Cohousing-L Mailing List: Home schooling in the Common House

[Rob Sandelin (Floriferous]

As a home school family I have several questions about Johns family that want 
to use the commonhouse from 9-5.

Are these people currently homeschooling now? Or are they wanting to once they 
move in? I find it amazing that they take so long a period in the day for 
schooling.  My families experience with Homeschooling is that the core time 
takes 3-4 hours, the rest is done spread out over the entire day. I find it 
rather odd that they would require the commonhouse space for 9 hours a day.

One of the big things about home schooling my family has discovered is that 
you often have lots of projects and stuff going on that require space. Also 
need storage space big time for all the project materials, etc. However, most 
stuff we do is done around the kitchen table, so what we need is an offload 
place for the half done projects. If your units are small, the issue may be 
more one of adequate storage space, and your commonhouse use may end up more 
for multi-day projects.  For instance, you start a clay, toothpick model of 
the Effiel tower on Monday, work on the project for 2-3 more days. Where do 
you keep it during that time?  Might want to designate a locker or something 
for such things, so they are not messed with by the other kids, who will very 
much want to, especially the littler ones. "Hey cool joey, look at this big 
chunk of clay, lets make race cars".....

Our commonhouse is not used much during the 9-5 period and so it could be used 
for homeschooling. However none of the homeschooling families use it much, 
becase logistically its much easier to use the kitchen table; that's were your 
phone is, your materials are close at hand, the younger kids can be 
supervised, the lunch soup is on the stove and can be attended to, etc.

Our commonhouse is used once a week for a 3 hour homeschool science coop, 
which brings in families from all around the area.

Rob Sandelin
Sharingwood

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