There are so many reasons to join a homeschool co-op, and many to reasons you may avoid them as well. If the question is “Is a co-op necessary for homeschooling?” my answer would simply be “no, they are not at all necessary.”
Let’s rephrase the question.
“Would a homeschooling co-op serve our current homeschooling needs?”
Think about what you or your children need in the moment. Would you like to meet new friends? Do you need to find better science than you can teach? Is having a community important to you? There are many homeschooling needs that can be filled by co-op offerings.
Reasons to join a homeschool Co-Op:
- Group classes
- P.E., Choir, and drama are difficult (or impossible) to replicate at home
- Class Variety
- find classes in a subject you don’t enjoy teaching at home
- take classes in subjects you may not have even thought of (crochet? Ukulele? Greek Myths?)
- access to specialized classes with materials that you may not have been willing to buy at home (we had nice robotics kits at the co-op we were at)
- Meet new friends
- Seeing the same kids weekly helps kids form friendships
- meet great mom friends!
- Find community
- Moms nights out
- community to help when you have questions
- Access to field trips
- group field trips to factory tours, plays, and other “classroom” type field trips are more accessible
- Holiday parties and celebrations
- Christmas, Valentines, and Halloween parties
- Graduation Ceremonies
- Experience learning in a classroom setting
- Add routine to your week
- Affordable classes (as opposed to private tutors or paid organizations)
- Experience Recess (every child’s dream)
Not every co-op will offer all of these things. It is important to first try and identify what you are seeking, then find a co-op to meet that need.
Initially, I joined a co-op when my oldest wasn’t quite five years old because I wanted to homeschool, but I knew nothing about homeschooling! I wanted to take the homeschooling world on a test drive!
After being there a few years, I learned that each semester I needed to really focus on what we needed as a family in that semester. Otherwise, I would sign us up for all the things and life would seem chaotic!
Disadvantages of joining a homeschool co-op:
- Commitment
- It is another thing on the calendar
- most parents have to help somewhere in the co-op. Clean up, set-up, toddler room, teaching – people are counting on you to be there.
- Prep work. If you are teaching, there is prep work to do outside of co-op time to think about
- Less control of instruction.
- Most co-ops use parents to teach. Some are beyond amazing, organized and prepared. Some are not any of those things when it comes to teaching.
- If you have differently-wired kiddos, they may not get what they need from classroom instruction
- Can be very exclusive
- many are strict about religious beliefs and/or family values
- some are very cliquey
- Loss of schedule freedom
- harder to take random breaks or vacations
Don’t let the disadvantages scare you off! Think about your needs and decide if a co-op might be an option to explore for the semester.
Another benefit I’ve found is that it keeps me on top of our homeschool plan. When I teach, I have to prepare for the class. This puts me in planning mode, so naturally I tend to make sure my week is ready both in and out of the co-op.
If you are new to homeschooling or you just need to get out of a homeschooling rut, co-ops are a great option to try!
Hopefully you live in a place with a few options to choose from. At best, you will find a nice little addition for your homeschool and great friends. At worst, you will get an idea of what you don’t want out of a co-op. If nothing else, you will meet other families that you can meet up with outside of the co-op sponsored events.
Co-ops definitely aren’t all equal; they have different missions and aim to fill different needs. Think about what your family wants from a co-op. Core classes? Just field trips? The extras like music and art? Shop around, meet people, try a free day if they offer it. If you are not finding something that meets your family’s needs, make your own! Maybe you just need a small gathering once or twice a month and not an entire production; you can do that!
Search HERE for co-ops in your area.
Try HERE for outdoor meet-ups.
If you are new and need more basic homeschooling info, see HERE.
This content uses referral links. Read our disclosure policy for more info.