General Expectations

• Be familiar with the co-op guidelines in the handbook.
• Arrive a few minutes early to set up the classroom. Students may drop off their backpacks ahead of time, but preschool students are not to be in the classroom without an adult present.
• Each teacher needs to decide whether or not students may be in the classroom a fewminutes without an adult if necessary or if the students need to wait in the hall.

Curriculum & Planning

• Plan and prepare for the class.
• The overall goal for each class is to instill a love for learning in the students. Homework should be kept to a minimum (or none at all) for 4th grade and below. You may give tests and other things to measure progress, but it isn’t expected. For 5th grade and up, please give parents an idea about the time needed for homework outside of class.
• When planning your lessons for elementary students and younger, please aim for a balance of listening and sitting (reading aloud, discussion, worksheets, movies) versus movement and activities (games, crafts, working in partners or teams). Some ideas:
  • Play a quick game of Simon Says if they have been sitting for a while.
  • Do some teaching while they are at their desks and at other times have them sit in a circle on the floor to learn something else.
  • Instead of having individual students tell you an answer immediately, ask the question, then have them turn to a neighbor and share. Then have a student share the answer with the class.
  • Have students give you a thumbs up or stand up to show they are ready after you have passed out materials or they have been getting things out for a task.
  • Play some games outside or in the sanctuary. (Check before class that no one is using the sanctuary.)
• Plan one or two extra activities for each class so you have plenty to do for each class time. It is better to move a little too fast than too slowly through the curriculum.
• Students in grades K-3 may be at very different levels in their reading and writing skills. Plan on activities and crafts where reading & writing skills are not critical in order to learn the material.
• Please use candy as little as possible. Use words of encouragement instead. If you feel like you need to give a reward, please use items such as pencils, balloons, stickers, etc.
• Communicate with any helpers in the room how to best help you in working with the students.
• In the first few weeks of co-op, please decide how you want your room set-up (location of the tables, chairs, whiteboard, rug, etc.) and let the Co-op Director know. A team of young people will then make sure your classroom is set-up for you each week.
• Nothing for co-op can be left in the room, so be prepared to set up your classroom each week and bring all of your supplies.
  • You can leave some things in the tub marked with your class name/age in the resource room.
  • You may put things on the walls, but they will have to be taken down at the end of class.
• Periodically, evaluate with the class how they are doing in following your expectations:
  • What are the class rules?
  • Can students say everyone’s name in the class?
  • How are students doing in bringing what they need to class?
  • Are they entering and leaving the classroom the way you would like them to? o Are they using the bathroom during breaks instead of during class?

First Day Suggestions

• Introduce yourself. Write your name on the board. Tell a little about your family & what you like to do.
• Give an overview of what the students will be learning or how your class times will be structured.
• Play a game to help students learn each other’s names.
• Set expectations:
  • Create a set of basic rules for your classroom. Example: Be respectful. Be responsible. Be safe.
  • Discuss how you will handle:
    • Bathroom – when to go, what to do if it is an emergency, etc.
    • Toys – if they bring them to class, what will you do? (It is okay to take them and keep them until the end of class.)
    • What do you want them to do if they arrive in the classroom before you do? Are they allowed to put their backpacks away? Do they wait outside in the hall against the wall? If you decide students can go in, what should they do while they wait for you?
    • What do they need to bring to class each time?
    • Explain what will happen if they choose not to follow the expectations and rules.
    • What is your signal when you need their attention? (Bell, hand signal, specific phrase, clap a pattern – students clap it back)

Discipline

•  If a child is being uncooperative, disruptive, or disrespectful, the following procedures will be followed:
  • The child will be spoken to by the adult in charge.
  • If the unacceptable behavior continues, the child will be asked to sit out of the activity for a time. Please let the parent know if this happens more than once.
  • If the child still exhibits unacceptable behavior, the child will be brought to their parent for the remainder of the class. If you are alone in the classroom, please call the Co-op Director, and she will take the child to their parent.
  • If the child repeats the unacceptable behavior the following week, the child will be removed from the class until a meeting can take place between the teacher, parent, child and at least two members of the Co-op Board to discuss whether the child can return to class or will need to sit out the remainder of the session.
• Keep a record of when you use these steps with a child, including the date, a brief description of what happened, and what the consequences were.

