How Online School Can Benefit Students in Rural Areas

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.

This post was originally published in November 2018, and has been updated for relevancy in October 2021.

Sometimes life circumstances, such as a move, social conflicts, health issues, or learning challenges, cause students to transfer schools midyear. If traditional brick-and-mortar or homeschool programs aren’t a good fit, online school can be a great alternative for any student who would benefit from a more flexible and customized learning environment. 

Transferring to a new school might seem overwhelming at first—especially in the middle of the k-12 school year—but the transition can be relatively simple and stress-free with the proper mindset, support, and resources. If you’re thinking about making the midyear switch to virtual school for your child, below are a few tips from Aubrey Lakey, a Connections Academy® parent who has experienced it firsthand!* 

1. Take advantage of orientations for transfer students

Getting accustomed to a new learning system takes some time, but you don’t have to do it alone—and neither does your student! Good online schools often provide parents and transfer students with separate orientation sessions to help them feel more confident and prepared for the school year. Simply attending an orientation session could be the key to you and your child having a successful school year! 

Aubrey says, "The orientations gave us a lot of direction. They helped us adapt to the virtual learning program tremendously."

2. Seek support and ask questions

Even though Aubrey enrolled her children over only three days, Connections Academy staff members were more than willing to help her complete the school enrollment process quickly. 

"The staff was really such a pleasure to work with. I called for help, and they were happy to stay on the phone with me until everything was complete. It was nice to get a quick response, rather than relying on an email," she says.

It's important to make use of all the resources available to you. If you have any questions about the school, are having trouble with the enrollment process, or just need help navigating through the learning management system, don’t hesitate to reach out to the school’s support staff for guidance. Connections Academy offers programs designed to help parents prepare for the school year. 

3. Communicate with online school teachers

Aside from the staff, your child’s online certified teachers are a great source of support. Having a conversation with them about the transition and your student’s learning style can help ease your mind. It’s also a great way to start building a relationship with the teachers! The teachers at Connections Academy are one of Aubrey’s favorite parts of the school. 

“The teachers were so helpful from Day One. They are incredibly patient, kind, and supportive. They want to see your child excel and are always available to answer your questions,” she says.

Aubrey and her children have been able to connect with teachers in person during field trips and have even met some teachers for lunch! 

4. Focus on your child’s needs

Before deciding that transferring schools midyear is too stressful, talk to your student about his or her needs. Switching schools is sometimes necessary for a student’s academic growth and success. 

"When you are no longer 100 percent sure about your child’s education, it’s time to make an important decision—even if it’s a decision that you have to make in the middle of the school year,” Aubrey says. “I really think Connections Academy was meant to be for my children—they are not stressed out anymore and [are] so much happier. There’s going to be a little period of adjustment [to virtual school], just as there is with any other new venture, but it’s really worth it in the end.”

5. Have patience

Starting something new, like online school, is a process that takes time, patience, and determination. Try not to get too discouraged if things don’t seem to be going perfectly at first. You might have to go through a period of trial and error to figure out what school schedule or routine works best for you and your student. 

When asked what advice she would give to parents who are considering online school as a midyear transfer, Aubrey says, “Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. You don’t need to have it all together right away. I didn’t transfer my children at the same time, so I’m still testing things out and figuring out what schedules work best for each of them. To find your groove, you have to roll with it and learn as you go along.”

You and your child can make a successful midyear transition to online school by utilizing the school’s tools, actively seeking assistance from teachers, and remaining positive. If you’re still trying to decide, weigh our five reasons why students and their families may consider a midyear or beginning-of-the-year transfer to online school.   

Source: 
*Aubrey Lakey is mother of and Learning Coach to two students at Oklahoma Connections Academy (OKCA). She transferred her children from a traditional brick-and-mortar school to Connections Academy in the middle of the school year after noticing how unhappy they were with the traditional school system.