Community Learning Centers for homeschoolers

[ohiomomma]

Can anyone please tell me about community learning centers? I just recently came across an article that sounded interesting and possibly worth pursuing..

I'm interested in learning more about them, especially from those who are / or have been a part of one. What do you think of them, pros and cons. How is yours run, what type of activities do you have available. How much and what kind of input do both the students, and parents have, etc....?

I'd appreciate any input.

Thanks,
Carol

[SagMom]

Do you mean the federal program? My understanding is that Community Learning Centers are for school students--as "enrichment" of their regular school program.

Maybe you're talking about a different program--can you elaborate?

[ohiomomma]

Joan ,

Thanks for replying, I'll try my best to further elaborate for you and others. However, I'm not only new to this form of homeschooling, but also to homeschooling itself. My oldest will be 5 next month and thus this is my first year to officially homeschool.

My understanding is that a Learning Community Center refers to a place where homeschooled families can meet in a community center location. Parents, students and sometimes members of the community provide "classes" for the homeschoolers to freely pick and choose. They are simply enriching programs, nothing is mandotory, not even attendance. They usually follow more along the "unschooling" approach, but any homeschooling family may utilize the centers.

They are NOT government funded or controlled. They are run exclusively by homeschooled families. Many are run as non-profit organizations so they can reap the additional financial benefits they provide.

A good website is: http://www.creatinglearningcommunities.org/

At this website you'll find lots of articles and references to books and names like John Holt, Ron Miller, Katharine Houk and Jerry Mintz, etc....

Carol

[SagMom]

Thanks, Carol. It's too bad that the Englsh language has so few words that we need to use the same ones for two very different programs, huh? :

Anyway--the Centers that you're referring too sound like what I daydream about. I hope someone here has some real-life experience with them as I'd love to hear more.

[hydrangea]

We belong to TALC (The Alternative Learning Center), which was founded by Katharine Houk.

We have only been there one semester, and so far, we absolutely love it. We are unschoolers, and I am finding it mostly fits in well with our philosophy. However, I don't know of any other members who are unschoolers -- although it's possible they are there. It's just not a big deal there how you homeschool. It's very open.

If you have looked at that website, you probably know how TALC is set up, so I won't get too into it. Let me know if you do want details though.

New families do not have to teach classes, so this upcoming semester will be our first where we are required to do so. I am required to teach, I think, a minimum of four hours. I will be teaching "World Safari," to the 5-8 year olds. I came up with that class because of my children's love of learning about animal habitats around the world. Some of the classes my girls will be taking are on ancient history, the mayflower, dogs, native americans, games, critical thinking, nature walks, singing in harmony, ... There are many more for their age groups alone, and many field trips as well. I signed up for over 21 classes/field trips for my 6-year-old. All classes are what parents choose to teach except that there usually is a gym class each semester (I've actually volunteered to teach the gym class for the younger children).

There are meetings that all parents are welcome to. One can join the steering committee if one likes and volunteer to help in whatever way one feels called to. Families take turns with opening the building in the morning and cleaning and closing after the last class. Classes are twice a week from about 9 to 2.

I really, really love the place, but I'll try to find some cons:

I know that some of the parents of teens have problems because their teens have more freedom within their homes and are subject to more being watched over at TALC.

I know that some families who do more formal schooling are sometimes frustrated that the wide variety of subjects being taught don't necessarily mimic what their children "should" be learning in school that year, so they feel they devote a lot of time to TALC and then still have to spend a lot of time teaching their children at home, and they don't have much free time.

Meetings can be very disorganized and things brought up at the meetings don't always get done. I love collectives, but we could use some more organization.

My only personal problem is not necessarily a problem. I expected to take just a few classes each semester, but my older daughter had other ideas. She wants to take absolutely everything for her age group, so it feels like we are always there. She loves the classes there, which actually makes me question whether unschooling is for us -- although maybe she loves the classes because she knows she is not forced to take them?

The only other negative I can think of is that our location isn't ideal because we are only able to use it those two days, and we can't leave papier mache projects out to dry or make huge models of things that would take weeks, etc. And there are lead issues there and a few other things. But that is a local issue.

