How to Help Students Make the Switch to Online School

Now that millions of K–12 students are engaged in some form of online schooling, educators everywhere are wondering how to be a great online teacher. What works in a traditional brick-and-mortar school doesn’t always translate when becoming a virtual teacher. 

Today’s online teachers know the role of teacher in a virtual classroom is essential to student success, and it requires a slightly different skill set than in-person learning. The best teachers know that the common qualities of a successful online teacher are creativity, specialized training, knowledge of the curriculum, and lots of preparation. 

Download the infographic to see how Connections Academy’s teachers are uniquely suited to deliver a world class online education.  

Instead of setting up a physical classroom, online teachers prepare by learning new technologies, developing lesson plans designed for remote instruction, and coming up with new ways to keep students engaged. 

If you are an educator exploring how to become an online teacher or a parent wondering what to expect from your child’s online teacher, read on. We’ve explained nine online teaching primary skills and overall qualities that help the best online teachers keep students learning all year long. 

What Makes a Good Online Instructor: Teaching Expertise

1. Online Teachers Have Certification & Curriculum Expertise

All teachers, whether they’re in an online or in-person environment, should have state certification, which indicates they’re qualified to teach. While state requirements vary, getting a professional teaching certification requires at least a bachelor’s degree and a certificate in the grade and subject areas the individual plans to teach. Many teachers at Connections Academy® hold master’s degrees and are experts in their subject areas. Whether online teaching primary school or calculus, Connections Academy teachers are exceptionally knowledgeable and ready to deliver an excellent education. 

2. Online Teachers Have Tech Skills

Because classes are taught using the internet, online teachers need to be tech savvy and comfortable with the latest online tools and technology. Teachers may need to help students and parents learn new tools, especially at the beginning of the school year. Using technology regularly in their day-to-day lives helps teachers stay up to date with the latest innovations. 

The main piece of technology online teachers need to understand is their school’s learning management system, or LMS. There are various online tools and education technology platforms that schools use to deliver lessons and communicate with families throughout the year.  

Many teachers also use data visualization and analysis programs (e.g., spreadsheets and pivot tables) to track student progress and create data-based personalized learning plans. What makes a good online instructor is not only mastering the basics but being ready to keep learning as needs change and technology evolves to meet them. 

3. Online Teachers Teach Creatively

In a digital learning environment, teachers who think outside of the box and prioritize creative thinking are well suited to help students succeed. Online learning creates opportunities for teachers to innovate and create engaging learning experiences for their students. It takes creativity, but every type of lesson or class, from science to social studies and physical education, can be taught in a virtual environment with an online curriculum. 

Creative uses of online learning technology can even help students retain information more effectively. An online school environment allows for a mix of live virtual instruction, individual assignments, and project-based activities, so students have regular opportunities to try new things. 

What Makes a Good Online Instructor: Strong Communication Skills

4. Online Teachers Are Welcoming

Online learning may feel new to many students and parents, so building trust and community is key. Teachers who have a knack for friendly, clear communication help students feel supported to succeed. Connections Academy teachers let every student know they belong by building personal connections and a supportive learning environment, starting on the first day of school. 

5. Online Teachers Make Themselves Available

A big part of an online teacher’s job is to be available when students have questions or need help. Since classes aren’t held in person, responding quickly to provide assistance whenever someone reaches out is how to be a great online teacher. 

Teachers should provide multiple ways to contact them, such as via email, texting, video conferencing, and phone calls. Some Connections Academy teachers even hold regular office hours for students who need one-on-one help or just want an additional challenge. 

6. Online Teachers Provide Proactive Feedback

Regular and consistent feedback becomes even more important when children are being educated in a virtual classroom. While there may not be tests or quizzes every day, there are many ways for online teachers to evaluate student performance and step in before they get behind. Connections Academy teachers check in with students and Learning Coaches regularly to measure progress, anticipate problems, and offer suggestions. 

What Makes a Good Online Instructor: Supportive Personal Qualities

7. Online Teachers Are Encouraging

The best online teachers make every interaction a positive experience, even from a distance. When students know they have a dedicated and supportive teacher, they’re empowered to try new things, inspired to ask questions, and comfortable seeking help when they need it. At Connections Academy, our teachers get to know every student personally, and they partner with parents to ensure students get the attention and assistance they need. Especially if a student is struggling or falling behind, our teachers are there to provide extra support and encouragement to help them stay motivated. 

8. Online Teachers Are Adaptable

Online teachers need to think fast when things don’t go as planned. When the unexpected occurs, like a tech issue or interruption, resourceful teachers quickly adjust their lesson plans and instruction methods, without missing a beat. If a presentation is loading slowly or a video conferencing glitch occurs, online teachers need to have a backup and troubleshooting plan that’s ready to go. 

