Participation
At LIGHT we value building community while keeping the responsibilities and fees light. We don’t want to fill our schedule with weekly classes that we have to prepare for. We also know that relationships don’t happen when we see each other once a month. Though we have a number of elements, we have intentionally crafted each them to satisfy a need for us or our children.
We expect each family to participate in as many elements as possible, while understanding that everyone won't be at everything. Priority for registration will be given to families who are planning to regularly participate in the various elements, despite occasional absences.
LIGHT has several elements that help to build relationships as we learn together:
We expect each family to participate in as many elements as possible, while understanding that everyone won't be at everything. Priority for registration will be given to families who are planning to regularly participate in the various elements, despite occasional absences.
LIGHT has several elements that help to build relationships as we learn together:
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Class
Classes are held once a month. Families have time to focus on their core curriculum at home. Time preparing to teach classes is LIGHT as most of the plans are provided with your membership to LIGHTcooperative.
K-5We offer the same three classes each year for students in K-5th grade: Collaboration, Speech and Gym.
Kids are separated into K-2nd and 3rd-5th for their 3 classes. 6-8
Students in 6th-8th grade participate in Collaboration (including several month introduction to Collaboration with a Cause), Speech (with PowerPoint) and Literature Discussion.
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Why not "core" classes?
We have intentionally chosen these classes to develop essential skills in our children and offset the education we individually provide.
Collaboration is a way to learn to work through challenges alongside others. It is a means to develop relationships in the group through working together, as well as build a skill necessary for today’s collaborative workforce environment. Each month there is a problem or activity that must be accomplished as a group. After it is accomplished the group presents their work or findings to the other groups, this builds not only group problem solving skills, but also group speaking skills.
Speech class builds confidence in the necessary skill of standing in front of others and presenting information. It is essential for higher education and nearly every field of work. When skill in public speaking is developed early, it can prevent a lifelong disabling fear. We have seen that adequate preparation builds the students’ confidence and develops the best speech skills. Joining families should be willing to invest time, which might be small or significant, into getting their kids prepared according to the assignment given.
Gym is obviously challenging to do at home, but that is not the only reason we offer it. The children will be performing mental challenges, speaking and listening. In providing some much needed time to move, gym is another opportunity to develop collaboration (team) skills and relationships.
Literature Discussion provides a place for the students to work through their thoughts and challenging concepts as a group. Discussion is an important element of communication. Learning to express your opinion and position when others have contrasting opinions is important for life and can only be learned though experience. They also learn to develop ideas as as a group and respect others as they speak. We use the Center for Lit's Socratic teaching methodology for our class.
Collaboration is a way to learn to work through challenges alongside others. It is a means to develop relationships in the group through working together, as well as build a skill necessary for today’s collaborative workforce environment. Each month there is a problem or activity that must be accomplished as a group. After it is accomplished the group presents their work or findings to the other groups, this builds not only group problem solving skills, but also group speaking skills.
Speech class builds confidence in the necessary skill of standing in front of others and presenting information. It is essential for higher education and nearly every field of work. When skill in public speaking is developed early, it can prevent a lifelong disabling fear. We have seen that adequate preparation builds the students’ confidence and develops the best speech skills. Joining families should be willing to invest time, which might be small or significant, into getting their kids prepared according to the assignment given.
Gym is obviously challenging to do at home, but that is not the only reason we offer it. The children will be performing mental challenges, speaking and listening. In providing some much needed time to move, gym is another opportunity to develop collaboration (team) skills and relationships.
Literature Discussion provides a place for the students to work through their thoughts and challenging concepts as a group. Discussion is an important element of communication. Learning to express your opinion and position when others have contrasting opinions is important for life and can only be learned though experience. They also learn to develop ideas as as a group and respect others as they speak. We use the Center for Lit's Socratic teaching methodology for our class.
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Speech Specifics
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Each month has a specific speech assignment to target specific speaking challenges. For instance, one month they perform something they've memorized where the challenge is what to do with your body when you have nothing to hold onto. Another month, they present a book report where they get to use note cards but then need look at the class.
