Hello all you TOG users!

Our current co-op of 5 families is expanding next year to about 10 families. This will be a new format and we are going to be meeting weekly doing Year 3. We have successfully worked together for about 3 years, using Tapestry the last two (we are currently in Y-2) and meeting 2-3 times a month.

Any advice out there from experienced co-op leaders? How do you set up each area? We are currently working on our set up with each mom taking responsibility for different subjects, etc. We will also be able to separate the ages (LG/UG,D,R).

I would love to hear how others do it and learn from your experiences. We will be planning very soon for next year.

Thanks!
Toni in Michigan

I'm in a co-op of a couple of hundred. I'll share what I have seen work well:

1. Leaders must be firmly convicted about and committed to, and COMMUNICATE their vision to families. TOG involves at a minimum a lot of reading and multiple library trips. A family who is expecting fill in the blanks and texts is unfortunately going to be surprised.

This co-op isn't as organic as some, but requires families to have on hand some of the recommended books... so it can get expensive.

2. Accountability. It is easy to SAY that we want to teach an integrated approach to history/literature/writing, but when parents see all that is required, sometimes they will drop like flies. So, let them know upfront what you expect and what is optional.

3. Our co-op has one teacher teach history, another literature, another writing, all within the TOG framework. Since all parents have the TOG materials, it is well syntesized and integrated.

HTH!

Anne