Virtual Learning Connections

5 Cool Things About Online Education

Cindy Carbajal — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:00:00 GMT

If you’re looking for just one word to describe online education, allow me to suggest this one: “cool”! My name is Cindy Carbajal, and I think online teaching really matters.

Early in life, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. My mom and grandma were teachers, and I fully intended to join the ranks in a traditional classroom setting. I hadn’t heard of a virtual charter school before, but I’ve always been intrigued by technology, so I decided to check it out. After doing some research, I came to the realization that not only did I prefer it over substitute-teaching for a year but also that there actually wasn’t anything else I would rather do.

Online teaching provides a wonderful opportunity for parents, students, and teachers to work together to create unique and personalized education plans that really work. Below are some of my favorite things about online education and how it can benefit your children in truly positive ways:

Use of online teaching best practices. Online educators build strong relationships with one another, sharing ideas, brainstorming solutions, and completing projects together. Because we use a very collaborative teaching approach, you and your kids have access to teachers who provide a seamless learning experience.
We’re always coming up with new ideas and best practices for how to effectively teach online. We’re on the cutting edge of virtual education practices, which is really cool for us and extremely beneficial for your children.
Virtual learning is highly personalized. As you know, being the same age doesn’t mean that your kids are always at the same place mentally, physically, or emotionally as their peers. With online learning, kids can get extra help or take gifted and talented courses that match their learning levels. Teachers work one-on-one to develop plans that meet each student’s needs.

Collaborative learning environment. To me, being an online teacher means being responsible for student learning, although from a distance and on an individualized level. In online education, teachers flex their creative muscles to find ways to design instruction and create interaction that engages your kids personally, while also encouraging them to interact and collaborate with their peers.

21st century readiness. Online learning also places a stronger focus on teaching your kids the 21st century skills and life skills that will help them be successful today, tomorrow, and later on in life. My job as an online teacher is to help them acquire technology skills, develop self-discipline, be conscious of recognizing when they know something or not, and realize that asking for help is okay.

Building friendships and socializing with peers. I could go on and on, but I’ll end by sharing what I think is one of the absolute coolest things about online education: seeing students interact, connect, and build relationships.

The kids who form friendships in real-time online classroom sessions, virtual study groups, clubs, and online activities often meet outside of school, attending each other’s birthday parties and spending time together. It’s so great to watch them form such supportive, cohesive groups, and often at young ages.

Everything considered, I have to say that there’s no doubt in my mind: Online education is pretty cool. It offers you and your children unique and exciting learning opportunities, and it is just as rewarding for the teachers who lead it.

Flat Stanley Goes to Virtual School

Tracy Ostwald-Kowald — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:00:00 GMT

My name is Tracy Ostwald-Kowald (my students call me Mrs. O.K.), and I’m a teacher at the virtual school Wisconsin Connections Academy. Flat Stanley, an educational character, arrived through snail mail from my friend Mrs. K., a teacher in the Dallas, Texas, area. Flat Stanley loves to see new places and make new friends. In fact, he took a tour of Lambeau Field to see the Lombardi Trophy from last year’s Super Bowl! Then I brought Stanley with me to show him how a virtual school works. He shares his photos and impressions of his visit to our virtual school below—take it away, Stanley…

I went to work today with Mrs. O.K.
Mrs. O.K. is a teacher in a newfangled kind of school; she teaches online!

Mrs. O.K.’s students (and those of the school) live all over the state of Wisconsin. There’s a map in the school offices showing where the students live. Wow! They’re really spread out.

Mrs. O.K. took me around the online high school side of the school. I met the social studies teacher, and we fooled around with Google Maps. He was looking for Westminster Abbey.

The high school language arts teacher has a cubicle full of posters encouraging reading—everything from Shakespeare to (be still, my flattened heart) the Cat in the Hat.

Ah, high school science. I look forward to biology and earth science. I have a little more math to learn before starting physics. It’ll take more than just knowing how to add, or so I’ve been told.

Back in Mrs. O.K.’s cubicle, she taught me to use a rubric to grade writing projects. She looked over my first one and decided to grade the rest herself. I guess teaching writing isn’t my strength—yet.

Well, science is still one of my favorite subjects, so Mrs. O.K. logged me into a virtual class in middle school science.

Cool. Very cool. The teacher called on students and then let them “write” on the virtual whiteboard to connect vocabulary words with their meaning. This would be a great way to learn, at least for a flat geek like me. I could keep on traveling, as long as I had Internet access!

I looked over Ms. W.’s shoulder as she worked on lesson plans.

Then I moved once again to middle school language arts. They write a lot of essays. Wow!

