MACHE
Marquette Area Christian Home Educators
MACHE Co-Op:
I. Who are we?
A. We are home educators coming together to collectively educate our children in non-core type classes.
B. We are a not for profit organization, though we do not have this as a tax organization set up. We will be using the skills of current members to achieve our goals. We may occasionally bring in a specialty teacher to teach areas that we are not proficient in.  ie: trapping, outdoor educations or additional classes. Our goal is to provide classes only at material/outside teacher cost.
C. Teachers will estimate how much their class will cost (ie materials) per student. This cost will be on enrollment form, and paid at time of enrollment for each semester.
II. How we perceive the day to be:
A. 4 class periods with a possible 8+ classes being offered per semester. (or more.. we have the ability to offer up to 6 classes per period... that's 24 classes!!)  Classes beginning at 9:30 am. There will be no drop off classes. A parent/guardian will be required to be on premises during the duration of the day.  Please arrive by 9:20am to be to class by 9:30, so we can begin our day promptly!
Tentative Class Schedule:
Period 1 9:30 to 10:30
Period 2 10:40 to 11:40
Lunch 11:40 to 12:15
Period 3 12:20 to 1:20
Period 4 1:30 to 2:30
Clean up crew stay until 3ish To empty garbage's
*Clean up crew will be responsible for helping to make sure the church facility is as how we entered it that morning. Ie: Help take down tables as needed, take out garbage, run a vacuum if needed, wipe down tables, make sure all our items are picked up and put away (the things that maybe got missed by the class...ie.. someone missed their coat..etc)

B. Lunch together
C. This co-op will require a parent to teach, assistant teach or be part of a clean up crew for half of the class periods. The other half, are open for visiting with other homeschool mamas.  Please note those on off period will be asked to please help get kiddo's to correct class room during the time in between classes.
D. Bi-weekly is what we are offering.
E. Classes are to be enrichment type of classes, not core classes. Though we may venture into Science/History. These classes will be specific in form, not expected as a whole years worth of that subject.  Though we are a Christian Co-op, we feel that our beliefs in our faith are best taught by those in our own families or church home, so we will not be offering faith based classes. Though we will have a basic statement of faith for M.A.C.H.E
F. A lunch packed by each family.  While we all enjoy our time of lunch time together, We would ask everyone to pick up after themselves, so that our cleanup crew does not have a large mess.
G. We are trying to limit all costs associated with this, by having parent volunteers teach something they are gifted in, grandparents are welcome to bring their wealth of knowledge, and even if your teenager is blessed with a talent they can teach to others.
We will have a basic cost of $10.00 per kiddo with a maximum of $30.00 per family per year. These are payable to 4H and will be payable when registering.  With being a 4H special interest group, this enables us to use their curriculum, participate in fairs and have competitive team archery for those interested. This is also covering our liability as a group.
We will be able to do projects and participate in the Share Fair next year as well. This fair is being divided into one fair for Arts and one for Science and History.
The cost per class, will be dependent on what supplies are needed or what a special interest teacher brought in will charge. (we are trying to limit this, since we all have budgets to hold up to)  
*Ideas have been thrown out for :
Photography, and journalism for jr high/high school age group. They could learn basic skills, while providing an opportunity to produce a "year Book"  Students could even rotate taking turns on CHUMS and MACHE field trips so that those pictures could be added (media release for those
wanting to have pictures added to year book)
Election Year process
Guitar lessons
Trapping
We have several men in construction, who could come up with projects of sorts for kiddos
Sewing
Cooking
Natural Living (teaching to make homemade deodorant, non lye soap)
The DNR has provided materials for a bird study, they also have additional materials available for co-op
PE for littles and older kiddo's
Crime/Spy Science
First Aide/Babysitting basics
gardening
Art
Career Exploration (for older kiddos)
Speech and speech writing
Entomology
Clothing/Textiles/Design
Performing Arts (with writing their own play)
Folkpatterns:  Exploring a semester of a culture with
history, traditions, crafts, foods
(native, Finnish, Swedish, Italian..etc)
If we offer history/science these classes will be
supplemental and focused in nature. IE Civil war history,
election year history, a semester of dissection, forestry etc.


****Littles*** preschool age, WE ARE working closely with a
wonderful mama, who needs someone to come along
side of her to help make this age group a reality. We are
looking at: No specific core instruction, much like the idea with the older kids. It would  have a rhythm of the day, i.e. Circle time, gym, snack, craft, lunch, story time, free play   With the themes revolving around either seasons or use Five in a Row as a guide. In circle time we can work on sign language, creative movement, counting, rhythm and foreign languages. Gym will focus on gymnastics as it is a great base that includes strength, flexibility, body awareness, balance and coordination. Craft time we can play with many different mediums encouraging them to explore creativity while working on their fine motor skills. I will look for crafts that can be done and taken home that day, make little mess and that are unique rather than the cookie cutter crafts other preschool kids come home with. Of course story time will include seasonal books and/or the book from Five in a Row and that can serve as quiet time.


III. Structure
A. Though Jacquie Nelson and I (Laura Shambaugh) are starting this Co-op, this will be a collective co-op. We will form a small board, so that this will be able to be turned over eventually with rotating appointments.  We are looking for people who are interested in helping with this board, who currently homeschool and are wanting to see this co-op go for future years.  We really need a secretary, who can help with enrollment forms and collecting any class fees needed.
B. We will set up as a group hosting a 4H group that will incur a $10.00 per child or $30.00 per family membership yearly. This covers our liability insurance, and also enables the children to participate in the fairs and gives us access to some great curriculum.

V.  Problem resolution
We will not all agree 100% of the time, this is something that I have seen tear apart a great organization. Most of the time this happens because of perceived or incomplete communication.  Please refer to the Book of Matthew 18:15-16, Colossians 3:13, Matthew 5:9 and Proverbs 15:1 to help guide an any conflict or hurt feelings that we pray will never happen. Always feel free to speak with us anytime, and we would be happy to help resolve any issues. We strive for everyone to work together to bring amazing opportunities for all our kiddo's!  

MACHE Board
L