We’re a few months into our new homeschooling setup, and I finally feel like I’ve experienced enough to chat about it. So what’s new? I’m glad you asked.

From Co-op to High School Prep: Homeschooling in Our New Chapter

This year we switched things up and joined a co-op style we haven’t been part of in years. A quick walk down co-op memory lane:

• H 1st grade: home full time
• H 2nd grade: 1 day/week, teacher-led
• H 3rd grade: 2 days/week, teacher-led
• H 4th grade: 1 day/week, parent-led
• H 5th grade: 1 day/week, parent-led
• H 6th grade: 1 day/week, parent-led
• H 7th grade: moving & then 1 day/week, parent-led
• H 8th grade: 1 day/week, teacher-led
• K joined in around H’s 2nd grade and followed the same flow.

As you can see, we’ve had a mix of parent- and teacher-led setups, but our co-ops have generally been socially focused with elective-style classes (PE, general science, art) and very little assigned work at home. I’ve always chosen the curriculum and acted as the “ring leader” for all core subjects.

This year, though, we stepped into something new. Our current co-op is one day a week, Charlotte Mason–based, and structured so that teachers introduce the subjects and assign work for each weekday at home. The subjects include literature and composition, science, art, nature study, and cultural studies. History and math are still on us.

Now that we’re a few months in—and as I’m starting to think ahead to high school for H in fall 2026—I figured a little reflection would be helpful for me, and maybe for you if you’re in a similar season. So here are the pros and cons of our current setup:

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The Pros

Great teachers
The teachers are engaging, communicate clearly, and seem to genuinely enjoy leading the kids. The girls like their classes, which makes a huge difference.

Charlotte Mason foundation
This philosophy centers on a generous, diverse curriculum filled with “living books” that bring subjects to life—history, literature, art, music, all presented in a rich and meaningful way. I really love the curriculum and book choices. Honestly, if I hadn’t, that would have been a deal breaker.

Other kids
H has a sweet group of girls she connects with, which makes my heart so happy after moving states. K thrives with peers around her—she’s a social butterfly and lights up with group energy.

More mental freedom for me
I wasn’t sure whether this was a pro or a con at first. I’m no longer running the show; instead, I feel more like an assistant coming alongside the girls. It felt strange initially, but… dare I say… I’m starting to like it? I think that’s partly the girls’ ages and the increased rigor, and partly the trust I’ve developed in the work being assigned.

The girls seem to enjoy the challenge
H is responsible and self-motivated, so I expected her to do well, and she is. It’s been fun watching her engage with subjects that haven’t historically been her favorites (hello, science).
K has surprised me in the best way—she’s risen to the new workload with enthusiasm, especially when assignments let her be creative (acting, baking—anything hands-on and she shines). Even the less-fun parts (dictation, writing) she’s tackling with a good attitude most days.

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The Cons

I miss morning time
I’d really love to bring this back, but with the girls eager to dive into their co-op assignments, it hasn’t naturally fit. I’ve shifted some things like read-alouds to lunchtime, but I’m hoping to reestablish a rhythm in January that brings art study, history, self-development, and Bible time back to the forefront.

Fitting in math
SO glad we started math strong in August, because fitting it in consistently with the new workload has been tricky. This is really just on me being firmer about priorities, so I’ll tighten that up in January now that we’ve adjusted a bit. Realistically, our school days—especially for H—will probably need to stretch past lunch.

Less community for the moms
This is probably the biggest thing I miss. Past co-ops naturally created community because all the moms were there every week. Our current co-op does offer mom nights, but I haven’t been able to attend one yet.

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Overall, the pros outweigh the cons, and I’m genuinely grateful to be part of this co-op. I think, developmentally, it’s a great fit for both girls. Part of me wonders if I would’ve liked one more year being the ring leader for K to fine-tune reading and writing before shifting to this style, but there’s no way I would have been able to send H and not K.

Now my mind is shifting toward the high school years. I don’t think fully-at-home is the right fit for H. I think she’d do very well with it actually, but I think she will grow and benefit from being plugged into a community at this age. However, many academically focused co-ops move to two days a week starting in 9th grade so we need to think through that. I’m currently considering two options: our current Charlotte Mason–style co-op, and another that’s more like a university model school—probably as close to mainstream high school as you can get in the homeschool world. I’ll know more after the open house.

There are still one-day, socially focused co-ops in our area, but attendance drops off in high school because it’s hard to give up a full academic day for electives. For us, the time-to-benefit ratio just isn’t there.

I’ve already emailed several college admissions offices to learn what they look for in homeschooled applicants so I can map out a general plan for H’s high school years. My main goal is simply to give her the widest range of options as she figures out what she loves.

All of this feels surreal, honestly. Part of me aches for the early days of nature walks and library books being our main focus. And yet, I’m so deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished together thus far. I never intended on homeschooling, yet for a variety of reasons, it’s the path we took. We committed to figuring it out along the way, adjusting as needed in each new stage.

If I pause to really see it… wow (mom bragging alert)- our girls are thriving. They’re growing in their strengths and working hard in their challenges. But beyond that, they are my favorite people to be around. They are kind, interesting, funny, and capable. They have hobbies and talents, are respectful, and are growing in confidence everyday. It is such an honor to be by their side and help lead them. While I feel like I’m always questioning and figuring out what our best next step is, I’m so grateful for the opportunity to get to do it.

If you’re still here reading this long diary-style ramble, I’m impressed. 😉

Getting all of this out of my head and onto the screen helped so much. If you have thoughts about any of these upcoming decisions, I’d love to hear them. If you’re beginning your own journey of figuring out the best educational path for your family, trust your gut and know you can adjust as you go. And if you’re just here for the read—thanks for listening. <3