We couldn’t stay away from Mrs. O.K.’s desk for long, so I offered to help her make phone calls.

A fifth grader needed help with her math. Ooh, those multi-step problems. They rock my socks off! Wait. I don’t wear socks. Never mind.

Mrs. O.K. and her co-workers were great hosts. They told me that if I want to teach online like they do, I need to have my teacher certification, a working knowledge of computers—and a talent for making coffee.

Thanks to Flat Stanley, visitor from Irving, Texas, for the guest post today.

Tips for Balancing Time between Multiple Virtual School Students

Dan Reiner — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:00:00 GMT

This guest post is by Jane Kummer-Meyer, a Learning Coach from Wisconsin.

Working with multiple children in a virtual school or homeschool setting can at first seem daunting, but with some organization and planning, and a bit of flexibility, it can be quite manageable. For the past three years, I have had four boys enrolled in Wisconsin Connections Academy, and during that time I’ve been the Learning Coach for grades ranging from kindergarten through 12th. I definitely had to find creative ways to simultaneously give all of my children the support and attention they need, ensure success, and maintain my own sanity.

It doesn’t have to be stressful! Here are a few key things I do to help balance my time between each of my boys:

Having a schedule is imperative. With a schedule, I can plan to work with my youngest son when the older ones are doing an online class session or working independently. A schedule also helps keep the kids focused on their responsibilities as online students. One great feature of online learning is the ability to be flexible, so if we have an appointment or special event, we tweak the schedule. If my students ever get behind, we talk about how or why this happened and what adjustments they need to make to their schedules to get back on track. This is a great way to teach them how to effectively manage their own time and to take ownership of their own learning.

Use online planning tools. Connections Academy has an amazing online tool called a scheduler. This program is basically a daily and monthly calendar of lessons that helps students and Learning Coaches stay on task. It also helps us to keep track of academic progress by allowing me to track grades on a daily basis! It alerts me to any lessons that each child may be struggling with, allowing me to give the extra guidance needed or to contact the appropriate teacher for assistance.

Ask teachers for support. The fact that teachers help my children work through concepts that may be difficult to grasp, and are available to answer questions, is so important when working with multiple students. It allows each child to have access to the individual help from a licensed teacher. My children attend sessions where their teacher presents a lesson and they are able to interact in a classroom-like setting via the computer. My children contact their teachers by WebMail or a phone call to ask questions or get extra help. Regular interaction with teachers is an extremely valuable component of this program, especially when you have multiple students.

Make younger ones feel more involved. I’ve learned that my younger kids like to mimic their older siblings. I try to capitalize on this by giving them work that’s similar to what the older students are working on but that is more at their level. For example, they can practice making letters while I help an older sibling with an English essay. If you still have preschoolers or toddlers, you could give them a box filled with their own version of school supplies. Often being there and being part of school time can keep them happy, content, and contained. However, if they interrupt a lot, sometimes it’s a good idea to schedule some one-on-one time with your little ones so they don’t feel left out.

Keep the study zone organized. Another strategy I use in my home is to have a central location set up for schooling supplies and resources. This helps keep us organized and establishes a learning environment, which seems to help my students stay focused on their tasks. Also, each boy has a study area in his room where he is able to go when he needs a quiet place to concentrate.

With the right tools and some planning, you can be a successful Learning Coach for multiple virtual school students, and without additional stress! Share your own tactics and ideas for facilitating learning in your home with multiple children.

Virtual Schools: A Healthy Option for Students with Medical Conditions

Dan Reiner — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Students with health-related issues face a myriad of challenges, but getting a quality education shouldn’t be one of them.

For children dealing with frequent hospital visits, doctors’ appointments, treatment schedules, or long recovery times, attending a traditional school may not be a viable education option.

Many virtual schools offer an accredited education alternative to students who must or prefer to stay at home in order to properly care for their health needs.

For Toni Wood, a reassured virtual school parent in Oklahoma, the quality online curriculum and flexibility of an online school environment are the keys to simultaneously maintaining her daughter Belle’s type 1 diabetes and her education.

Toni explains:

“After the initial diagnosis, Belle had encountered many challenges as she learned to cope with her condition and integrate care into her daily life. School life was particularly challenging, specifically in her ability to think and learn. Her blood sugar was frequently too high or too low, making it difficult for her to pay attention and perform academically at the level of which she was capable. For that reason, we chose to withdraw her from her traditional brick-and-mortar school and educate her at home so that she would be able to take care of herself when she felt it was necessary and still not miss any instruction time. Then we found virtual schooling with Oklahoma Connections Academy.

