Virtual Enrollment

for homeschoolers grades 5 - 8

Each day, learners from Cottonwood are joined by learners from other microschools around the United States in our virtual campus, called CoLearnCo (Collaborative Learning Communities). These virtual classes are led by a Cottonwood facilitator and supplemented by in-person experiences throughout the year. Our virtual classes are one way we challenge our middle schoolers and support academic growth. Virtual enrollment is also ideal for New York City based learners who may not be able to commute to our Greenpoint space on a regular basis, but want coursework and social opportunities grounded in a physical community. We also welcome learners from around the world to join our virtual campus.

Science and Humanities Unit Study : Mondays and Tuesdays 2:00 - 3:00 EST

Each week, we examine a topic through a humanities lens and a scientific lens. Each semester, the topics are unified under a common theme. For example, our unifying topic this past autumn was ‘rivers of the world.’ We examined river systems around the world, their roles in the development of civilizations, their wildlife, human interaction with river systems causing harm to those systems, songs about rivers and art about rivers. Students acted out the water cycle, read aboriginal Australian stories about the Rainbow Serpent, and learned about indigenous communities collaborating with scientists to preserve the Amazon. The students read, think about fundamental questions, and creatively collaborate. 

Big History Project : Wednesdays 2:00 - 3:00 EST

Ask the big questions about our Universe, our planet, life, and humanity. Explore 13.8 billion years of the past, but don’t stop there. How does Big History help us understand our present and inform our future?

Book Club : Wednesdays 11:45 - 12:30 EST

Newbury award winning novels are selected and read independently by the learners on their own time. Weekly facilitated discussions ground and engage these offerings. Number the Stars, Bridge to Terabithia, and The Outsiders are among the books we read this year.

Learn more about our virtual campus here or email team@cottonwoodco.org to get involved!

CoLearnCo (Collaborative Learning Communities) is our virtual campus created to connect individuals, educators, and microschools, to build and sustain community across the globe.

CoLearnCo combines daily virtual connection opportunities for in-person meetups and experiences multiple times throughout the year.  

Through our virtual campus, our expert staff able to fluidly support our learners from any location.  Thanks to expanding our virtual campus to include other learning centers like Casco in St. Louis, our young people have an expanded peer network and the opportunity to learn from other expert educators. Although we believe deeply in physical spaces which is why we have cultivated learning centers in diverse locations like Montana and New York, we recognize the limits that microschool schools face.  Shifting some of our focus to creating a thriving virtual community makes our work truly more collaborative and connected and ultimately, more sustainable.

The beauty of this project is that our virtual campus is first and foremost rooted in our physical spaces.  The virtual campus is a true expansion of the deeply rooted communities we’ve already built in physical spaces so the culture we have cultivated is more easily transferred to the virtual community. 

By participating in our virtual campus, young people will develop deep and meaningful connections with peers from around the globe.  This project amplifies the work of all of the participating microenvironments.  

Join us now in creating a dynamic, inspiring learning environment.

**Whether you are an individual looking to join a fun and flexible learning community, a homeschool cooperative looking for expanded offerings, or a microschool interested in collaboration and creating a larger peer network for your learners, CoLearnCo is a great option. Email team@cottonwoodco.org to get involved!

Cottonwood does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, or ethnic origin in administration, admission, or any associated activities.