Very few things have had a more positive impact on my own children than the mentors they’ve had in our homeschool co-op.
Great homeschool co-op mentors have had an extraordinary impact on my own children. Great mentors have inspired them, challenged them, and supported them in ways I couldn’t always do myself. No matter how strong my relationship with my kids is, there are simply some things they won’t hear if I’m the one saying them. A second, trusted voice—a mentor who cares—has been a crucial part of their homeschool experience and success.
Every student in a homeschool co-op deserves that kind of mentoring.
Why mentors matter so much in a homeschool co-op
When mentoring goes well, students thrive. They gain confidence, deepen their learning, and often surprise themselves with what they can do. When mentoring doesn’t go well, though, it’s hard on everyone—the students, the mentor, and the co-op leadership.
The good news? Strong mentors are not rare unicorns. They can be developed and supported. Over the years, I’ve noticed that the best homeschool co-op mentors tend to share a few key traits.
What great homeschool co-op mentors have in common
1. They are willing to work hard
Great homeschool co-op mentors are excited to contribute to the co-op community. They may not feel confident about every aspect of teaching, but they aren’t afraid of effort. They don’t want to sit on the sidelines while others carry the load—they want to help.
2. They value mentor training
Strong mentors understand that mentoring is a skill set, not just a personality trait. They’ve received mentor training and are eager for more. They know that learning how to lead discussions, manage a classroom, and support students well takes intentional practice.
3. They gain experience over time
The best mentors don’t start out perfect. They grow. They practice mentoring year after year, learn from their mistakes, and steadily improve. Experience matters, and seasoned mentors bring depth and confidence to their classes.
4. They love learning—and they love students
Great mentors are enthusiastic learners. They care deeply about their subject, but even more importantly, they care about their students. That love is tangible. Students feel it, and it shapes the classroom culture in powerful ways.
Finding and inviting new homeschool co-op mentors
If your homeschool co-op needs more mentors, start by looking for people who:
- are dependable and hardworking
- enjoy learning
- genuinely care about kids and teens
Then talk with them about what they love to study or teach. Often, the best co-op classes grow out of a mentor’s genuine interests. With support, one of their passions can become a meaningful class for your co-op.
How to support homeschool co-op mentors well
Once you’ve invited mentors into your co-op, ongoing support is essential. Two areas matter most: training and curriculum.
Mentor training: essential but hard to schedule
Training parents and mentors is one of the most important responsibilities of a homeschool co-op—and one of the hardest to fit into already-full schedules. If this feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. Nearly every co-op leader struggles to find the time, energy, and expertise to do this well.
The good news is that you don’t have to design mentor training from scratch or figure it all out on your own. Many co-op leaders rely on outside resources that are already built specifically for training homeschool mentors, so they can support their people without adding another major project to their own workload. Even small, consistent steps toward training can make a meaningful difference over time.
Short, focused training opportunities can be especially helpful when they address practical mentoring challenges mentors face week to week.
Curriculum support that frees mentors to mentor
Another powerful way to support mentors is to provide a curriculum budget for co-op classes. Many co-ops cover this cost through class fees paid by participating families.
Yes, this can make a class slightly more expensive. But it also frees mentors from having to create everything from scratch—and allows them to focus on what matters most: mentoring students.
Most mentors don’t follow a purchased curriculum word for word, and that’s a good thing. A strong curriculum gives mentors detailed weekly lesson plans and structure, which they can then adapt thoughtfully:
- What will resonate with these students?
- What needs adjusting?
- How can this lesson better meet their needs?
With solid curriculum support, mentors often have more time for:
- office hours or extra help
- one-on-one conversations with students
- deeper preparation and study
Just as importantly, they have more margin for their own families and homes. This helps prevent burnout and makes mentoring a sustainable role year after year.
Why sustainability matters
Good homeschool co-op mentors get better with experience. Their growing skills don’t just benefit co-op students—they often strengthen their mentoring relationships with their own children as well.
When mentoring is sustainable, mentors are more likely to stay for several years. That consistency is a gift to your co-op community.
A final encouragement
Supporting homeschool co-op mentors with training and curriculum isn’t an extra—it’s foundational. When mentors are supported well, students flourish, families benefit, and the entire co-op grows stronger.
Small, intentional steps toward better support can make a lasting difference in the health and sustainability of your co-op.
Where to find mentor training and curriculum support
If you’re looking for practical ways to support your homeschool co-op mentors, Curriculum Square offers resources designed specifically for co-op communities.
Mentor training: The C2 Mentor Lab provides short, focused virtual trainings for parents and mentors. These sessions are designed to fit into busy schedules while steadily building strong mentoring skills over time. Recordings are available, making it easy for mentors to participate even when life gets full. Find out more here.
Curriculum for co-op classes: Curriculum Square offers a growing catalog of co-op class curriculum for a wide range of ages and subjects. These materials are designed to give mentors clear, detailed lesson plans they can adapt to the needs of their students—without starting from scratch. Browse our catalog here.
Whether you’re strengthening an established co-op or building something new, the right training and curriculum can help your mentors thrive—and help your co-op do the same.