Review: Creating a Cooperative Learning Center

Creating a Cooperative Learning Center: An Idea-Book for Homeschooling Families
by Katherine Houk
Chatham, NY: Longview Publishing, 2000
ISBN: 0-9636096-3-7

Reviewed by Ana Braga-Henebry

Most homeschool families today are involved on some form of co-op. Indeed, for many, homeschool co-ops have made homeschooling much more feasible, providing classes taught by other parents and social time for children as well as for homeschool parents.

This "idea-book" can be very useful if you are contemplating forming a coop in your area. The author tells the story of their co-op in NY State and gives all of the nuts and bolts of the process. The chapters cover all of the stages of the creation and running of their co-op, with examples of all of their paperwork: initial surveys, academic offerings, bylaws. Almost half of the book is made of appendices with the letters and other paperwork not included in the chapters themselves. The books also has black and white illustrations of scenes from their learning center, and some field trips too.

The book is not written by a Catholic author, but I believe Catholics parents can find helpful ideas and resources they can adapt to their needs. If you are thinking of organizing a co-op, you may want to pick a copy of Creating a Cooperative Learning Center from your library.