How to Teach Co-op Classes

This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: How to Teach Co-op Classes. How to Teach Co-op Classes Are you teaching your homeschool co-op's classes for teens, this year? Feel a little intimidated? That's normal and okay. However, you can have the best years yet with homeschooling your homeschool teen co-op courses! Remember, there's not ONE right way to homeschool high school. In that same way, there's not one-right way to homeschool co-op! So, what are the practical tips for handling teaching co-op classes for teens? We 7Sisters have taught homeschool co-op and group classes for decades (even online homeschool classes). We have found a few tips that make teaching the teens go so much better. These same ideas will help you if your co-op is online this year, too. Know the subject and topic that you are going to teach I know that sounds obvious, but just in case you were told to teach "History", you will need to make sure which history you are going to teach! Will it be American History, World History, a special elective History topic? Or will it be a Social Studies/Social Science topic like Geography, Economics, Civics or Psychology? It is so much easier to plan and prepare when that much is clarified! Clarify the goals for this course Make sure you are on the same page with the rest of the co-op on these important goals: Will the class be: * One semester * Full year What are specific goals for the course? For instance: * We will have completed a curriculum by the end of the (semester or year) * Students will have been introduced to the topic through experiences and discussion over the (semester or year) * Other goals or a combination If you are clear about your goals, others can know up front what to expect (and adjust their expectations- or do something somewhere else). Discover what curriculum or materials you will use. One way to explore curriculum and material ideas is to bring the topic up in a Facebook group. Homeschool moms in groups are often thrilled to share about what they have used, along with what they liked and did not like. Some of our favorite Facebook groups are: * 7SistersHomeschool (of course) * It's Not That Hard to Homeschool High School * Simply Homeschool Education * Working While Homeschooling * Blue Collar Homeschool * Homeschooling College Bound Teens...