Basic Info
Boost aims to create an environment where our children can have access to more rigorous, academic-based classes while also incorporating character building, community, and spiritual growth. Because Boost will be more academic in nature than some co-ops, we will require more teacher and student accountability. The following will be key components of Boost:
- Parents may use whatever curriculum they would like at home during the week. At Boost, one lesson will be given per week covering fundamental concepts in each class. Middle and high school students then must complete a short review assignment at home. Parents may choose to dive deeper into the topic covered that week at Boost or continue through their own curriculum at their own pace throughout the rest of the week. Boost is meant to be a supplement to, not a replacement of, your current homeschool curriculum.
- Middle and high school students may have up to 1 short assignment for each class.
- Middle and high school student work will be given a number grade by the teacher.
Click here to see our 2023 classes and curriculum.
To ensure that an adequate number of classes are offered, each parent will be required to teach one class at Boost. We want to help give you the tools to succeed. The following will be provided to parent-teachers by the leadership team:
- The leadership team will give each parent-teacher a scope and sequence, as well as a calendar to help the parent know what they need to teach and when.
- The leadership team will also be available to parent-teachers in an advisory capacity to help with any planning, curriculum, or classroom management issues.
- The leadership team will provide brief training before co-op in classroom management and teaching strategies.
- Each class will have a parent helper in the class to assist the teacher.
We want to create a safe environment for our children. Discipline policies and electronic devices policies for students will be strictly enforced. If a student becomes a consistent discipline problem or classroom distraction, bullying included, he/she will be removed from the co-op permanently.
As a parent, what can you expect from Boost?
- Based on the number of families, we hope to offer Literature/Composition, Science, Social Studies, and Elective classes for each age group. Math may be offered for middle and high school students depending on interest. (High school classes will be based on student need. We hope to accommodate all high schoolers by offering a mix of elective, core classes, or a directed study hall.) Some of the upper level classes will be taught by professionally trained teachers.
- Recommended textbooks and materials for each class will be listed.
- Students will also have a supervised lunchtime and recess.
- Parents must teach one class and help in 2 others. (Depending on the number of families we have, parents may only have to help with 1 other class.)
- Parents will have one hour of “Mom Time” as well as a break during lunch and recess. (All parents must stay on campus during the entire co-op day.)
- We offer one optional field trip each month, as well as occasional park play dates.
- We celebrate! Birthdays are recognized each month (and treats are served that day at lunch). We have a Thanksgiving meal, Christmas party, and valentines exchange.
- We have several optional Moms’ Night Out get togethers at local restaurants.
Dates:
Every Tuesday (August – early May), with the exception of a few days for holiday breaks
Times:
8:45 a.m. – 2:40 p.m. (See daily schedule here.)
Location:
Starr, SC
Cost:
Every family must pay both a registration fee and supply fee for each child they are registering. Please note that all fees are non-refundable.
Registration Fee: $60 per child
- Early bird registration price is $50 per child if you register by May 31st.
- If you join after May 31, you registration is due immediately upon approval to secure your spot.
Nursery Supply Fee: $10 per child (due July 28)
Elementary and Middle School Supply Fee: $50 per child (due July 28)
- Total fees add up to about $3 a day for instruction in 4 subjects.
High School Supply Fee: $50-100 per class (due July 28)
- Fees vary based on subject and curriculum used
- Lab sciences may cost more than traditional classes
Facility Fee: $20 per family (due July 28)
- This fee is to offset the insurance costs that the church must pay to have our co-op in their building.
Structure:
- Nursery will be provided.
- All students will get a supervised lunch period and recess time.
- Pre-K students will be taught using a basic Pre-k curriculum.
- Elementary and middle school students will be taught literature, science, social studies, and art/PE.
- An optional math class for middle school will be offered (most likely Pre-Algebra or Algebra).
- High school classes for 20223-2024 include a general Literature/Composition class that can be used for any Lit class, US History, and Personal Finance. Other high school classes are typically based on interest but will likely be a combination of core and elective courses.
- Age grouping for classes:
- Nursery (0-2 years)
- Pre-K
- K-1st Grade
- 2nd-3rd Grade
- 4th-5th Grade
- Middle School
- High School
Curriculum:
Suggested curriculum will be given for each subject, but you may use your own throughout the week if you so choose. Using the suggested curriculum may make it easier for students to complete assignments. For literature classes, some chapter books, novels, etc. will be required. Some high school subjects may require certain textbooks to complete homework assignments. All subjects will be taught from a Christian worldview.