"Online education works for us because our daughter is no longer restricted to certain hours to accomplish her daily work. She can work at her own pace when her strength and concentration levels are best, without worrying about getting behind the rest of her class. In fact, she is excelling beyond our expectations. If she needs to stop and treat her condition, she can. She is not required to walk to the nurse’s office when she is feeling bad; all she has to do is tell us or just treat herself.”

Toni further describes, “Our daughter has full-time certified teachers with whom she has frequent communication, whether it is through weekly interactive online lessons, phone calls, or emails. She also has had many field trip opportunities to get to know her teachers and her virtual classmates from across the state.

"As parents, we like the fact that we are still involved in her education. As her 'Learning Coaches,' we are critical members of her education team, helping monitor the academic progress in the home. We have full knowledge of what she is going to be learning over the course of the entire school year and have frequent communication with her teachers to make sure she is on track and challenged.”

For Toni’s diabetic daughter Belle, virtual school is not just an effective education alternative, it’s an emotional and physical lifesaver. Many parents tell me how they don’t know what they would do without an option like Connections Academy.

Every January, National School Choice Week brings attention to the need for effective education options for all children. There are so many different reasons that families seek alternate education options, and I am thankful for the opportunities parents have to choose a school that works best for their children. What's the best educational choice for your child? Consider virtual school!

6 Keys for Online Students to Develop Independent Study Skills

Dan Reiner — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Watching your child’s education develop before your eyes is a truly gratifying experience. Being able to witness the “aha!” moments when concepts are mastered and lessons completely understood is priceless for many parents.

But what about those times when your child isn’t able to grasp the material right away? When he or she stumbles through the lessons and can’t seem to complete the accompanying activities?

As a Learning Coach, you are not responsible for teaching lessons to your online school student, but rather for playing an active role in reinforcing study habits that lead to success. Since online teachers are there to determine your child’s needs, develop individualized learning plans, and handle the teaching, your role is to assist your student to become an independent online learner. Here are some important techniques to help foster effective learning:

Mastering the art of note-taking. Just because your student is taking notes during an online lesson doesn’t mean that he or she is doing so effectively. If you notice that your child is struggling to grasp the most important information, it may be time to work on note-taking strategies. Some of these include:

previewing the readings
paying attention to boldface words and headings
reworking main ideas into concepts that are easily understood
being attentive to captions
using different modes of note-taking, including highlighters, sticky notes, index cards, graphs, charts, and diagrams
making sure the notes taken answer/reference the objectives and questions that accompany each lesson

Providing a variety of learning materials. Your child may need more than just a pen and paper to learn. Make sure you have helpful tools such as whiteboards and graph paper, so students can display information in different ways. When it comes to math and science, being able to physically act out concepts is critical. Many online schools also offer a wealth of high-tech instructional tools that can help bring learning to life.
Utilizing online discussions. One of the unique features of virtual schools is that students can interact in real-time classroom sessions. Encourage your child to use these opportunities to start discussions about difficult concepts. Input from peers can be an incredibly effective learning tool.
Developing good study habits. Repetition is the key to retention, so play around with different ways to review notes and absorb information. Play review games, do quizzes with notecards, and create sample test questions to help your student use the information he or she is learning in different ways.
Clearly identifying objectives. Make sure your child understands what he or she is supposed to get out of each lesson or activity before it begins. With objectives that are as clear as possible, students can more easily determine what information they need to learn and how it is going to benefit them in their studies.
Monitoring progress. Online schools make it easy for you to keep track of how your students are doing and to view their grades at any time. As soon as you notice a dip in your student’s performance, you can identify the problem and take the steps necessary to fix it.

Encourage your students to reflect on their progress, and have them think about the way they learn best. Which study tools were most useful? What areas do they still need to improve upon? And, if you notice that your child is struggling to learn certain concepts, let his or her teacher know. Then you can all work together to develop solutions that will contribute to more effective studying and better comprehension.

How have you helped your student become an effective online learner? Share your successes with us!

Activities That Teach Students about Martin Luther King Jr.

Dan Reiner — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Want some ideas to help your kids really understand the significance of why we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day?

Many students have an easier time understanding the impact of a public figure’s accomplishments when presented with a chance to make connections between specific details and the bigger picture through hands-on activities. Try some of the activities below to provide your children with a real understanding of how Martin Luther King Jr. influenced our world.

