Homeschooling in solitude was never my favorite season. When we moved (which was regrettably often), when my kids outgrew a season, when our interests changed-these were all times we spent at least a little while homeschooling without the company of community.

To be abundantly clear: I do not recommend long seasons of homeschooling without community. It can be unhealthy for you and unhealthy for your kids. Conversely, I do not recommend homeschool without deliberate and plentiful times of solitude, rest and reflection. To everything there is a season.

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven [Ecc 3:1 NASB95]

The best seasons in homeschool usually involved a cooperative homeschool effort. Coops are just what they sound like, a cooperative group of parents and families who choose to homeschool together. Coops are as varied as people though so you could find or create a coop around just about any topic. Maybe you just want to socialize or maybe you would like to participate in group academics. Coops run the full spectrum.

Here are some things I’d look for in a coop or keep in mind if you are starting one:

Like Mindedness

make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. [Phl 2:2 NASB 95]

Assessing like mindedness is a bit like dating. There are first impressions and then there is reality. To avoid committing to something you regret, consider looking for a Statement Of Purpose or a clear Statement of Faith for a Christian Coop. Ask around to see if you have homeschooling friends willing to give a review to the coop you are considering. Visit the coop during a regular day to see the flow and meet the folks. Is it friendly, comfortable and do there look like a group of kids in similar age groups as yours?

I remember we once joined a coop that I didn’t visit before joining. As the first months progressed, I learned that many parents didn’t keep their commitments to the coop, classes were led by whichever teens showed up instead of parents who had committed to teach. The organization was extremely loose. Some moms loved that environment but it was a infuriating for me. My son was devastated when I told him we had to find a better fit. He didn’t want to make new friends. We struggled through the move to a new coop together and sure enough some of his old friends followed shortly after. We both learned the importance of like mindedness.

As I grew in faithfulness, I prayed for the Lord to reveal like-minded sisters to walk alongside me. I also prayed for children bring raised with a love for God to walk alongside my kids.

Purpose

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. [1Co 10:31 NASB95]

Is the coop purpose the same as your purpose or need? Is this an academic gathering or a social gathering? Are parents focused on achievements or fellowship? Are the class offerings something your family will enjoy or be interested in? If academic, what curriculum has been chosen? If activity based, what kind of activities? Is it meeting in a church but teaching from secular science or history resources?

For seasons you might consider incorporating an academic coop to support teaching of subjects you might not enjoy teaching. For other seasons your family might just need a break from the monotony and benefit from a games or fellowship based coop.

I’ve learned that my purpose on earth is to glorify God. I expect my coop commitment to further that purpose.

Schedule

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; And confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands. [Psa 90:17 NASB95]

We always liked a Friday coop because it played into our Friday Fun Day plan. One of my besties kicks off the academic week with a Monday coop heavily bent toward strong academics for her high schoolers. Some coops meet all year round, others only align with the government school calendar. Some take breaks for holidays some don’t. Be sure to ask about the schedule and compare it to your families plans and preferences.

Every year in coop, I prayed for discernment about our schedule. I prayed for God to reveal where I might be committing to please others or fulfill my own desires. I prayed He would help me refine my schedule to honor His plans for my homeschool, including our coop commitments.

Cost

Honor the LORD from your wealth And from the first of all your produce; [Pro 3:9 NASB95]

How much will it cost your family? Will you need to provide supplies for your own kids or for a whole class you might be charged with leading? In the coops I’ve participated in, there was usually a small registration fee and then a nominal class fee to cover supplies. Teachers didn’t pay for supplies for their classes, rather a budget compiled from collected class fees. Registration fees went toward coop operating expenses (things like website, coffee and hospitality, rent or space expenses). Some highly academic cooperative that I’ve checked out have much higher costs but often provide higher level of tutoring or academic leadership. I’ve seen coops hire art, science, and math teachers regularly since these are often topics parents collectively cringe about teaching alone at home.

In my home we take very seriously that we should live within our means. This dictates coop, field trips, curriculum, etc. It is not my belief that God would lead me to homeschool but intent I not follow Biblical principles with my finances to accomplish His purpose.

Have a Pack Mentality

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm [alone?] And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three [strands] is not quickly torn apart. [Ecc 4:9-12 NASB95]

A coop is usually a commitment for your whole homeschool so be sure its going to be a workable, sustainable fit for everyone. Note that I didn’t say “perfect” fit for everyone. There are always personalities, preferences and attitudes to take into consideration. But, in selecting a coop, you are teaching your kids about compromise, getting outside your comfort zone and sticking with commitments. I once checked out an extremely attractive coop that a huge percentage of my friends had joined and were raving about. This particular coop was driven by academics and the kids looked brilliant! But, it would have required loads of reading from my struggling reader had room for two of my children but not for my high schooler. As much as I really wanted to join, after much prayer, I had to pass on enrolling because it wouldn’t have been a good fit for my entire homeschool. We travel as a pack.

I’ve been through the fire on this point and I am certain that God honored my faithfulness to Him When I have earnestly prayed, put Him first and my teaching second and my friends and my own social preferences were excluded from the list, He has provided. I believe He will do the same for your homeschool.

Prepare to Help

For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. [2Th 3:11-13 NASB95]

If you didn’t have to cooperate and participate, they’d call it tutoring or daycare. Coops work because everyone puts in some effort. Be prepared. And, be prepared to teach, too. So many moms I’ve met through the years feel incapable of teaching anything to a group and I’m convinced this is a lie of the enemy. You’re teaching your own kids so you are perfectly capable of teaching a group. Suck it up buttercup and get in there. Plan, ask for help, fake it till you make it but get in there and share with some kids who’ll delight in your ideas!

I’ve prayed to be useful and I have also prayed (alternately) to be overlooked and not assigned a role. God has provided abundant joy when I have chosen to serve others in ways that He ordains even when it stretches me and feels uncomfortable to start. Do not grow weary of doing good and do all as if for the Lord have been my prayer and in my head.

There is a lot to think about when considering a coop and this is by no means an exhaustive evaluation. If you’d like to talk through your own ideas, we’re here to cooperate with you and encourage! Email or call and we’ll be eager to listen and share our own experience.

Happy homeschooling!

CoOps do all sorts of things that people enjoy. This coop field trip to an executive jet hangar and to the FedEx hangar was especially popular and fun! As a teacher for the Career Exploration class, field trip preparation included making calls to schedule the visits, email confirmations to parents who were assisting with transportation and coaching the kids as to what we might see and how to conduct themselves in a professional setting.