Skills and expectations are clearly communicated, but families get to choose topics they are already using in their own curriculum or child is interested in. Parents also choose how in depth their speech is. A science project speech for a Kindergartner might be on the color wheel and how they used those colors in a picture while for a 6th grader, it might be about an experiment they've done with controls and variables. Both get to practice using information from a display board and still looking at the audience, but they are working at their own levels. Speeches and teacher's instructions for the next class are video recorded and viewable by families between co-op classes. Students can learn to improve by watching their own performances. |
Speech classes are broken up into 3 levels based on their age groups:
Diamond League (K-2nd) - Diamonds in the rough, who by honing their skills, will become brilliant! Creator League (3rd-5th) - Those who are crafting their skills and are adding humor, creativity and increasing their strengths. Master League (6th - 8th) - Those who are mastering skill, content, persuasion, and visual presentations while learning to clearly communicate opposing views. While speeches differ depending on the league, here are several examples of topics:
Geography Fair Book Report Memorization Science Fair How-To Ad Campaign Debate K-2nd grade obviously have lesser requirements. They are working on being in front of a group with less fear. Their speeches usually look like topic directed show and tell. |
Monthly Elements
We realize that relationships aren't formed when we see each other once a month. Because we only have class once a month, we have time for other connection points where we can learn valuable skills and knowledge. We see each other about once a week in one of these elements.
- Class Day (day) - The second Wednesdays of the month we meet for Speech, Collaboration and Gym (Literature for 6th-8th grade).
- Gifted Girls and Gutsy Guys (evening) are our clubs where parents teach skills and truth, and we develop relationships. The club meets only once a month. Kids of various ages participate and there is opportunity for the middle schoolers to teach if they desire. Click the linked names for detailed information. Each parent teaches about once a year.
- Moms’ Night Out /MNO & Dad's Night Away/DNA (evening) Fun and relational time for us as parents. Each mom will plan one evening with a partner of doing some of their favorite things. Some are as simple as meeting at a restaurant or home. This allows us to enter greater relationship by spending time together without the kids. Dads meet 2x a year as well as at several all-family events.
- Field Trips (day) - Hands on learning all across the Twin Cities. We go on monthly educational field trips.
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Monthly Schedule
This is what a typical month plan looks like. Womens' events in Red and Mens' in Blue. Field trips can be attended by either parent. The women and children see each other weekly while the men have 1-2 opportunities a month to get together.
While the plan is to see each other weekly, we individually have more time at home educate than most weekly co-ops since we don't have to plan or prepare for weekly classes. That gives us more time for field trips and friendship.
Week 1 Gifted Girls and Gutsy Guys (Evening)
Week 2 Co-op (Daytime)
Week 3 Field Trip (Daytime)
Week 4 Mom's Night Out or Family Event (Evening)
WHAT?! You have evening events? We are a busy family! FAQ
While the plan is to see each other weekly, we individually have more time at home educate than most weekly co-ops since we don't have to plan or prepare for weekly classes. That gives us more time for field trips and friendship.
Week 1 Gifted Girls and Gutsy Guys (Evening)
Week 2 Co-op (Daytime)
Week 3 Field Trip (Daytime)
Week 4 Mom's Night Out or Family Event (Evening)
WHAT?! You have evening events? We are a busy family! FAQ
Additional Elements
Presentation Night - Presentation Night is a cross between a Science Fair and an Art Show with a non-judged, supportive atmosphere. It is a time for children in our group to display, demonstrate and discuss the results of a specific project; whether it be a scientific exploration, an artistic endeavor, or any other product of their school year. Explaining their project builds on their speaking skills by strengthening their ability to clearly speak to adults.
You'll receive plans for the night as well as an shareable invitation with your membership
Track & Field Day - We provide the plan that you can implement at a local park. Moms work together to run stations covering activities like sprints, long distance race, shotput, sit and reach and long jump. We provide a form to print and have fill out for each student. It's a fun addition to a homeschool community and easy to implement.
Fun days - Options that work well to make connects for groups. Each group will choose the events for their group from a list of options or by creating events to meet their groups desires.
You'll receive plans for the night as well as an shareable invitation with your membership
Track & Field Day - We provide the plan that you can implement at a local park. Moms work together to run stations covering activities like sprints, long distance race, shotput, sit and reach and long jump. We provide a form to print and have fill out for each student. It's a fun addition to a homeschool community and easy to implement.
Fun days - Options that work well to make connects for groups. Each group will choose the events for their group from a list of options or by creating events to meet their groups desires.
- Super Park Party - Kids dress as superheros for a meetup at the park
- Historical Costume Party - Kids dress in period costumes or as a historical figure
- Games & Grub
- Valentines Exchange
- Bonfire and Serious S'mores
We expect your kids to enjoy our crafted times together, but fun is not our highest priority in the learning process. Our classes are structured to teach essential skills in a way that is interesting. However, school and learning should challenge the kids, so we don’t quit just because they aren’t liking a particular aspect.
Participating families should expect to be committed to these valuable learning experiences even when it requires kids and parents to persevere through things they find challenging or uncomfortable.
Participating families should expect to be committed to these valuable learning experiences even when it requires kids and parents to persevere through things they find challenging or uncomfortable.
