Connections Academy Blog, Virtual Learning Connections

Kids look forward to summer all year long—and they can barely contain their excitement in May—but a week or so after school ends, the chant begins: “I’m bored! There’s nothing to do!” Every parent has heard it—but fortunately, you can banish boredom by using the Summer Learning Pyramid to plan the days ahead. Here’s how it stacks up!

A Strong Foundation

The base or foundation of your pyramid—which represent the biggest blocks of time—should be dedicated to essential activities that involve learning. But this doesn’t mean that your child should spend all day glued to a desk! Summer learning can be found in motion or sitting still—and in all shapes, sizes, and locations! Here are a few great ideas to get you started:

• Traveling to new destinations might provide ways to explore topics such as history, architecture, agriculture, transportation, manufacturing, and science.


• Cultural activities could include seeing plays or concerts, viewing art or photography exhibits, attending ethnic or cultural festivals, or taking music or art lessons.


• Explorations of nature could include hiking, bird-watching, picking your own fruit at an orchard, and visiting a conservation center or animal rescue.


• Practicing the basics of reading, writing, and mathematics also has a place in the “essential activities” part of your schedule, so don’t forget it! Check last year’s summer reading list for great ideas to enhance language arts skills.

By the way, families that are considering the switch to a virtual school should be aware that by enrolling early, they ...

With high school graduation season upon us and a long break from school ahead, summer is a natural time to encourage graduates and teens to continue their research of careers that interest them. As proud parents, most of us want those choices to be unlimited! And yet, while the calendar says we’ve entered the 21st century, there are still occupations in the workforce that are viewed as traditionally “male” or “female.” Why not challenge your high school student—and yourself—to look beyond these artificial barriers?

In today’s challenging job market, it can be beneficial for both males and females to take a look at some of the great nontraditional job options available. The information and resources provided here can assist you in clearing the way for children of either gender to consider a world of great (and equal) opportunities.

Dispel Gender Myths

Do you limit your child’s career options because of his or her gender? While you may try to keep an open mind, it’s possible that your exposure to what’s traditional in our society has caused you to steer your daughter away from the construction industry, for example. Likewise, your personal experiences may have you nudging your son away from career paths in service fields.

Whether you’re counseling a girl or a boy, try to make your child aware of the exciting career opportunities that exist in fields that are traditionally dominated by the opposite sex. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Encourage your daughter to ...

Why is reading so important?

Because once you learn to read, you read to learn!

Reading is a lifelong skill you never stop working on, and that’s why it’s a core subject throughout your child’s K–12 education.

Until students become fluent, independent readers in middle or high school, there are four major ways Learning Coaches and parents can offer reading support:

• Prevent students from getting discouraged.
• Help them with reading mechanics such as phonics, grammar, and spelling.
• Choose books that interest them and fit their reading level.
• Encourage students to read, and make reading fun for them.

Online reading resources make it easy and convenient to help students. Here is a list of websites that offer reading tools, activities, and ideas to help you address any of your child’s needs while you promote summer reading.

1. AdLit.org
   AdLit.org, or All About Adolescent Literacy, supports parents and teachers of students in grades 4–12. Take a look at this site if you have older children, because it offers information on college readiness and awareness. Another highlight is the “Ask the Experts” page, which allows you to submit questions about students and reading so a team of experts can help you find answers.


2. K12 Reader
   This site offers free reading instruction resources for teachers and parents. If you’re looking for practice materials for your child, you can find worksheets and detailed program supplements for reading, spelling, sight words, grammar, phonics, comprehension, writing, and more.


3. Oxford Owl
   This is a ...

Good weather draws everyone outdoors, regardless of the season. Younger children naturally adventure outside for playtime, while older children usually gravitate toward more focused activities including team and individual sports.

No matter their age, it’s important for children to use their imaginations and explore their interests when they spend time outside. It’s also a good idea for them to make the most of their time outside by getting valuable exercise.