Develop a Time Line. Students always retain more information through active learning, so turn reading from a book into an activity by asking them to develop a time line of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life. This will encourage them to do research and exercise their critical-thinking skills to figure out which events are most significant.
Go on a Vocabulary Scavenger Hunt. A great way to enhance comprehension is to help your student learn the vocabulary associated with Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement. Once you create a list of terms, direct students to trusted online resources that can help them find definitions and examples. To finish the activity, ask your student to develop a sentence that uses the term. Some examples of terms include boycott, discriminate, dream, emancipate, marches, and segregate.
Volunteer in the Community. On Martin Luther King Day, encourage your student to give back to the community just as Martin Luther King Jr. did. This is the perfect opportunity to teach students the value of volunteering, and if you visit MLKDay.gov, you can find volunteer opportunities near you or even register your own volunteer project.
Give a One-Minute Speech. Ask students to develop a brief speech in which they explain the impact of Martin Luther King Jr.’s accomplishments on their own daily life. Another possible topic is to speak about their “dream” for the future of society and explain how they contribute to the goal. Giving a speech allows students to practice public speaking and analyze the long-term implications of Martin Luther King Jr.’s work.

Do you have other ways of helping make your students’ Martin Luther King Jr. Day a tribute to remember? Share them here!

Share the Joys of Giving Back with Your Children

Kim McConnell — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Instead of just giving me an allowance as a child, my parents insisted on teaching me the value of money, and at the same time the value of giving. Every week when I got my allowance, I had to split it into three sections: spending money, savings money, and giving money.

I learned at a young age that giving to others should be just as natural as providing for myself. Having spending money allowed me to go out with friends for a Slurpee. Saving money, however, I didn’t fully understand until I was older. I was a bit attached to my saved money, but after contributing to my grandma’s birthday celebration for the first time, I slowly began to understand the reason for giving.

This important lesson is one I have made sure to teach my own children as well. However, in addition to monetary giving, we also stress the importance of giving back through volunteering and donating items.

In our house, we see volunteering as a wonderful way to spend time together as a family while also doing something good for people in need. There are so many ways to volunteer and so many places within our community that can benefit from help. We help out at several organizations during particular times of the year, but we also try to find new places in need.

Sometimes it’s as simple as sorting items for our church’s yearly “Trash to Treasure” sale. Other times we join a group that is doing a half-day cleanup at a local park, or we may make special door hanger crafts and deliver them to the disabled folks at the nursing home or else play bingo with the more active residents. One time my older son took his trumpet and played a tune for everyone to hear and sing along. The whole family marched around the care center, and although many could not respond well, we knew we had brought some joy to their day.

As kids get older, they can also find their own opportunities, like joining a youth group or tutoring children who need extra help after school. My teenage daughter especially loved when she was chosen to go out with the local mission to serve hot drinks and hand out blankets to the homeless.

Having trouble seeing? Try going directly to YouTube.

I also stress to my kids that an important part of giving back involves donating. I encourage them to regularly look through their closets for items that are too small or that they haven’t worn in a long time. There are always people in need who would love to have those pieces of clothing. We do the same type of evaluation on common household items, and if we get something new, we always try to donate the piece it was replacing. We have a slogan: “Everything must have a home.” This little slogan supports the removal of excess items, and we feel good about passing those items on because they will get a new “home.”

This year, I encourage you to share the joys of giving back with your children. They can learn so many wonderful lessons, and it’s a great value to instill in them at a young age.

New Year’s Learning Resolutions: Making Goals with Your Child

Kim McConnell — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:00:00 GMT

At the start of every January, I come up with a few New Year’s resolutions to guide the coming year. For me it’s a great way to get focused and identify a few key areas of my life I’d like to work on improving.

With my kids, we do it a little differently and set New Year’s learning resolutions. We sit down and determine a few topics of interest they want to learn more about, or maybe pinpoint a particular skill they need to improve in order to advance.

In addition to setting new goals, we always make sure to reflect back on how last year’s resolutions were met. This is a great way for my kids to see the progress they’ve made, and it makes them proud to know they accomplished something that was important to them. Taking time to look over past writing projects and worksheets just to compare content or handwriting is a tangible way to reflect.

