home, church or community hall and a park pavilion if weather permits, and so on. Your location may also have some bearing on finances, if a rental fee is required.
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Keep it fun. If the lessons and assignments are fun and interesting, it will make the experience more pleasant for the students. They will be more willing writers and produce better work when encouraged with their interests are engaged.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure this is something that your family can fit into your schedule. It’s no fun if everyone is stressed.
Delegate responsiblities! Too much work for one person equals too much stress.
