Using Reading Comprehension Questions to Read Between the Lines

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: 

1. 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. 
2. 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!
3. 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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Imagine yourself in the shoes of a parent with a child who has asthma. Sometimes, asthma attacks keep your child out of school. He misses classes, homework, and tests—which means he has to work extra hard to catch up. This happens multiple times per year, and it's starting to take a toll on your child and your family.

Now think about the flip side of this scenario: with online learning, your child's asthma attacks don't hold him back. Instead, your child gets schoolwork done at home in a time line that works for you and your family. No more missed tests, stockpiles of homework, or anxiety on account of falling behind.

As a parent of a child in virtual school, you have access to greater flexibility and control. You set your child's daily schedule. You decide if your child can go on a family vacation and still get schoolwork done. You decide when the learning day starts and when it stops.

These are just a few of the many benefits parents can experience when their child attends school online. Over the years, many parents have told us that Connections Academy works well for their family when they can:

• Dedicate time to keeping the student motivated throughout the day
• Provide ongoing guidance and encouragement
• Help monitor student comprehension and progress
• Organize and structure the learning day
• Maintain regular contact with their child's teachers
• Encourage their students to interact with others through field trips, clubs, and community activities

Don't Take Our Word for It … Hear It from Real Parents

Learning about what Connections Academy can do for your family is great, but it's not the whole picture. We want you to have all of the facts, both from the source and from those with firsthand experience, so you can make the right decision for your child and your family.

Take a look at some of the reasons why online school works well for parents, as told on the Connections Academy Facebook page:

Parent Involvement

One of the most common reasons parents appreciate online learning is the extra time it unleashes to spend time with family. In particular, parents have communicated to us that it provides them with the opportunity to take an active role in their children's learning. Parents don't just act as the "homework helper"—if they wish, they can take a more proactive approach to what their children learn, like these parents below:

Flexible Scheduling

Online education provides a much more flexible environment than a brick-and-mortar education. Even though roles and activities are carefully structured to ensure that students develop a love of learning and gain skills essential to their future success in school, parents can choose the daily routine and learning atmosphere for their children.

Are you a parent of a child attending Connections Academy? We would love to hear your perspective on why online school works for your family in the comments below.

Or if you are considering enrolling your child in an online education, learn more about Connections Academy today.

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Teacher and Learning Coach: what was your initial interpretation of these titles? Did you have to think twice because they seemed similar? At first glance, these titles could be construed as synonyms since each involves a degree of leadership for students. When it comes to virtual school, however, teacher and Learning Coach represent two distinct roles.

So, as the parent of a virtual school student, which role should you be playing? Teachers and Learning Coaches are accountable for several duties that they handle differently, but both collaborate to enhance the student’s online learning experience. If you’re considering online school for your child, we are here to help you determine how to stay within the Learning Coach bubble. Take a look at the various differences between teacher and Learning Coach below to learn more about your specific duties and the ways each role can complement the other!

Online Teacher vs. Learning Coach

Virtual schools have certified teachers who are dedicated to helping students succeed—that means a Learning Coach serves as a guide, supporter, and motivator to further stimulate learning and establish a suitable structure for the school day at home. The role of a Learning Coach evolves over time as the student gains confidence and develops more academic skills.

Among other things, teachers and Learning Coaches oversee daily learning, provide assistance, and monitor progress in different ways.

Daily Learning

Breathe easy; it is the teacher's responsibility to teach and provide students with learning material. A Learning Coach is not required to plan any lessons. Instead, he or she should make sure that the student stays focused each school day. Here are a few examples of tasks teachers and Learning Coaches complete to facilitate daily learning:

Online Teacher

• Leads the class during real-time virtual classroom sessions
• Presents new material
• Plans various lessons for specific subjects
• Determines which topics will be covered each day

Learning Coach

• Encourages breaks throughout the day when appropriate
• Motivates the student to complete lessons
• Makes sure the student has enough rest and nutrients for a productive school day
• Asks the student what he or she learned at the end of each day to maintain open dialogue

Questions and Assistance

Since teachers lead the class, it is important that major questions be directed at them—after all, that is what teachers are there for! Learning Coaches can help with small concerns and questions such as, "Am I on the right track?" or "Am I being clear in this essay?" The more students reach out to their teachers, the more they will grow to be independent learners. Here are a few examples of tasks that teachers and Learning Coaches complete to effectively assist students:

Online Teacher

• Answers the student’s questions in the virtual classroom, or via phone or WebMail
• Can offer support through individual online sessions
• Personalizes lessons based on the student's needs
• Clarifies any confusion or misunderstanding

Learning Coach

• Prompts the student to communicate with the teacher when needed
• Answers minor questions and assists with assignments but does not resolve the problem or do the work on the student's behalf
• Reassures the student when he or she is having trouble understanding a concept
• Implements some learning activities that might help with areas of weakness

Progress

Teachers and Learning Coaches both play a key role in monitoring a student’s progress. The two are encouraged to stay in contact throughout the school year to discuss how the student is doing. Here are a few examples of tasks that teachers and Learning Coaches complete to properly monitor a student's progress:

Online Teacher

• Communicates frequently with the student to ensure that he or she understands the material before moving on
• Contacts the Learning Coach to discuss the student’s progress
• Tracks recent activity
• Analyzes student performance
• Works with the student and establishes a plan to tackle subjects that require more practice

Learning Coach

• Documents the student's attendance on a daily basis
• Assists with organization and time management skills
• Stays in contact with teacher for regular updates and suggestions
• Ensures that the student is working at an appropriate learning pace

Even though teachers and Learning Coaches play different roles, the student’s journey to success is a team effort!

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