My kids have come up with all kinds of learning resolutions over the years, including these below, which you can use if you need some suggestions:

Focus on the big picture. Stepping back every so often to remember why they are learning something is a great way to keep kids motivated. Taking time to talk about when they go to college or tech school and how current work will benefit this goal is a great way to create that big picture for a student.
Communicate clearly. Whether they are facing a problem with schoolwork, at a job, with friends, or at home, one of the keys to overcoming it is clear communication. Modeling a practice conversation or verbally brainstorming a reflective response to the problem is a great skill that can help kids to develop better communication skills at any age.
Problem solving. Whether it’s online education or traditional learning, kids benefit greatly by learning how to solve problems on their own. It’s a great way to encourage independent learning, and it’s so important for future success. You can help foster student problem solving just by listening to your student’s point of view. A simple “Wow, I’m not sure what I would do!” comment can be just enough to encourage students to begin solving their own problems.
Choosing an area of interest. Part of loving learning is being able to find something you enjoy. As you are looking over past papers and projects, encourage your kids to identify a topic they really liked learning about during the past year. Then you can help them find different ways to pursue expanding their knowledge about it in the coming year.
Determining a struggle subject and turning it into an achievement. Some subjects are more difficult for kids to learn, and those are the ones you want to encourage them to master. To be successful, collect as many different approaches to the topic as possible. Speak to your teacher, friends, and even other students to get ideas for an approach that you may not have used before.
Reading, reading, reading. I absolutely love reading, so it’s important to me that my kids have the opportunity to develop an appreciation for it, too. We always choose a few books that are “must reads” for the coming year. You can even take advantage of your library audio book section and set aside 20-30 minutes for listening to a story while having a fun snack.

Use this New Year as an opportunity to help your kids grow both academically and personally. Let us know your family’s new learning resolutions (we could all use more ideas!).

Kitchen Science for Kids: Homemade Play Dough Circuits

Dan Reiner — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 10:00:00 GMT

Some may think that online learning only occurs through the computer, but this form of education actually allows for plenty of hands-on exercises and real-world application of concepts.

Science is one of the subjects that lends itself especially well to experiments and interactive learning activities. We don’t usually think of our kitchen as an electrical engineering lab, but did you know that play dough made with salt is actually great at conducting electricity? And play dough made with sugar is resistant to electric currents. When you use them in combination and add in a battery pack and a few lights, you have the opportunity to create circuits. They are not the complex circuits used by professional electricians, but simplified, colorful, squishy circuits that even younger children can build and understand!

Watch the video below to see a demonstration of how play dough squishy circuits work:

Having trouble seeing? Try going directly to YouTube.

Now that you’ve seen how fun this activity can be, it’s time to start making your play dough. You may have done this in your own childhood, but in case you never did, the recipe is below.

How to Make Conductive Play Dough

You’ll need: 1 cup water, 1½ cups flour, ¼ cup salt, 3 Tbsp. cream of tartar, 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil, food coloring of your choice.

Mix water, 1 cup of flour, cream of tartar, vegetable oil, salt, and food coloring in a pot (medium-sized).
Cook over medium heat and stir continuously (the mixture should begin to boil and start to get a chunky texture). Continue stirring until the play dough forms a ball in the center of the pot.
Once the ball is completely formed, place it on a lightly floured surface. It is going to be HOT, so flatten it out and let it cool for a few minutes before you try handling it.
Knead the remaining flour into the ball of play dough until it’s the consistency you want.
Store the play dough in a plastic container or bag. Once removing it, knead it to get it back to the consistency you want.

How to Make Insulating Play Dough

You’ll need: 1½ cups of flour, ½ cup sugar, 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil, ½ cup distilled water (regular tap water will not give your dough as high a resistance).

Mix 1 cup flour, sugar, and vegetable oil in a large bowl.
Mix in about 1 Tbsp. of distilled water and stir. Repeat until most of the water is absorbed by the dough mixture.
Knead the dough into a lump/ball.
Continue adding water and kneading until the dough takes on a sticky texture.
Knead the remaining ½ cup flour into the dough until it reaches the texture/consistency you want.
Store the play dough in a plastic container or bag. Once removing it, knead it to get it back to the consistency you want.

Play dough made this way should last for several weeks, so you can get plenty of use out of it in that time.

This particular activity is simple and fun, and it does a great job of turning a more complex topic into an easily digestible, hands-on project. You can refer to the Thomas Lab at the University of St. Thomas’ how-to guide to see how to build all kinds of different circuits with your homemade play dough.

Once your student has built a few circuits, we’d love to hear your feedback about the experience!

Importance of Positive Adult Role Models

Christy Lamb — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:00:00 GMT

What adult role models does your teenager have? Would you say these people have made an impact on his or her life? In what ways?

My name is Christy Lamb, and I am an online high school assistant principal at Ohio Connections Academy. Teachers typically serve as important role models for many students. However, teachers are not the only individuals who are qualified to serve as positive adult influences in a student’s life. An adult role model can also be a coach, counselor, social worker, minister, neighbor, boss, or family friend. It can be anyone who comes into contact with the student on a regular basis and takes an interest in his or her well-being.

Most people believe that having positive role models in a young adult’s life can make a big impact. These role models can help students make healthy choices, and those choices can increase their chances of having a successful life.