Being flexible and personalizing instruction when needed ensures every student can grasp fundamental concepts. Guiding a student through a challenging concept sometimes takes a few tries and different approaches. Teachers can work with students over the phone or use online tools or video conferencing software to ensure every question gets answered. 

9. Online Teachers Teach with Passion

In virtual school, students can feel their teachers’ enthusiasm for the subject matter through every live online lesson and interaction. Excellent online teachers show their enthusiasm by coming up with exciting ways to keep students engaged with the curriculum. At Connections Academy, our teachers are fueled by their passion for teaching, and they go above and beyond to support every student’s unique needs. 

Connections Academy is a unique, tuition-free, online K-12 public school with 20 years of expertise in online learning. We pride ourselves on knowing what makes a good online instructor and selecting teachers who exhibit these skills and qualities every day. Let us help you with your child’s education, whether you’re enrolling in one of our accredited online schools this year or simply looking for resources to help students succeed with online learning. 

How does Connections Academy® offer some of the best online schools for military families? By offering school choice through a flexible online platform with a variety of core courses, electives, and clubs, so that military families can meet their commitments knowing their children are enrolled in a school that is a safe, caring, and delivers an impactful and engaging education. 

Could a Connections Academy school be the best online school for your military family? 

We think so! Whether you're based in the US or deployed overseas, Connections Academy's online school curriculum comes with you when/if your orders change. 

How Changing Schools Can Impact Learning

Moving from one home to another and changing schools is a known stressor for students that can negatively impact grades. A MacArthur Foundation study(opens in a new tab) found that, “Home and school moves each had unique effects on children, but school moves had slightly stronger effects on their cognitive scores and emotional problems, above and beyond the effects of residential moves.” 

The Department of Defense Educational Partnership Branch says the average child in a military family will move six to nine times during their school career. That’s an average of three times more frequently than non-military families. 

Military families can avoid the impact of school changes on their children if they are enrolled in Connections Academy’s military-friendly online schools. When enrolled in a Connections Academy online school, moving does not have to cause a loss of academic achievement or regression in socialization.  

Military family parent and Learning Coach Christi Baron says that “without the help of Connections Academy, our children would have been struggling with the changes that moving presents.” 

Military-Friendly Online Schools Help Kids Settle in Faster

“Connections Academy not only adapted to our many moves, but helped us with school while settling into our new home,” Christi said. “Being the new kids in a small town was hard enough, but being military kids in a civilian community didn’t make sense for our kids or the other students. At Connections Academy, they are able to learn while not being outsiders.”  

Lea Ann Lockard was the principal at Texas Connections Academy for 12 years and grew up with a parent who was active duty in the Navy. She wrote that military students who move during the school year find that curriculum differs across the country, leaving them either unprepared for tougher courses or bored because they have already covered the material. High school students who transfer can find themselves missing credits and scrambling to graduate. 

A February 2019 Pearson study(opens in a new tab) of the efficacy of Connections Academy compared the performance of similar populations of students in traditional brick-and-mortar schools and online schools who have moved during their academic careers. 

“We found that Connections Academy schools serve highly mobile students with complex needs known to (negatively) impact academic performance,” the study authors said. Students’ needs included trying to catch up and flexible scheduling, among several others. “These characteristics create a unique student population that differs from traditional brick-and-mortar schools.” 

The Pearson study found that “Connections Academy students can receive the same quality of education as that offered at their local public school, while simultaneously taking advantage of the benefits offered to them by virtual schools (and) may perform better than students in other virtual schools.” 

And while Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) has provided a full-time virtual learning option for K–12 students since early in the COVID-19 pandemic, current enrollment is limited to 1,000 students systemwide. There’s no such limit in Connections Academy schools. 

Online School Teachers Help Military Kids Transition

Connections Academy courses are led by teachers who are either state-certified or credentialed. They help students by giving them individual attention as needed, leading LiveLesson® sessions and working with Learning Coaches to support students as they achieve their goals. 

“Connections Academy has the perfect balance of interaction between teachers and parent input through being a Learning Coach,” said parent and Learning Coach Angela Litteral. “The curriculum is engaging, challenging, and relevant. It is especially helpful and flexible for military families. Connections Academy is a very portable education that you can take with you and do just about anywhere.” 

Lea Ann, the online educator from Texas, wrote that online schools can give military students continuity, help students maintain grades, and help families stay connected. “Another benefit is that online school allows the deployed parent to check grades online, communicate with teachers, and review coursework,” she wrote. 

What Makes Connections Academy a Military-Friendly Online School?

Connections Academy has tuition-free schools across the country to meet state-specific requirements, including those for curriculum, attendance, and graduation. Your military child’s academic curriculum doesn’t have to change when you move. 

