What is the Classroom Cooperative?
The Classroom Cooperative is a network of classrooms from around the world that partner together to support and collaborate with one other academically, socially, philanthropically and creatively. As a member, a class or group of children would be partnered with a classroom of children living in another country to learn from one another about cultural influences, community leadership and societal responsibility.
As a member, how would I be involved?
Everything about the Classroom Cooperative resolves around communication both within your class and between partnering classes. We want to facilitate an atmosphere for communication and creativity both locally and internationally.
Local (Classroom) Communication:
Local communication is facilitated by you, the teacher, with the help of our comprehensive lessons, discussion topics and community projects (see below).
International Communication:
Our lessons and community projects also facilitate international communication through our unique online forum. This communication will be primarily directed by the topics that will be discussed in shared lesson plans as well as the similarities and differences between the students in partnering classes. Our online forum is private to your class and your partnering class so all discussions are monitored and open for free and creative thinking and communication.
Two Aspects of the Classroom Cooperative
Inside the Classroom
- Several shared lesson plans.
- These lessons cover topics such as Culture, Leadership, Community Development, The Environment, and Learning to Learn Outside the Classroom.
- Lessons are done concurrently (within the same week) with your partnering classroom – giving the children in your class pertinent and interesting topics to discuss on the online forum.
- These lessons are flexible and directed to your specific age group. We want the lessons to fit your curriculum as much as possible and be relevant and useful to your students.
Outside the Classroom
Small Community Outreach Project(s)
- Each class will do one or two small community outreach projects.
- Allows the children to actively enter into their local community and learn about the needs within that community.
- These issues and solutions will be discussed as a class in a few of the shared lessons, allowing the kids to also bring that discussion to the online forum to also begin talking and thinking about needs and solutions in other communities around the world.
Big Community Outreach Project
- Project Proposal: Each class together will write a proposal for a large community outreach project based on the needs that they see in their community. It could be building a playground in a local park or refurbishing the coup kitchen at which you previously volunteered. Eye to Eye Foundation (ETEF) will provide instructions for the kids on how to write a project proposal for their ideas.
- Funding: ETEF will evaluate the proposal and help edit it if needed. Then, upon acceptance of the proposal the ETEF will help fund the proposed project.
- Making it Happen: ETEF will help facilitate and maintain the project. We look for projects that are sustainable, practical, creative, and influential.
If you and your class would like to become a member of the Classroom Cooperative please fill out the form below and push submit.
