Faq
Q: How does the Free Range Learning Cooperative Function as a coopertive?
The Free Range Learning Cooperative operates under a cooperative model. This means that parents help in the field or classroom at least once per month, fundraise and volunteer to fulfill a necessary position/role as well. This parent participation helps to maintain affordable tuition and creates a thriving and supportive community from which students can safely test their wings.
1. Role Descriptions:
a) The Orchestrator (Crystal Scheer’s Role) Leader/coordinator of the Dream Team and lead teacher, serves as the primary contact person for the Learning Cooperative. Ensures the cooperative meets its goals and mission by coordinating amongst the different parent job holders, cooperative members and greater community. Appoints the board of advisers with input from the parent body. Coordinates with the director of the Forest Garden Center for its use. Coordinates field trips. Envisions the big picture and sets the philosophy, tone and framework of the learning cooperative. Keeps the financial records, files taxes, collects and distributes funds. Updates the website. Leads with consensus.
b) Dream Team: Dream Team members dream up ideas for curriculum, projects, activities, field trips, themes of study etc., and designs, schedules and teaches or presents the learning experiences. Listens to and accommodates the needs and desires of the coop members. Includes coop members in decision making and arranges for others to present lessons when desired.
c) Rabble Rouser: Seeks out ways for coop members to get involved in projects that promote positive change in the community. Encourages, inspires and spirits members into action. Gets the word out through word of mouth and various media tools, may team up with the Town Crier.
d) Towne Crier: Gets the word out regarding coop public notices, events and invitations. Posts flyers and posters, posts events to community calendars , neighborhood associations, and other public notice lists. Produces a monthly newsletter.
e) Festivity Artist: Dreams up community building and wildly fun festivals and fiestas. Works with a committee to make them happen.
f) FUNd Raiser/Friend Raiser Chair: Organizes fundraising meetings and divides the work up amongst the cooperative members.
g) Materials Magician: Collects materials for coop usage in projects. Solicits businesses for donations and discounts.
h) Scribe: Takes notes at parent meetings, assembles and updates cooperative contact list and distributes this information to members.
Q: Are there funding options available?
A: I encourage those interested in enrolling their son or daughter in Free Range School to also consider enrolling in a public school sponsored home school support program such as the Columbia Virtual Academy. This program, and others like it, offer funds that can be used towards Free Range School or other educational expenses. They do ask that you write a student learning plan in order to qualify and I am more than happy to assist in its creation.
Q: How is it possible for my student to attend just one day a week and not get behind in projects that your other students are working on?
A: Through my thematic approach it is possible for me to offer different projects on each day and then continue them on the corresponding days of the following weeks.
Q: What do you do when it is stormy out?
A: There are quite few activities that we can do on such days. Here are few: build a fire at a local covered park area with a fireplace such as Larrabee and work on various projects while we cozy up to the fire, visit a coffee shop for our literature study, complete library research, visit a museum, visit WWU and tour their rock collection, visit the WWU observatory, and work on indoor projects at the Center. Also, on special occasions we will use the traveling classroom, a school bus that has been renovated to serve as a classroom.
Q: What role do students play in the designing of units?
A: Students are encouraged to play a large part in the designing of units and deciding how class time will be spent. I listen and enquire of my students’ interests, and in a Montessori fashion, come up with ideas and activities to support their interests.
Q: What is your optimum class size?
A: I will at no time accept more than twenlve students in one class. It is very important that students receive as much one-on-one attention as possible and I will not sacrifice student learning in favor of school expansion. Also, due to the adventurous nature of field trips, it is important for safety that the class size remain manageable.
