We’re honored to be your trusted community for gifted home education, and are in constant awe of the generosity, wisdom and creativity among us. That’s why we’re so excited to announce the pilot year of GHF’s Virtual Co-Op – a place where parents and other GHF-family adults volunteer to lead enrichment courses for their own and other gifted/2e learners that focus on engaging, collaborative discussion and activities, and fostering friendships.
Volunteer-Led Teaching
The Co-Op is led by a volunteer committee of GHF moderators, lead teachers, assistants, and other volunteer support. All families must provide an adult volunteer to either teach or assist in at least one virtual class during every semester that their family participates in the Co-Op. Lead teachers choose their own courses, grade levels, and curriculum/teaching plans, which must be approved by the GHF moderator team.
Assistants help the lead teachers in class and are responsible for teaching if the lead teacher becomes unavailable. GHF volunteer moderators, under the direction of the GHF Director of the Virtual Co-Op, help organize the Co-Op logistics, approve class proposals, and provide guidance, solutions, and determinations as necessary.
GHF Mission, Vision & Values
At GHF, we believe that gifted learners deserve the opportunity to take control of their own learning. All Co-Op adults and youth will follow and support the GHF mission, vision, and values:
GHF Mission: “To empower every gifted family to make strategic, proactive, and intentional educational choices.”
GHF Vision: “A diverse world of multi-generational families, educators, and professionals supporting each other through community, education, and creating content relating to gifted home education.”
GHF Values: “GHF values the uniqueness and humanity of each person in our community. We treat each other with love and kindness and particularly abhor bullying and negativity of any kind. We accept that it is our job to examine each day with a fresh perspective and continue to improve the organization to pursue our mission.”
Start the process by clicking here to sign up for a free membership in the GHF Forum and enroll in the Co-Op by August 15 for the 2023-2024 Academic Year
How to Join the Virtual Co-Op
To become active in the Virtual Co-Op:
- Review the GHF Virtual Co-Op Policies and Guidelines.
- Complete and submit the Family Application to email.
- Purchase your family’s GHF 2023-2024 Virtual Co-Op Membership.
- Complete the background check process for all participating adults and participate in any GHF virtual training.
- Consider submitting a class proposal.
For classes beginning September 2023, please complete all necessary steps prior to August 15, 2023. Class proposals will be considered as they are submitted.
As a nonprofit organization, GHF strives to keep administrative costs as low as possible. As such, GHF provides background checks, Zoom links, and other administrative co-op costs. All learning and teaching curriculum, supplies, and/or other costs are paid by each participating family.
Start the process by clicking here to sign up for a free membership in the GHF Forum and enroll in the Co-Op by August 15 for the 2023-2024 Academic Year
2023-2024 GHF Virtual Co-Op Core Membership $49.99: Grants access for one primary adult parent/caregiver and one participating youth (ages 7-17) for the fall 2023 and spring 2024 “school year” until August 1, 2024. Membership also requires: 1) that the participating adult actively volunteer in any semester in which their family participates, and 2) that the participating adult satisfactorily completes a standard criminal background check (included in cost).
2023-2024 GHF Virtual Co-Op Additional Learner Membership $24.99: Virtual Co-Op families with more than one participating youth (ages 5-17) may add additional learners for $24.99 each.
2023-2024 GHF Virtual Co-Op Additional Participating Adult Membership $35.99: Virtual Co-Op families sharing volunteer duties or any interaction (virtual or otherwise) with GHF youth beyond their own learners must add an additional participating adult membership. This participating adult must also satisfactorily complete a standard criminal background check (included in cost).
Start the process by clicking here to sign up for a free membership in the GHF Forum and enroll in the Co-Op by August 15 for the 2023-2024 Academic Year
GHF Virtual Co-Op FAQ
What is the GHF Virtual Co-Op?
The GHF Virtual Co-Op (“Co-Op”) is very similar to a traditional parent-led nonprofit cooperative learning environment. Like a traditional co-op, the costs are held as low as possible by every family taking a primary role as a parent or assistant to teach a small group of learners in engaging, collaborative enrichment courses. The logistics of the Co-Op, including membership, guidelines and expectations, class approvals, scheduling, and communications, as well as final determinations, will be led by the GHF Virtual Co-Op Director along with a volunteer team of moderators.
When is the Co-Op taking place?
The Co-Op’s Fall 2023 pilot is initially set up for 50-minute classes to be held between 12:00pm and 3:00pm EST (9:00am and 12:00pm PST) on Mondays, Tuesdays, and/or Wednesdays via Zoom. The Fall A session will run for five weeks, between September 14, 2023 and October 13, 2023. The Fall B session will run for five weeks between October 30, 2023 and December 8, 2023, taking off the week of the USA Thanksgiving holiday. There will be two weeks off between Fall Session A and Fall Session B. Teachers may elect to teach five- or ten- week classes.
What are the ages/grades of Co-Op learners?