Often, these role models don’t have to do anything that significant, because many teenagers just want someone to listen to them, and occasionally offer advice. They also want someone who will:

Encourage them to pursue their passions
Listen to their opinions and stories without judging
Provide insight when asked/needed
Remind them that they are not alone
Help them explore college and career options
Teach social skills

All of these things can be accomplished by any adult who takes the time to care.

I recently surveyed a combination of 137 tenth and eleventh grade online high school students to see just how important role models were to them, and I asked them several important questions:

How important is it for a high school student to have a positive role model in his or her life?
Do you have a positive role model (other than your parents) in your life?
What do you need an adult role model for?

The answers were very telling. The vast majority—79 percent—said that it is extremely important for a high school student to have that positive adult role model, and 82 percent believed they currently had one. As for what purpose that role model served, 73 percent of students said they wanted an adult role model to say encouraging words to them.

These online high school students didn’t see the adults in their lives as nuisances. Instead, they saw them as true role models who served as sources of encouragement, sounding boards, and friends. And, most important, they strongly believed they needed them there. Perhaps we can all give a little bit more to the young people in our lives. It would mean the world to them.

What do you think? How important are adult role models in your teenager’s life?

Holiday Crafts for Kids: Making Homemade Gift Wrapping Paper

Dan Reiner — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:00:00 GMT

What better way to make your and your children’s holiday gifts even more personal than by creating your own wrapping paper? With a few simple supplies and your kids’ imaginations, the outside of your holiday gifts can be just as meaningful as the thought put into the surprises inside.

Here’s what you will need:

Butcher (white) or Kraft (brown) paper (you can buy it in rolls at most craft stores)
Scissors
Drawing tools such as crayons, markers, and colored pencils
Glue (optional)
Additional craft supplies such as glitter, beads, feathers, lace (optional)

To get started, cut either butcher paper or Kraft paper into pieces that are large enough to cover the gifts you want to wrap. Then, break out the crayons, markers, colored pencils, and other drawing supplies—and let your children’s creativity go to work.

Have each child draw pictures, write words, or make designs on the paper. You may want to use their drawings to give hints about the gifts inside, or to identify who is getting each present. Your children can even write the lyrics to favorite holiday songs or use their own handprints. The sky is the limit here, so encourage them to be as creative as they want.

If your kids want to add a little more pizzazz to their homemade wrapping paper, they can glam it up with glitter, stickers, beads, feathers, and pretty much anything else they can get their hands on.

When it’s time to exchange gifts, the pictures, words, and memories shared on the wrapping paper will be sure to make the recipients smile. And, if removed carefully, your homemade wrapping paper can even serve as a unique holiday keepsake!

Of course this is just one idea to get you started. There are many ways to wrap your gifts to add a personal touch this holiday season. If you’re looking for a few more examples, this website has tons of great suggestions. Let us know other ways you like to personalize presents!

Four Reasons I Switched from Homeschooling to Virtual School

Kim McConnell — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:00:00 GMT

As a former homeschooler, there were a few things on my mind when I considered switching to a virtual school. Here are some of the unique benefits of a virtual school program that contributed to my decision to switch.

Reason #1: Virtual school provides a comprehensive curriculum.

Not having to worry about figuring out which curriculum to use was a big relief. The challenge for me when homeschooling was coming up with a curriculum. I would spend hours searching catalogs and reading reviews of the latest resources for homeschool use, but I was never really certain what would best serve my student. However, if your child attends a public online school, you don’t have to pay tuition, which also means that there is no cost for the curriculum. This can be a huge money saver for homeschool parents, as curriculum materials can be expensive.

Reason #2: In a virtual school, teaching is the job of a certified teacher.

While homeschooling, it became frustrating when my children no longer accepted my praise or constructive advice on papers. They felt that since I was their mom, I had to say it was good or to do it over. That loss of credibility was one of the factors that led me to believe that an outside educator providing feedback on my children’s written work would be a better option.

A virtual charter school program gives you access to certified teachers who provide instruction, grading, and support through real-time classroom sessions, email correspondence, and telephone conversations. Parents don’t have to create their own lesson plans, grade tests, or do the actual teaching. In other words, I no longer had to wear the teacher hat all the time, yet I still got to be involved in the learning experience with my children.

Reason #3: Virtual school provides grade-level appropriate learning materials.

The idea of having a prepared curriculum that matched the specific needs of my students was a plus. I was always second-guessing my lesson plans and became frustrated by my insecurity. The opportunity to work with dedicated teachers to create customized learning plans that fit my child’s unique educational needs, complemented with cutting-edge online instructional tools that engage students and assist in their learning important concepts, makes for a truly personalized and engaging educational experience!