As a virtual school family, you may have already developed your own physical education program. Below are some ideas geared toward summer that you might not have thought of and may want to add to your list! Or, if you’re a parent who is just starting to develop ideas for your child’s P.E. program, then you may use this list of outdoor physical activities to encourage him or her to stay active. Whatever your situation, the activities on this list will remind you of favorite pastimes and give you new ideas.

Outdoor Races

Children can get cardiovascular exercise by walking, jogging, or running, but races add excitement and help children increase their speed and agility. Here are some ideas for races.

1. Timed scavenger hunt. Set a time limit for kids to find all of the objects on a list of items found in nature. Whoever has the most items when the clock runs out wins. Older children can even coordinate the scavenger hunt.
2. Lightning bug hunt. Encourage children to catch as many lightning bugs in a jar as ...

Not surprisingly, most kids think what teachers and parents call “summer learning” is best when it’s disguised as fun. Luckily, there are many ways to discover new things and share teachable moments while enjoying family adventures. This summer, as you strive to keep your children’s minds active, try using trivia and pop culture to take history out of the textbook and onto the road. Chances are, you will find ideas for fantastic family field trips and opportunities for exploration right in your own “backyard”!

Local Pop Culture Shrines

You can start by searching online to see if your home state or city has a tourism website. Or, for something out of the ordinary, check out Roadside America, where you can look up the location of the World’s Largest Lemon and map a tour of Giant Muffler Men!

My own hometown, Appleton, Wisconsin, is legendary because of its most renowned resident, Harry Houdini. One story recounts the day a bashful rookie reporter named Edna Ferber interviewed the already-famous magician at the local lunch counter. As they talked, he leaned against the Coke machine in a pose that showed off his muscular physique. Afterward, he presented Ferber with a souvenir: the padlock he’d removed from the Coke machine. Although Houdini Plaza is under construction now, the Metamorphosis sculpture honoring Harry’s signature illusion will soon return to its rightful place in the center of my town.

Across the nation, small towns and big cities alike brim with opportunities to delve ...

Since children have more time off during the summer months, they have more opportunity to engage in favorite summer activities with their families, such as picnics, pool parties, barbecues, and more. To break routine, create memories, and learn something new, stray outside your comfort zones by learning about different cultures!

Culture has a broad definition, so explore any unfamiliar arts, cuisines, or customs that interest you. Encourage your child to try some of these cultural education activities with your whole family and broaden your perspectives.

Dine at an ethnic restaurant.

This is your chance to expand your palate! See if there are any Thai, Lebanese, Indian, Greek, French, or Spanish restaurants nearby that you’ve never been to. Pick up a copy of the menu or take a look at it online ahead of time. See which dishes you’d like to try and research their ingredients and origins.

• Try this: If you’re more comfortable sticking to familiar foods, order your favorite Italian, Mexican, or Chinese dish. Ask a restaurant owner or research online to find out if your dish has been “Americanized,” and discuss what that means. What’s the difference between Americanized dishes and authentic food? Is your sweet and sour chicken served in China? Find out!

Prepare your own ethnic meal.

Find a few different recipes from a country or culture you’re interested in. Cook the dishes for a family meal and follow that country’s dining traditions. What time is this meal traditionally eaten? How is it served, and where?...

Unless you were an all-American athlete when you were a kid, you might not have the best memories of phys. ed. class. Whether you dreaded the ugly gym uniform, playing a sport you just didn’t enjoy, or being the last one picked for a team sport, the good news is that, as a virtual school student, your child won’t have to experience it!

Running, bicycling, climbing, skiing, dancing, martial arts, playing soccer or basketball—all of these great, fun activities can be part of physical education for a virtual school student. That’s because the name of the game is personal fitness choice when you attend school online.

Three Great Choices

Health and Physical Education instructor Shannon Skelcher, who teaches at Wyoming Connections Academy, says this freedom of choice is a real benefit. “With Connections Academy, families select one of three physical education options for their students. They can choose to participate in exercises described in weekly lessons, or students can practice yoga with a DVD that’s provided. The third option, which is the most flexible, is for students to select and track their own personal fitness activities.