Membership:
While we want to welcome and accommodate as many families as possible, membership is Boost is not guaranteed. The Boost Leadership Team will review all applications and determine if:
- A- Your family would be a good fit for our organization
- B- There are enough open spots in the organization for your children
Once we review your application, we will let you know as soon as we can whether or not we have a spot for you. If we have approved you for membership, but spots are full, we will place you on the waiting list. If you submit an application and haven’t heard from the Leadership Team within a few days, feel free to email us.
Discipline Policy:
We want to create a safe environment for our children. Discipline policies and electronic devices policies for students will be strictly enforced. If a student becomes a consistent discipline problem or classroom distraction, bullying included, he/she will be removed from the co-op permanently.
Technology Policy for Students:
We want to create a safe environment for our children. Because we cannot monitor student activity on personal devices, students will not be allowed to use electronic devices during co-op hours. While we encourage teachers to use technology in the classroom, student devices are usually distractions. We want to maximize instructional time and limit distractions. We also want to equip our students to develop relationships and not rely on technology as a solution for boredom or a crutch to avoid socialization. Students will not be allowed to use cell phones, smart watches, gaming devices, etc. while at Boost. (This includes student use of parent devices.)
Click here to complete the Boost Application.
Questions? Please read our FAQs below.
You can also contact us at boosthomeschool@gmail.com if you have any additional questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will a typical day look like?
All Boost students and teachers will meet in the lunchroom at 8:45 for announcements, pledge, and character education. Then students will line up and be taken to their first period class by the class helper. After 1st hour classes, all students and parents go outside for a twenty minute morning break. After morning break, students are escorted to their 2nd hour classes. After 2nd hour, elementary students will have a 30 minute lunch period followed by a 30 minute recess period outside. Middle and high school students will have a 30 minute recess period outside followed by a 30 minute lunch. After lunch, classes will continue. At the end of the day, students will be walked back to the lunchroom for afternoon announcements and supervised until parents can pick them up.
Do I have to teach?
We want to make sure that everyone is contributing equally to co-op which will build a sense of unity and help guard against division and discord. So, everyone must teach one class. The one exception is our field trip coordinator position.
What if I’m scared to teach?
Classes will have no more than 10 kids, and you will have an adult helper. We will give you curriculum guidance and help you figure out what to cover and give you teaching ideas if necessary. We don’t expect a parent with no teaching experience to be perfect. The most important things are that you care about the kids’ learning and put forth effort in preparing for and teaching your class.
When will I know what I am teaching?
There are a lot of different factors that will determine what you will teach. Putting together a schedule coordinating a large group of teachers can be a tricky thing. We want to let you know as soon as possible in order to give you plenty of time to plan. Our goal is to let you know by July, but if it is possible to let you know sooner, we will.
Will there be required assignments?
There will be required assignments for middle and high school students if the teacher chooses to give one. Teachers may give one short homework assignment each week that should take no more than 20 minutes to complete. Students are required to complete all assignments given by the teacher. We want your students to get the maximum instructional benefit from each class they are taking. Students who come to class without the completed assignments often can’t participate in the class discussion, get bored, and become a discipline problem. Students who fail to complete required assignments consistently may be removed from the co-op permanently.
What do my registration and supply fees pay for?
- Liability insurance
- Toilet paper, paper towels, and other paper goods
- Projectors for classrooms
- Storage tubs
- Hand sanitizer
- Dry erase boards, markers, and erasers
- Teacher curriculum
- Love offering to the church for facility use
- Name tags
- Nursery equipment
- Other miscellaneous equipment
What other expenses will I have with Boost?
Each student will have a basic supply list of items they will need to purchase for the year. This list will be provided in July. Items on the list will include things such as pencils, crayons, scissors, and construction paper. Some chapter books, novels, etc. may be required for literature classes. There may be a charge for some field trips.
Can I use my own curriculum at home?
Suggested curriculum will be given for each subject, but parents may use their own throughout the week if they so choose. Using the suggested curriculum may make it easier for students to complete assignments. For literature classes, some chapter books, novels, etc. will be required. Some high school subjects may require certain textbooks to complete homework assignments.
