I heard this term a while back when my sister was debating on whether or not to homeschool her kids. She is currently in college pursuing her degree in elementary education and wasn’t very confident that she could pull off homeschooling and college. Her concerns prompted us to do some research and that is when we discovered “co-schooling”.
It is a fancy name for what parents of public, parochial, private, and magnet schools should be doing anyway. But, you know we like to give everything a name so…
Co-schooling is another form of home education that works in partnership with the school the child attends. The premise for this method is that the parents are the absolute authority over the child’s education and they work closely with the child’s teachers to give the student the best education possible. Without open communication and a desire to teach and train your child this method will not work. The point is to not leave the bulk of the responsibility up to the school but instead take some of that responsibility upon yourself.
- Become acquainted. Get to know your child’s teacher and help her or him get to know your child. This is a team effort and all great teams require strategic planning.
- Communicate. Set up meetings or phone calls all throughout the year so that you can each get a glimpse of the child’s progress and needs.
- Plan and Prepare. Ask for lesson plans and homework schedules so that you can supplement the education they are receiving in the classroom with appropriate materials at home: books, games, trips, TV shows, etc. The homework schedule allows you to monitor the child’s work and see how they are doing in regards to mastering concepts. It also helps you to keep them accountable.
- Learning Environment. Give each child a space for doing homework in peace. Make sure there is lots of light, pens, paper, and any other necessary supplies within reach.
- Set Goals. Talk with your child and help them to set goals for each school year and then break them down by semester. Review them every so often to make sure the child always has that goal in view. It is easier for them to walk towards success if they have a plan for doing so.
- Volunteer. It makes you a part of your child’s world away from home. You can get to know those who engage and encourage your child each day and become a part of the process instead of just being a spectator.
- Know your rights. Educate yourself on the laws and rules that govern your child’s school. Find out whom you are to speak to if there is a problem. Find out what the school’s responsibilities are and then make sure you understand your own responsibilities.
Above all, know that you are the parent and that the child’s teacher and other administrators are there to help you educate your child. Don’t take a backseat to the system. Unfortunately, the majority of parents of school age children have just handed over their children to the schools and because of this those children are educated under a broad spectrum. Without an advocate, your child’s teacher has to guess as to his or her abilities and they have to discipline and train without your input or support. This is not what was intended and this is not being a good parent.
Even if the only thing that you can do is email or call then do it. No one knows or loves your child more than you and no one else should be more involved in their education than you.
What about you? Do any of you have tips or advice on how to effectively co-school our children. Any teachers want to weigh in?
Great Post! I was just reminding a mom yesterday that no matter how or where her children are schooled, she has the absolute God-given authority over their education, and (as you also pointed out) she is using them as resources to help her educate her children.
I think the real message here lies in that fact. Over the years, we have done private, public, and homeschooling, and the one thing that I have learned is that even most Christian parents now consider the school to be the absolute authority in education, and they feel they are just supposed to comply. It amazes me.
Most of us agree that involvement with the school is necessary, but I have found that "involvement" is usually defined as organizing class parties, fundraising, PTO, and supervising field trips. These things are great, but actual involvement in their education means finding out what and how they are learning, holding them accountable to higher standards than the school does, and communicating to the teachers that you are using their expertise and training, which you respect, but that you are the final decision-maker on all aspects of your child's education.
Thanks for a much-needed message.
Anne-Marie,
I agree that the school system is messed up. If given a choice my boys would still be home but since I am legally obligated to put them in school I choose to do what I can to give them the best just like I did when they were here. My husband also wishes for them to be in school instead of home and frankly, many women find themselves in that situation.
I understand the negative thoughts because I have had them many times myself. I am doing what I can do make the best of out the situation. I wrote this post just to support other moms who might be in the same boat as me.
Thanks for the input!
Don't mean to come off harsh, but I actually use this concept as a reason for homeschooling. I don't want to spend my days babysitting the school & teachers like that. (I have 4 kids, that's way too much babysitting for me!)
I want absolutely zero involvement with the gov't school system. Their standards are inferior. They lack authority & discipline, so the inmates are running the asylum. Their idiotic total and zero tolerance policies are void of any brain function. In case after case, they are unable and unwilling to distinguish between a real threat & an enthusiastic 6 yr old boy scout.
Sorry, I really don't mean to be so negative, but I see nothing positive in the gov't system.
But if you must place your kids in public school, then you must be actively involved in every aspect of that experience. Anything less is irresponsible.
Great post! But my honest reaction is: why does this even have a title…it's what responsible parents who choose to utilize public school should be doing. I guess that's a large problem in our public schools, many parents leave it ALL up to the public school system. Bravo to your sister for taking an active role. My only advice would be to be careful how much supplementation she adds…with 6 hour school days, 2+ hours of homework an evening plus extra curricular activities, children can be easily overwhelmed, burnt out and turned off ;earning in general.
Thanks for responding to my comment
I would just like to add my two cents.
Yes, I was blessed with parents that were willing to play an active role in my education in the early years. Though they themselves had no direction as to what to do because of no parental figure in their life.
I myself had my first son at 16,when my son reached school age although I was young, I still knew that I had to be involved in his education in order for him to succeed.
It's just my personal thing that I learned as I was expecting my first son through reading books after books, articles, and magazines.
I realized that it comes down to just a difference in culture. My family,husband,and friends just don't label things that have to do with parenting.
Thank You and props to you for wanting to help others!
Eevee
LOVE that you posted this!!!!!
THANK YOU
I have never heard of the term co-schooling, but know that it has become quite popular in our area of the mid-west for private schools to offer home educated students the flexibility of taking one or two classes at their private school, instead of attending full time and then having their mom and dad home school them for the rest. The public schools here are limited to allowing home schooled students to participate in club activities and non-core classes only. Home educated students can only play sports at our public schools if they take 4 hours of non-core classes at the school each day for the year they are playing sports. Of course that would leave little time for the home educated students to take English, Soc. Stud., Math and Science (the required core for any student) at home- so that possibility is pretty unrealistic. I've never heard of anyone doing it.
As for us, we home educated ours, but our boys went every day to the public school's orchestra class and later, our oldest took an AP course over there and the public school paid for him to be dually enrolled in a local college his Sr. year. That was a pleasant surprise!
Excellent post, Amy! I have a couple of friends that this would really encourage.
Thanks for defining this. Co-schooling is not what I thought it was! Homeschooling is still our family's choice, but this option is a good way to encourage parents to be more involved in the traditional school setting.
~Bethany L.
Well Eevee in a major sense you are correct. I absolutely agree that most of these things are what parents should already be doing. Unfortunately, a good many parents don't know how to do this since it was not modeled to them as it was to you. Consider yourself blessed.
I know that it was not modeled to me and I had to actively educate myself as to how I could give my children the best education possible. I homeschooled for several years but now only have one child at home while my two youngest are in public school. Knowing the problems in the school system I wanted to be sure I was doing all I could for my kids.
As far as problems with the public school system, well, I think we could all get on the soap box and not come down for a while!
I'm thankful that we are in a great district now but if I could have my way I would still keep my kids home. Until then I do what I can to maintain absolute authority over their education and if using a term like "co-schooling" helps me to teach others to do the same then I will use it. I just want to help.
Let me apologize if this comes off the wrong way but isn't co-schooling just another of those "labels" or "terms" to define something that is a part of what it means to be parent and what they should be doing as responsible "Parents"?
I know that my parents did it with me and it wasn't called co-schooling it was just called being a mom.I did it with my son when he was attending school and made no difference when it came to dealing with the real problem we were facing with the public school system.
Blessings,
Eevee