Homeschool Co Ops

I have often been asked if we participate in co-ops,

Yes and no. 

From time to time we have had Waldorf centered co-ops, some with many families and some with just one or two.  These are by far my favorites - I love getting together with other Waldorf centered families.  This can be a tall order though if you are in an area where there are no other Waldorf homeschoolers. It is usually easy to find other homeschoolers, but hard to decide if the co-ops they are offering fit within the Waldorf model. 

We are all eager to have our children socialize but will it be at the expense of the developmental appropriateness that we are striving for.  So often this becomes a secondary thought.  It shouldn't.  We should be thinking developmental appropriateness in all areas of our children's lives - sure there are times when try as we might we won't come close to the Steiner indications, but a co-op is a voluntary activity.  Before going into a co-op situation or agreeing to teach, look at the model, what will be taught at each age group?
Is there accountability? 
Are there parameters for the teachers in place?
Will they be just watching videos?
Are the experiments age appropriate? 
and here's a really important one... What is the time commitment?
These are all questions I have wrestled with over the years,

I have a few suggestions:

1) see if you can make head way on changing the direction of the co-op - make it more Waldorf friendly, you might be surprised.  If it is a co-op with a religious base that is not supportive of Waldorf then you will need to use other terms - I often used "Holistic"  when I was working with groups that didn't know much about Waldorf.

2) if changing the direction of the group is not possible then you will really need to decide how committed you are to Waldorf ideals.  Is the content really what you want your child to be learning?  If not then talk to the head of the group and see if the group would be willing to include you in social activities and outings so that you have the social content you want for your children.

3) If you are supposed to teach, see if you can trade with someone to get your teaching done earlier with the intention you can leave the group afterward.

4) Do NOT allow yourself to be pressured by groups that want to guilt you into staying - these are your children, if the direction isn't what you want and you are wishing you could drop the group, then you drop the group. Put your effort into doing other fun things during that time.

I hope this is helpful.  Often I think we get in a mode of "well I have to because I agreed" and I just think that there is room for re-evaluation of things as you go and if you are feeling angst about the co-op, there is a reason.  Also, I feel like we work SO hard to keep the goals of Waldorf schooling alive at home, why would we not follow through in other learning situations?  Things to ponder.

My co op resources HERE.