What curriculum will be used in the classes?
Class curriculum will be up to the teacher. We will be giving curriculum suggestions, but we feel that teachers will perform better using a curriculum they are comfortable with and/or passionate about. We will require every teacher to follow the scope and sequence/calendar provided so that an appropriate amount of relevant/important topics will be covered each year. All curriculum chosen must be Christian-based.
What if I change my mind? Can I get my money back?
All fees are nonrefundable. The one exception is the high school registration fee. If you register your high schooler and see that we are not offering the classes that your student needs, you may have the registration fee back up to two weeks after class offerings are announced.
What kind of support will I be given as a teacher?
A short training will be given to all teachers before the beginning of the year to help teachers learn effective classroom management and teaching tips. Each teacher will also have another parent in their classroom as a helper. The Leadership Team will create a calendar for each class describing the topics that need to be covered each week in your class. If you need ideas for assignments or are having classroom management/discipline problems, you may seek the advice of the Leadership Team.
Will I get reimbursed for classroom supplies I buy for my lessons?
Each teacher will be reimbursed for a designated amount of classroom supplies. There will be a spending limit for each class. This amount may differ based on the subject and number of students in the class. The teacher can turn in any receipts up to their designated spending limit in order to be reimbursed.
What if I have discipline problems in my class?
Teachers can assign lunch and recess detention. We understand that everyone has a bad day. However, if a child is consistently disruptive or disrespectful, he/she may be removed from the co-op permanently. We will obviously attempt to work things out with the parents of the child first. If the parent does not hold the student accountable, and the student behavior does not change, we will have no choice but to permanently remove the student from the co-op. Defiant behavior will NOT be tolerated. If a child is kicked out of co-op permanently, both the parent and other children of the family may still attend Boost if they can find some other arrangements for that child. Please note, we also expect parents to act in a respectful way. Moms who yell or try to intimidate other moms or students will be asked to leave.
What is the reasoning behind your discipline policy?
- The amount of instructional time at Boost is limited and therefore, the last thing students or teachers need is to deal with a student who shows a lack of respect for their time. Classroom disruptions rob both teachers and students of the time and hard work that they contribute to the co-op.
- Due to its structure and set-up, Boost is not equipped with the personnel to deal with consistent discipline problems. In public schools, there is a system to deal with increasingly defiant students. Students can be pulled out of the classroom and put in ISS or some other self-contained environment or sent to a discipline tribunal. These options are not available at Boost so there are very few discipline options if behavior continues to get more and more disruptive.
- We do not want to compromise the emotional safety of other co-op members. Students do not feel safe around defiant students. Outbursts in class can make both teachers and students stressed and uncomfortable.
- We want to limit the anxiety and stress of teachers. One student can completely change the dynamic of the classroom from that of relaxed and fun to chaotic and stressful.
Will I have any free time?
Yes. Each teacher will have one hour of “Mom Time” where you get to hang out with and get to know the other moms in the co-op. Each teacher also gets a 30 minute lunch and a 30 minute recess period. We do ask that the teachers collectively monitor the lunch and recess period while they are there.
Why have you chosen to have your co-op in Starr rather than a more central Anderson location?
It is very hard to find churches that will allow a co-op to use the building without charging rent or some kind of facility use fee. Our chosen location charges little or no fee, which keeps co-op costs down for everyone. Our current location also is not using the building, so we have much more freedom to make the space our own. Teachers will have less to pack and take home each week which offsets the additional time it may take to drive there.
Do I need a computer?
Computer access may be required to complete some assignments for middle or high school. Student calendars and work may be posted on Google Classroom or sent via email.
Who is on the Boost Leadership Team?
KC Goforth, Kelly Jones, and Lauren Anderson make up the Boost Leadership Team. We were all once certified teachers and have taught in public schools. We have also all been homeschooling for quite some time and have been a part of co-ops for many years.
Will we have access to a microwave or refrigerator?
Yes, the church does have a microwave and fridge that we can use. You must remove your food from the refrigerator before you leave at the end of the day. We would prefer you use ice packs and insulated lunch boxes for your lunch. Keep in mind that while there is a microwave, there is only one for a large group of people, so wait-time may be extremely long.