What Is Online High School Really Like?
by Valerie Kirk
8 Common Concerns about Virtual School
byCassandra Polzin
5 min to read
When you first consider enrolling your child to virtual school, what’s on your mind? Curiosity? Excitement? Doubt? Chances are you feel a combination of all these, especially if you don’t have first-hand experience with virtual learning.
To confront your concerns and decide if online learning is the best choice for your child, start by asking a lot of questions! Make a list to clear your mind, and then reach out directly to the school or even contact the parent of a current student. If you’re wondering, “What are the biggest challenges with online education today?” see if you can find the answers you need in this list of common concerns.
1. Do online school Learning Coaches have to manage class schedules, coursework, and establish routines?
Figuring out your new role as your child’s Learning Coach is an adjustment, and it will take a few weeks for you and your learner to find the right rhythm. But the more structure you have, the easier it will be.
Look at sample daily schedules for help in creating a daily routine and don’t forget to reach out for advice from teachers and other parents!
2. I have more than one student in virtual school. How can I successfully juggle my time between them as their Learning Coach?
Learning Coach involvement typically varies by grade level. The younger students require more support and guidance than older children, who are more independent by the time they reach high school. Because each student’s needs are different, you can find ways to arrange multiple schedules so that you divide your time between your students.
3. I’m worried about making mistakes as my child’s Learning Coach.
Every new Learning Coach feels nervous and worried at some point, but remember that you’re not on your own. Online teachers are there for you and your student. And soon after getting started, you’ll get a better idea of what makes a great Learning Coach and be on your way to becoming a pro.
4. I’m not very tech-savvy. Is this a problem? I want to make sure my child’s schoolwork is being submitted properly.
A lack of technological skills is one of the most commonly presumed problems of online learning. If you can relate, we have good news: when you start the school year, you can complete a tutorial on how to submit schoolwork and other documents. If you have any trouble submitting work or anything else using system technology, a teacher can walk you through it. And tech support is always available to help you during the week.
5. How can I make sure my student gets enough social interaction?
Social engagement is a widely-shared concern when it comes to the challenges of online learning. However, social opportunities are easier for virtual students to find than you might expect. Your student can join online clubs and activities, attend school-organized field trips, and more.
One Learning Coach shared, "My daughter has been a Connections Academy student since kindergarten. We fill the socializing aspect with outside activities such as Girl Scouts, bowling, archery, and softball. Your child doesn’t have to go to a traditional brick-and-mortar school to communicate with other kids or make friends. That’s why extracurricular activities are available."
Consider getting your child interested in volunteering or joining local organizations. Get inspired by how other parents ensure their students get plenty of social interaction.
6. My child has an individualized education program (IEP). How do I ensure they get extra support?
Students with IEPs have access to a variety of virtual special education services. The curriculum can be modified to accommodate your student’s needs, and the IEP team can offer virtual direct instruction, virtual indirect instruction, or virtual occupational therapy if needed. Contact the school your child plans to attend for more information about the specific help he or she could receive.
Explore how online learning can support students with special needs.
7. The list of school supplies needed to set up an at-home learning environment is overwhelming. Do I need everything on the list?
You might not need all of the suggested school supplies if you already have some of the items at home; plus, there might be some things you can substitute with what you have. You can always contact your teacher if you have questions or wait until your student gets to the unit before deciding if you need all the materials listed.
8. My student tends to get distracted and needs a little extra help staying motivated. How will I be able to keep them engaged and on track all year long?
All students are unique, but some benefit from the freedom provided by virtual learning and are able to build their intrinsic motivation and independence. Helping your student set goals and achieve deadlines will prepare them for long-term success in college, the workforce, and beyond. No matter what type of learner you have, Connections Academy teachers work with you as a learning coach to ensure your student’s needs are met. This may include adjusting how deadlines are delivered, involving you more in coursework and projects, or increasing your lines of communication.
Supporting your child’s education can be a challenge sometimes, no matter where they attend school. But if it’s a good fit, virtual school can offer a rewarding and even life-changing experience to both students and parents. Supporting your child’s education can be a challenge sometimes, no matter where they attend school. But if it’s a good fit, virtual school can offer a rewarding and even life-changing experience to both students and parents.
To see what parents think about the challenges of online learning, student progress, teacher support, classroom technology, and curriculum quality at Connections Academy, take a look at our parent testimonials, or ask questions of our Facebook community.