As I said, I really love the place, and it was hard for me to come up with these negatives.

edited to add the direct link to the article about TALC: http://www.creatinglearningcommuniti...nity/houk1.htm

(edit again -- for clarity)

[Oregonicmama]

hi there,

I am familiar with the concept you speak of. I know that Ashland Oregon has something similiar, I think Eugen does too. And i know that Asheville, NC has something along those lines.

Both places offer things like support for parents, hs feild trips and gym classes, parents teaching classes like math for parents who can't, etc...
the place in Ashland OR has a very nice building that they do all this stuff in.

I don't know if they have websites but maybe you can find something online.

My dd is only 2 and we are far from stationary right now. But I am also in LOVE with this idea and really hope we end up living somewhere where a group like this is available and very active.

I would simply hate for dd to have to rely on me to help her learn any form of math!: Thats me with numbers 2+2=3 right?

good luck,
deirdre

[ohiomomma]

Wow Hydrangea, what a great and detailed reply. Sorry I didn't respond sooner, but things have been rather hectic lately.

The TALC center sounds ideal! I'm interested in learning more about what a typical day is like at the center. How long are the classes and are they single day classes or continue for several sessions per class? What do you do with kids who suddenly don't feel like taking a class they signed for that day? Can they go to another room and read or play games or something?


Also, Hydrangea, you mentioned "collectives" can you please elaborate as to what they are and how they are run.

I'm really interested in learning all I can about learning centers so we can start a successful one in our area.

So, please keep the replies coming. Any suggestions or info. will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[hydrangea]

TALC is open two days a week (Mondays and Wednesdays) from 9 to 2. There are usually three 1 1/2 hour sessions (instructors can use less time if they like) with breaks in between during that time, although this coming semester we are trying four shorter sessions on Wednesdays.

There is often more than one class being held during each session. The people who do the calendar try to make sure that classes for the same age are never held at the same time. Sometimes there is nothing for the ages of one's children, and sometimes one's children might not be interested in that class. Some parents, especially those who live further away, choose to only sign up for Monday OR Wednesday classes. Other parents might make a point not to sign up for 9 a.m. classes. When one doesn't have classes, one can play in the building (there is a gym there and other things to do) or leave. Parents are required to be in the building while their children are there or else they have to designate another parent to watch their child for that time. There is no obligation for anyone to attend anything they don't want to. So if a child suddenly decides not to go to a class, as long as that is fine with his/her parent, there is no problem.

Most classes are a few sessions long. For example, my World Safari class will be held period A (I think), four Mondays in a row. There are occasional single classes, and occasionally something a little different. This semester one mother is organizing an International Fair, where each family who chooses to participate presents their country of choice, and that will be held on one day through all three sessions.

I have two daughters, one is 6 1/2, the other 4 1/2. My 6yodd loves everything about TALC. My 4yodd is less in love with it and tends to hang on my knees most of the time we are there. That is never an issue. I usually stay in the room where 6yodd's class is, somewhere in the back with some toys or something else to occupy 4yodd. A few of 6yodd's classes have involved crafts that interested 4yodd, and the teachers have usually invited her to join them.

To give you my personal experience: Monday is opening day, and we will all meet at a local park where we will sign in and one parent has arranged some nature exploration classes for various age groups. We will probably hang out there a while and bring a picnic. Wednesday the classes start. We have classes every session. For our age group there will be a class on the Mayflower, a gym class (which I am leading with a couple other parents and will mostly include cooperative games), a class on singing in harmony, and then ancient history, which will be held at the teacher's house. For other age groups there will be a book club, a french club, a lego club, a counted cross stitch class, and a mosaic class. Thursday we have a field trip to a local early American country estate. As I have said before, all of these classes and field trips are fully optional.

By collective, I meant that there is no one person or one group with more power than anyone else. All members have equal power. If you want to be on the steering committee, you just join.

Katherine Houk, by the way, wrote a book on alternative learning centers, including all sorts of information on how to get one off the ground and how to run one.