“Having these choices enables parents to select fitness activities that are a good match for a child’s physical abilities and personal preferences,” she says. A parent may also consider how competitive the child is, and whether he or she prefers a faster- or slower-paced activity. Additionally, some students may prefer individual activities over team sports. The better the fit, the ...

On Memorial Day weekend, you can have a picnic, go to a parade, visit relatives, or simply spend the day at home with your family. But whatever your plans are, be sure you spend some time teaching your child the true meaning of Memorial Day: honoring those who have died while serving in the U.S. military.

While you can visit cemeteries and memorials with your family, there are a variety of other activities you can choose to do in order to help your child exercise his or her patriotism, reverence, and gratitude. Here are some Memorial Day activities for kids that assist them in paying tribute not only to fallen soldiers but also to veterans, current military members, and important Memorial Day values.

1. Create a Memorial Day collage.
   Show your child how to use photographs, hand-drawn pictures, and/or magazine clippings to create a collage about what Memorial Day or living in America means to him or her. When your child is finished, he or she can share the collage with friends and family, explaining the meaning behind each item included in the collage.
2. Make a red, white, and blue dessert.
   For example, make a cake frosted with cream cheese or vanilla icing. Top it with raspberries and blueberries in the pattern of the American flag. Enjoy the dessert with military family members, or take it to a local Memorial Day event.
3. Write a thank-you letter to soldiers overseas or local veterans stationed overseas.
   Our nation’s soldiers and veterans deserve ...

Graduation ceremonies, parties, dinners—there are plenty of ways to celebrate your virtual high school student’s graduation. No matter how you plan to recognize your graduate’s achievements, there’s always a place for food and fun!

If you’re looking for a new decoration, party favor, or snack to prepare for the occasion, you need to try edible DIY graduation hats. These treats are easy to make and customize with a variety of ingredients. Click on the graphic to see the instructions.

View the full version of this Instructographic.

Ways to Use Your Edible Graduation Hats

• Serve them as appetizers, snacks, or mini desserts during a graduation party.
• Place dessert hats on top of frosted cupcakes, cookies, or pieces of cake.
• Place fruit hats on top of yogurt parfaits for dessert at a graduation picnic.
• Make hats using vegetable parts. Spray them with cooking spray and sprinkle them with seasoning, then put a couple of them on skewers. Cook them on the grill and serve the skewers to guests.
• Fill glass bottles with juice, pieces of candy, or other foods, and then use the hats to seal the bottle tops.
• Place individual dessert hats inside cellophane wrappers and give them out as party favors.
• Create several dessert hats and place them inside mini cupcake wrappers. Box them up and present your graduate with homemade candy.
• Use melted chocolate to secure dessert hats on top of cake pops. You can also use melted chocolate to draw faces on the pops.

How else can ...

Congratulations to your high school graduate!

If you’re the proud Learning Coach or parent of a student in the Class of 2013, it’s time to celebrate. You may plan to recognize your graduate’s achievements by giving him or her a graduation gift.

If you are looking for some gift ideas, we’ve come up with a list of personalized graduation gifts that are inexpensive, creative, and long-lasting. Some you can buy and others you can make yourself, but each one has a personal touch to help celebrate this once-in-a lifetime event.

• Scrapbook. Create a scrapbook or binder that highlights your son’s or daughter’s achievements in school. Fill it with examples of his or her best work to make it a keepsake worth looking back at.
  
  
• Book. What books did you read as a young adult that had an impact on you? If you have a favorite you think your graduate would appreciate, present him or her with a copy. Books on careers, finances, and your graduate’s interests also make good choices. Write a note in the inside cover to personalize it.
  
  
• Friend and Family Book of Advice. Find a small journal or notebook and ask friends and family members to write a personal note or story for your graduate. These notes can include advice for the future, special memories of the graduate’s childhood, and more. Instead of creating a book, you could also record DVD.
  
  
• T-Shirt Quilt. Chances are that your graduate has plenty of T-shirts from school, clubs and organizations, ...