Supplies & Copies

• Limited teacher supplies are located in the Resource Room, such as a paper cutter, scissors, stapler, and paper clips. These need to stay in the Resource Room. Everything is labeled Homeschool Co-op.
• Decide on any additional supplies your students need to bring to class. For example, you may want them to bring a notebook (specify what size), pencils, and colored pencils, crayons, or markers.
• Once you have your class list, please send out an email welcoming your students, reminding parents of the class fee, and listing any additional supplies parents will need to purchase. Please let the Co-op Director know as well so those supply lists may be added to the class descriptions on the website.
• You may use class funds to purchase any group classroom supplies. For example: glue sticks, scissors (two students can share), rulers, etc. Include a few extra supplies that students are supposed to bring in case they forget them at home. You will also need to purchase dry erase markers and an eraser.
• Paper copies are 2 cents per page. Each class receives a $15 copy credit. You may use class fees to pay for copies beyond the $15 limit.
• Make your copies for your class at church in the resource room. You will be given an account number by the Co-op Director at the beginning of the year. Do not use the church office.

Fees

• Decide on the fee for the class per student and notify the Co-op Director
  • Purchase any needed supplies
  • Save all receipts to document what you have purchased with the class fees
  • Any leftover money at the end of the year will go into the co-op general fund o Any materials you purchased for the class from the class fee will be put in the Resource Room for future use.

• Planning co-op expenses can be difficult to do, and sometimes the expenses can exceed the amount collected for the class.
  • Please make every effort to determine ahead of time if the expenses will exceed the collected amounts, so the Co-op Board can help determine the best course of action.
  • Reimbursement will depend on available funds.

Attendance/Illness

• Take attendance at the beginning of class each day. Notify the Co-op Director immediately if a student is not in class for an unknown reason (if you know the child is out sick that is okay).
• If a child is showing signs of illness, please call the Co-op Director. She will take the child to his/her parents for the rest of co-op.
• If you are sick, please have a set of lesson plans ready for the substitute parent. Let the Co-op Director know ASAP you will be absent. Try to find a substitute on your own, but if you are unable to, let the Co-op Director know that information as well.

Electronic Devices & Toys
If a student has an electronic device or toy in the classroom without your permission, ask the student to put it in their backpack. If the situation continues to occur, you may collect the device or toy and hold it for the parent to pick up after class.

Cleaning

• Make sure your room is clean at the end of class.
• If you had any snacks in your classroom, please vacuum afterward. See the Co-op Director for the key to the janitor’s closet.

Assistant Teachers

• Be familiar with the co-op guidelines
• Be willing to assist the teachers in whatever activities they are doing on a given day
• Plan to help the students as the teacher is teaching – direct students’ attention, explain things, help with projects, etc.
• Expect to be asked to substitute teach in the event of the class teacher’s absence

Safety

• In case of a fire, take the nearest exit and walk your class to the Residence across the church parking lot. Wait there for further instructions.
• If the co-op is threatened by a dangerous person, teachers will be notified by a group text. Please close the classroom door. Secure it by whatever means necessary. Wait for further instructions.
• For preschool & nursery teachers:
  • If a child in your class needs a diaper changed, please contact the parent
  • Remind parents to take their children to the bathroom before class
  • Never take a child to the restroom alone, but in a small group or ask the parent to come and assist the child

Helpful Ideas for 2-5-Year-Old Children

• Sometimes, a child will come into class nervous or crying. It is helpful to hold them for a few minutes (if the parent is okay with that) and read a book to them or help them engage in an activity.
• Some children this age will have trouble paying attention for too long. Moving back and forth from the tables to the rug, or from a sitting position to standing will help.
• Most children like singing & dancing at this age. They also enjoy puppets, acting things out, crafts, and games.
• Find ways to have the children be your helpers
• Repetition & routine are important for children at this age to feel secure and to enjoy learning. This is why children love to hear the same stories over and over, play the same games, and listen to the same songs. An uncontrolled environment can produce discipline issues. Children would rather have consistency than variety.
• Help children easily understand your classroom boundaries with simple phrases such as: “I want you to sit crisscross applesauce on the blue square for three minutes”; “This is your one-minute warning; soon you’ll need to put the toys away”; or “Let’s clasp our hands together so we don’t touch other people.” Being clear and specific with expectations will make your class an enjoyable place to be.