One of the homeschool support groups we belong to offeres co-op classes. They are held on Thursday afternoons for 10 weeks and are held in the Fall and Spring. Moms (and sometimes dads and senior students) teach what they know. I have assisted in the past, but my expertise is doing the group's newsletter, so that is my contribution. (Remember my song:  Find Your Joy! )

This semester, classes include:  two  each Ballet classes, P.E.,  Music & Art History, Drama, and one class each:  Junior Achievement: Families & Communities, Junior Achievement: Region & Nation, Health, Music Theory, Anatomy & Physiology, You-niquely YOU, Small Engine Repair, Literature of Shakespeare, and Story Time for the youngsters. My son is taking Small Engine Repair, Drama, and Shakespearean Literature (a study of Romeo & Juliet).

While sitting and wondering what I was going to write for this week's column today, one of the moms coerced... ummm, encouraged me to join the small Music Theory class. Today, there were only two students, this mom and a senior girl. Since I'd really like to learn to read sheet music, I decided to sit in. The teacher (a good friend) suggested I bring my hammered dulcimer since that is ultimately the instrument I would be using. (The adult mom is polishing her chord work for her piano playing at church. The senior girl is wanting to become more proficient in her sight reading [and will be bringing her guitar].) I had already thought that I would dig out the books I do have for playing the dulcimer and bring them, so I'll have quite a load to haul next week. I have wanted to get more adept with my dulcimer, but life has taken over for the last several years and I figured that it would be a while before I found the time to devote to the dulcimer. Perhaps the Lord had a bigger idea!

For most of the co-op classes, if not all of them, I know that parents are welcome to sit in, or even join the class. This is such a nice group of families. We are all different--don't attend the same church, for example, but we are unified in homeschooling. Even that is varied as some are very eclectic in their curricula choices, while some are relaxed and may even unschool, while others tend to be more "school-at-home" in their approach. When people are willing to see the bigger picture and unite for a purpose, great things can happen; for instance, the wonderful line-up of classes we have available this semester. Each semester tends to be a bit different so there are plenty of choices from which our students can choose.

So another Fall begins. A busy Thursday is normal for me--my dog obedience club has 10-week classes starting tonight also! This will be our last Fall to homeschool, so there is new territory ahead, but for now the familiar with a twist is a good place to be.