You can start your online schooling journey by finding a CA school in your state, registering for a virtual event introducing Connections Academy, and following Connections Academy on Facebook(opens in a new tab) or Instagram(opens in a new tab). 

You can also read about Connection Academy’s K–12 curriculum, which is specifically designed for online learning, and learn more about our military family support offerings.

Homeschool can be an effective alternative to public school programs, but it isn’t always right for every family. For parents, the homeschooling time commitment can really take a toll as parents must assume responsibility of both curriculum development and the role of teacher. If you’re wondering whether online school may be a better option for your family, here are five signs it may be time to make a switch from homeschool.

1. You’re Starting to Feel Burned Out

If you feel overwhelmed with homeschooling, you’re not alone! Homeschooling can be exhausting for parents, especially when you’re trying to juggle other responsibilities like work, caring for younger children, and maintaining a household. Teaching multiple subjects to one child is challenging enough, but when you’re trying to cover a variety of subjects with multiple children at different K–12 grade levels, things can get hectic.

If you are feeling tired and stressed all the time and other family members are unable to lighten your load by assuming some homeschooling responsibilities, you may want to consider a less demanding way to provide your children with a high-quality education.

2. You Question Your Ability to Homeschool

Teaching is equal parts art and science. Without formal training, being an effective teacher can be a challenge. Many parents who use homeschool programs find themselves doubting their abilities. Feeling this way doesn’t mean that you aren’t well-educated or don’t understand the subject matter. Teaching involves a lot more than just knowing the material.

Certified teachers spend years in college studying topics like child psychology, cognitive development, teaching theory, instructional design, and more—and for good reason. Things like figuring out which curriculum to use, adapting materials to your child’s specific learning style, keeping your child challenged and motivated, and overcoming learning difficulties can easily overwhelm someone who doesn’t have formal training.

Even parents who successfully homeschool for elementary
grades may find themselves wishing they had a teacher’s assistance when their child begins taking more challenging courses in middle and high school. Many choose to find a new educational solution, like an online high school, to ensure that their students are taught algebra, calculus, world languages, physics, and other higher-level courses that will help them gain admission to college.

3. You’re Worried Your Child Is Falling Behind

When the subject matter increases in difficulty, it can be easy for a parent who has developed their own curriculum to skip some concepts and skills. If your child is suddenly breezing through lessons, it could be that the curriculum is not challenging enough. If you have concerns, you may be more comfortable with a virtual school that offers a curriculum developed by education professionals to ensure your student receives a complete education and meets important benchmarks.

A high-quality online school will provide you with easy access to your student’s lessons, grades, and teachers, so you can keep up with their progress. A quality virtual school program should also offer a higher level of structure and academic support than most parents without formal training can provide on their own at home.

4. Your Child Isn’t Mastering the Homeschool Curriculum

Sometimes you don’t have to wonder. If your normally bright, achieving child suddenly isn’t making the grade, the problem probably lies with the curriculum. It’s not necessarily the curriculum creator’s fault. You might have a well-structured curriculum that just doesn’t fit. Children learn differently, and their needs change as they grow and change. Most children can learn any subject, but educators have learned that the curriculum and teaching style need to align with each child’s learning style. An online school with a qualified teaching partner should be able to help you find the curriculum that motivates your usually eager learner.

5. Your Child Is Unhappy or Unmotivated

Finally, your child’s own feelings could be a sign that homeschooling just isn’t working. Tears, anger, confusion, and lack of motivation can all
indicate that it’s time to switch from homeschool. These things could happen occasionally in any educational setting, but if you’re dealing with a negative reaction to school on a consistent basis, it may be time for a change.

When it comes to how your child reacts to daily schoolwork, trust your gut. You’ll know whether your child is just having a difficult day or two, or there really is a deeper underlying issue that could be addressed by switching from homeschool to an alternative like online school.

Wondering How to Switch to Online School?

If you ultimately decide homeschooling is no longer working for your family, there are high-quality online schooling options available. Starting to research your options early is an important part of the process so you can weigh the pros and cons and find the best schooling option that will work for you and your family.

With Connections Academy® free online homeschool, certified teachers educate your  K–12 child online, from the comfort and safety of your home. This way, you can still be involved as a Learning Coach to support and monitor your child’s progress, but you’ll have a reduced time commitment. Plus, your child can benefit from working with an experienced certified teacher.

Making the switch from homeschooling to virtual school may be easier than you think. For many families, virtual school offers the same lifestyle perks they’re used to enjoying with homeschool, plus a few new ones. And if you’re concerned about the timing, here’s what one Connections Academy parent had to say about making a smooth midyear switch to online school.