All Co-Op youth must be between the ages of 7 and 17. The pilot model for Fall 2023 will be focused on learners who are between third and eighth grade level unless there is sufficient interest for other ages/grades. We expect to expand class offerings as the Co-Op grows.
What is the cost for my family?
The Co-Op core membership cost per school year (August 1, 2023-July 31, 2024) is $49.99/family for one participating learner and one participating adult. Additional participating youth from the same family may be added at $24.99/year, and additional participating adults may be added at $34.99 All participating adults must successfully complete an online background check before engaging with youth (hence the higher cost). The costs of that background check will be paid by GHF from the Co-Op membership cost.
Do I need to have teaching experience?
No! Co-Op teachers often have no formal teaching experience, bringing their own knowledge, interests or passions, or teaching classes in which they would like their own children to engage with peers. Examples of classes that might be an excellent fit are project-led history classes, book clubs, art or science classes (with each family providing their own supplies), cooking classes, conversational foreign language classes, etc. The GHF moderators are happy to help parent teachers with class planning.
What curriculum does the Co-Op use?
Each parent who volunteers to lead a class will choose their own learning plan or curriculum. They will submit it for approval to the GHF moderators to ensure that it fits well within the GHF values and is well suited in the class offerings for the coming session. Lead teachers will provide supply lists, and are encouraged to share downloads rather than require curriculum purchases. All families are responsible for their own teaching and/or learning supply costs.
Do my learners have to be identified as gifted?
While no formal identification is needed for your learners, they should be able to successfully interact, thrive, and contribute in a community of gifted learners. We also recognize the asynchronicity of gifted learners. The lead teachers are encouraged to admit younger students who would fit well socially, emotionally, as well as academically in their classes.
Will I be able to see what classes are offered before I register for Co-Op membership?
Unfortunately, no. The nature of a co-op is that families come together and pool their time and resources, then assess how many learners at each level are in the community, and set classes accordingly. The more families who join and teach together, the more the class offerings will grow! We would like to begin our Fall Semester with at least two course offerings at each grade level, growing from there.
Is there a course schedule we have to follow?
When class enrollment opens, you may pick any of the open classes that fit your learners’ levels and interests. (Younger learners should have the permission of the lead teacher before enrolling.) There is no required number of classes.
Are there grades or homework?
Each teacher will set out the course expectations before enrollment opens. The Co-Op is not a school or educational institution, is not accredited, and provides no transcripts.
What spaces does the Co-Op use for teaching and communicating?
The Co-Op will utilize Mighty Networks for signups, Zoom for class sessions, and Google Classroom for classroom communications and class management. Every family will need access to aGoogle-compatible email (i.e. free Gmail account). The Zoom links and Google Classroom setups are provided by GHF.
What if my child has an IEP or 504?
Many learners in the GHF community are twice-exceptional. While parent teachers are not trained in IEPs or 504s and often do not have the resources to accommodate every need, we do encourage open communication as teachers, parents, and moderators work together for learner success.
What if we join the Co-Op, then decide it’s not working for our family?
The Co-Op is a brand new model that is building as we all fly it together. We value input as we invest our collective volunteer time in the success of this community for our families. We ask that families commit to remaining present and engaged through the end of a session that they have begun. GHF is a nonprofit and unfortunately does not have the resources to issue refunds.
What if we love the Co-Op and want to help build it even greater?
We hope this is your family’s experience, and we absolutely invite your passion! We can’t wait to see what we can all build together for our learners and those who come afterwards!
What is the process for registering my family?
All families interested in joining the Co-Op must:
- Fully complete and submit a GHF Co-Op Family Application. There is no cost to submit the application;
- Be active members of the 2023-2024 GHF Virtual Co-Op Core Membership Plan. Annual membership is $49.99/year for one adult and one youth participating member. Additional participating youth may be added for $24.99/year, and additional adult family members may be added for $34.99/year. Families are requested to purchase their memberships within seven (7) days of approval of their Family Application;
- Any adult family member participating in the Co-Op must then complete an online criminal background check, provided directly through backgroundcheck.com. This is paid by GHF with the Co-Op membership fees;
- Review the Co-Op Guidelines and Expectations;
- Participating adults are also encouraged to consider Lead Teaching and to submit a Class Proposal for review and approval. Proposals for the Fall 2023 Semester are considered in order received, with final deadline August 15, 2023.
Please also feel free to email Lisa Jobe, GHF’s Virtual Co-Op Director, and the moderator team at co-op@ghflearners.org
Start the process by clicking here by August 15 for the 2023-2024 Academic Year
Become a GHF Choices Member
Our goal is to reach and serve as many gifted and 2e families as possible, which is why we have a free level of membership, the GHF Forum Membership, that grants access to all of our live programming, the main areas of the Forum, and our comprehensive, self-paced DIY Education course.
For those who are able to support our work, we hope you will join as a GHF Choices Member. Choices Membership is our primary source of income for this non-profit. GHF has no full-time staff and we are just looking to cover our costs. As a thank you, your $49.99/yr tax-deductible membership grants you access to the recording libraries of all of our events, as well as exclusive areas of the Forum.
