|
May. 10, 2006
Homeschooling on a Shoestring Part 1B: Gymnastics and Such
Does
your child want to do karate, ceramics, ballet, gymnastics, or...?
Whatever the interest, you might be able to set up a program that would
be free for your family and offer a low-cost option for other
homeschoolers. My first opportunity to offer a long-term gymnastics
program to several of my children at once came as a result of attending
a friend's birthday party. And the program set up with the gym could be
applied to any educational opportunity offered through a business.
The party was held as an open gym time at a local gymnastics academy.
While there, a couple of homeschooling moms started talking about the
idea of a homeschool gymnastics program. A few weeks later, when
neither of them were interested in pursuing the idea, I took up the
torch.
I talked with the gym, and the owner was willing to
work with me. We set up a program where he charged me a set amount per
month per instructor hour. He also set the maximum number of students
allowed in each class. We worked together to decide what days and times were to be offered.
My basic responsibilities included finding enrollees, establishing the price per child, collecting fees, and paying the gym.
That program lasted 8 years, surviving a change of gym ownership and a
transfer of management to another homeschooling mom, and only
terminated when the owners eventually decided to close the gym.
How to set up and manage a homeschool program through a local business:
1. Decide what kind of activity interests your family. Check out other
area offerings to determine what will make your program different.
(i.e. several local gyms offer homeschool classes, but they are
similarly priced to their other programs. Mine was much cheaper.)
2. Contact a local establishment that offers that activity to determine
if they are interested in working with you to start classes for
homeschoolers.
Benefits to the business:
A. Homeschoolers can often come at
times other students aren't available, thereby expanding the scope of
the business. (Our classes met early afternoon, just before their
regular classes were held.)
B. The
business charges the program manager a flat rate for each instructor
hour and doesn't have to worry about collections for the homeschool
classes.
3. Once a business has agreed to offer classes and
has set the price per instructor hour and maximum number of students,
figure out the minimum price you must charge and the minimum
number of students you must maintain to keep the program afloat. Be
sure to figure in enough slush to provide enrollments for your own
family and a little extra in case someone drops out unexpectedly and
won't/can't pay their enrollment until a replacement student can be
found.
4. Develop a contract for enrolling families, making
clear how much notice is expected before dropping out (one month, until
the end of a session, etc.). This protects you from being responsible
for a huge bill with only a few families, and protects other families
from constantly changing tuition rates. Also include information in the
contract about any extra fees charged by the business (Each September
or upon enrollment the gym charged a once per year per family fee for
insurance.).
5. Begin publicizing the program:
A. *Give age ranges for classes
*Include the approx. start/end dates for commitment
*Give a ballpark figure for cost--session or month?
*Details are subject to sufficient enrollment
B. Ways to publicize:
*Contact local homeschool support groups
*Contact churches with homeschool populations
*Send information to local email lists
*Spread the news by word of mouth
*Enlist help from the first ones who show interest.
6. Set a deadline for enrollments for a particular start date. If you
don't have enough enrollments, notify the business and the enrollees
that the start of classes is being postponed until the next month,
session, etc.
7. When you have enough students enrolled,
announce the official start date of classes, collect fees, pay the
business on or before the due date.
Next time I'll share part 1C which will cover what to do with the program once it is up and running.
*******
Dear Jesus,
I'm so grateful for the surprises You bring my way, some of which
have far-reaching affects on my life. I would never have imagined
simply attending a birthday party could have been so significant.
Please be with my fellow homeschooling parents who may have "stumbled"
on this post. Thank You for having your hand on them as they pursue the
path You have in mind for them.
Amen
|
| •
Post A Comment! •
Send to a Friend!
|
Comments
|
|
|
|