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Celebrate Earth Month with Composting Lessons and Compost Activities for Kids
by Valerie Kirk
Did you know that food scraps and yard waste make up more than 30 percent of what we throw away? This waste takes up space in landfills, where it releases methane, a greenhouse gas that is harmful to the environment. All of that material could instead be composted!
Composting is nature’s method of recycling food and other organic waste into material that can be added to soil to help plants grow. In addition to reducing methane emissions in landfills, composting helps protect plants against diseases and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.
To celebrate Earth Month, get your student involved by doing this Composting 101 lesson that includes composting activities for kids. Not only will your student gain an understanding of what composting is and why it is important, they will get to do a hands-on science activity that will teach them about organic decomposition and how plants grow. The Composting 101 lesson and composting activities for kids are appropriate for elementary school, middle school, and high school students, and can build on the lessons they are learning in science class. The lesson is also sure to spark their curiosity about other ways they can make a difference by helping our planet.
Composting 101
Your student will gain an appreciation for the importance of celebrating Earth Month with this Composting 101 lesson that includes the reasons why we should compost, the three types of compost, and what can and can’t be composted.
Start the lesson by asking your student what compost is. Explain that composting is using leftover food and other organic matter that combine into material that can be added to soil to help plants grow.
Why Compost?
Explain to your student that there are many benefits to composting, including:
- Diverting food and yard waste from landfills.
- Reducing the amount of greenhouse gases released into the air from landfills.
- Making soil healthier for plants and vegetation, and improving moisture retention.
- Saving money on fertilizer or manure.
- Increasing nutrients in the foods you grow, making you healthier.
Types of Composting
There are three different types of composting:
- Backyard composting. This is perfect if you have a yard with lots of trees and/or a large lawn. Fallen leaves, straw, grass clippings, and food scraps are used in your compost bin. Note: this is the type of composting explored in the Soda Bottle composting activity for kids that you can do at the end of the lesson.
- Worm composting. This type of composting is good if you have a small yard or no yard at all. As long as you have food scraps, you can do worm composting!
- Grasscycling. With this composting, simply leave your grass clippings on the lawn after mowing. They will decompose and provide nutrients for the lawn.
What Can Be Composted?
Two types of waste are needed for composting, which you will use in the composting activities for kids: food for the microbes and a bulking agent. Here are some options you can use:
Bulking Agent
- Wood shavings
- Small wood chips
- Newspaper strips
- Pieces of paper egg cartons
- Chopped straw
Food for the Microbes
- Lettuce scraps
- Carrot peelings
- Apple cores
- Bread crusts
- Banana peels
- Weeds
- Grass clippings
What CANNOT Be Composted?
Avoid using any of the materials listed below for a compost, as they may be harmful to people, plants, or the environment in general.
- Black walnut tree leaves or twigs
- Coal or charcoal ash
- Dairy products (eggs, butter, milk, cheese, sour cream, yogurt, etc.)
- Diseased or insect-ridden plants
- Fats, grease, lard, and oil
- Meat or fish bones or scraps
- Pet waste
- Yard trimmings treated with chemical pesticides
How and Where to Use Compost
After the natural process of composting is finished, you can use the compost in a variety of ways. To start, use it to help your plants and vegetables grow by putting it in the soil mixture of potted plants or spreading it around trees and shrubs. You could also use the compost as mulch for your garden or landscaping. Teaching your student about gardening could lead to a lifelong activity that is not only good for the environment, but also has many positive mental and physical health benefits.
No matter what you decide to do with your compost, the important part is spending time with your child celebrating Earth Month and learning about the importance of recycling and composting materials.
Soda Bottle Composting for Kids Science Activity
Composting activities for kids are pretty simple to do and are often done with materials you already have on hand.
The Soda Bottle Composting for Kids science activity is a hands-on STEM activity where your student will learn how to make a compost bin for kids out of a two-liter soda bottle. They can then use the compost to help grow their own plants, watching—and learning—about the plant lifecycle.
Get the Soda Bottle Compost Activity
You can make a bigger compost bin for kids by using a plastic container that is at least 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide. This science activity can be used to teach about composting in school and can extend learning for students in online school or homeschool.
More At-Home Science Projects
If you are looking for more science activities to help you extend your online student’s learning, check out the Connections Academy Resource Hub, which is full of STEM activities, including making your own fossils and how to create crystals in your kitchen.
Did you know that the Soda Bottle Composting for Kids science activity is similar to lessons your student would complete in online school? If you enjoyed spending time with your student learning about composting and supporting their learning in celebration of Earth Month, maybe online school is right for you! Join a Connections Academy information session to learn more about a new school experience.
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