Reason #4: Virtual school offers structure and flexibility.

Virtual school offers a highly accountable structure mapped out for each semester, including assignment due dates and a standard grading system. Still, families have the flexibility to create a nontraditional daily school schedule.

I felt that attending online school from home was a more efficient use of time, allowing my children to participate in the things they loved and accomplish their academic goals—on a schedule that worked best for them and the entire family.

Have you ever wanted to switch your child from homeschooling to a virtual school? Let us know what’s on your mind when thinking about making the switch.

Celebrate Computer Science Education Week

Dan Reiner — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 10:00:00 GMT

Kids really can do the most extraordinary things. As a parent, you’ve undoubtedly caught yourself thinking, “Wow, when did my child learn to do that?”

Computer science skills enhance the things your children are capable of achieving. Some use them in really impressive ways, like Thomas Suarez, the 12-year-old who developed apps for the iPhone,^® iPod Touch,^® and iPad.^® You and your kids can enjoy watching Thomas speak about his apps in this truly inspirational video!

No matter how your kids use it, having a solid understanding of computer science is hugely important in today’s technology-centered world. Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) was created with this idea in mind. This event takes place from December 4th through 10th. To get involved, you and your online learners can try some of these fun activities:

Have your child create a skit or commercial that highlights how computer education has changed his or her life. This can include education-based things like, “I can go to class without ever leaving the house,” or everyday uses such as “I can look up the weather to see if we can go to the park to play.”
Do some quick online reading about prominent computer scientists, and have everyone in the family choose whom they relate to best. It’s a time-friendly, fun way to learn more about the people who shaped computer science throughout the years—and you might learn something new about your family members, too. Who knew that mom always thought she’d be great at creating robots?
Brush up on your magic skills. Yes, you read that correctly. Computer Science Unplugged, a website that contributes to CSEdWeek, explains a card flip magic trick you can do with your kids to enhance their understanding of how computers work. In addition to being fun, it helps explain how computers determine when errors occur in their data storage systems. The trick is easy to do, so once you impress your kids with it, you can teach them how to do it too. (Find the instructions on pages 32-33 of this PDF)
Find out if there are any CSEd events going on in your area. Events are going on all over the country, from workshops and contests to demonstrations, presentations, and celebrations. Visit the events page and enter your ZIP code to see if there are any near you.

If you have older students attending online high school, the CSEd website has tons of great resources that can help them explore computer science from a higher-education and career-based standpoint. Check out the whole list here.

Having a solid computer science education can help give your kids a real advantage in life! Take this week to learn a few new things about computer science. Maybe you and your children will even discover new ways to use it in your everyday lives.

The Role of Parent vs. That of Online Learning Coach

Kim McConnell — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 10:00:00 GMT

When your child whines, “Mom, please just solve this one math problem for me!” how do you answer? As a parent, you might really want to just relieve your child’s stress and anxiety by providing the answer, but as a Learning Coach, you know the math problem must be solved by the student. So, what are the keys to smoothly shifting from a parent-child relationship to a Learning Coach-student relationship? Throughout my years of homeschooling and virtual schooling, I have found that discipline and communication are critical. It’s so important to set clear rules and boundaries in order to establish a cooperative and joyful household.

Create and discuss your rules at the beginning of school and review them periodically throughout the year to keep students focused on completing schoolwork successfully at home.

Here are some rules that have worked for me and that might help you with establishing a winning school-at-home routine too:

Consistently be the Learning Coach during the school day.
Let your students know that besides being their mom or dad, you are also the Learning Coach and that you will answer any questions and help the best you can while they are working on their virtual school lessons. However, be careful to not give away answers or solve entire problems for them. Instead, help your child become an autonomous online learner.
Be clear about rules and consequences.
If your child previously attended a different school, ask him or her to tell you some of the rules, and then determine for yourself whether or not those would work well at home. Then add more rules specifically for your own student. Consequences are an essential tool, especially after a warning or two. Children do well and know they are loved if there are boundaries. Consistent consequences will help them learn what is expected of them. If you have a bad day, and you probably will, take time at the end of the day to reflect and think about the changes and modifications you need to make. It may also help you to note these types of insights in your own “Learning Coach journal,” for future reference and reflection.
Set goals and celebrate successes.
In the beginning of the year, sit down as a family and make a list of positive reasons for using an online school. List how it will enhance your child’s education and well-being, as well as the role you can play in his or her character formation. During the year as you achieve successes, write them down in your journal so if you are ever ready to pull your hair out, you can reflect upon why you chose to educate at home, your student’s academic milestones, and the many cherished moments you shared together as a family. That always got me back on track.
Ask for respect.
Being a parent and Learning Coach can be challenging. Keep in mind that your child is probably going to test you, especially in the beginning. I always asked my children to give me the same respect that they would give to their absolute favorite teacher. This type of clear communication, and setting proper expectations, is key.
Allow time for breaks.
I didn’t stick to any certain amount of time or frequency. I usually went by how my children were doing—and, if they were mentally worn out, I let them take a much needed break.
Rewards are great so long as the lessons are complete.
There will probably be times when your student requests a break because he or she doesn’t like the task at hand. Incentives to work toward, like rewards or breaks, really motivated my children in the long run.
Don’t procrastinate.
If a lesson proves to be too difficult one day, don’t push it off further than the next day so your student doesn’t fall too far behind.
No schoolwork without a good breakfast.
Sticking to a morning routine was important for me and we all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. So if your student has chosen to get up and start school early, make sure he or she has eaten a good breakfast first.
No phone calls during lessons, unless they are with the teacher.
Keep your cool.
As a parent, you probably have an emotional investment in your child’s education, but you may not have the professional distance that a teacher would have. Keeping your cool can involve counting to ten, changing to a different lesson, or simply putting off a lesson until the next day. Remember that you have your student’s teachers to back you up. If your student doesn’t want to do an activity, ask him or her to call the teacher to express these feelings. That usually puts things in perspective.

Share any questions you might have, or any approaches you have taken to establish a clear boundary line between being a parent and filling the role of an online Learning Coach!

Fun Activities to Teach Students to Be Thankful

Dan Reiner — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:00:00 GMT

Many of us get increasingly busy around the holidays, and we sometimes forget to take a moment to reflect on the many things we have to be thankful for. So here are some fun, simple ways to work thankfulness into your family’s schedule. These activities not only provide the opportunity to show thankfulness, but also they might even become new family traditions!

To help get your creativity and thankful thoughts flowing, here are three of my favorite activities:

Time to Be Thankful Placemats. What better time to bring out your family’s inner thankfulness than when you’re gathered around the dinner table together? Making placemats that remind you of the many reasons to give thanks is a fun activity to start the holiday season off right. Students who enjoy art projects tend to be especially excited about this activity. It gives them a unique canvas to work on and lots of resources to draw inspiration from.
How: Use two pieces of standard-sized construction paper, taped side-by-side. Then start getting creative! Have your family members print photos from the computer, cut out pictures from magazines, look for words and sayings that mean something special, or even draw pictures by hand. Put it all together in a collage format and add each person’s name and the year on it. Once you get them laminated, they become meaningful placements you can use for years to come. Bon appétit!

Chain of Thanks. Families who are short on time or don’t always have the opportunity to get together all at once will love this one. By putting paper chains together over time, you create fun, homemade holiday decorations that also teach your students to recognize all the little reasons they have to give thanks.
How: Cut a bunch of strips of colorful construction paper. Then, every time something happens that a family member is thankful for, have them write it down on one of the strips. Encourage thankful thoughts both small and large. Include everything from “I’m thankful I can learn my lessons in my pajamas” to “I give thanks every time Grandma comes to visit.” Then connect the strips together as loops and hang the chains around the house as festive decorations.

The Gratitude Book. Create a book (photo albums or scrapbooks work great) that catalogues the people, places, and things your family is thankful for. You can leave it on your coffee table all year round, or bring it out on holidays and special occasions as a reminder of just how much there is in your life for which to be grateful. Feel free to have family members work on it little by little, or sit down on a Saturday afternoon and create it together.
How: Choose a book you want to fill, and include anything and everything your family finds special and meaningful. This can be people, places, recipes, movies, stories, special memories, and more. Feel free to include photos, stories, descriptions, and anything else that makes you happy.

The holidays give us a great opportunity to embrace the spirit of thankfulness, and these fun, simple activities will help get you started. Share your own holiday traditions and special ways to show thanks!

Creating an Effective Online Learning Environment at Home

Kim McConnell — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:00:00 GMT

My name is Kim McConnell, and this is my first blog post of tips, tricks, and recommendations regarding how to map out your personal plan for successful learning in an online education environment. As a parent of four children, I had the opportunity to home school my kids for five years, and I was an online Learning Coach for another five years. Now I am an online teacher at a Pennsylvania cyber school. Through my experiences, I’ve learned what it takes to keep online students motivated and help them succeed, from both a parent’s and an educator’s perspective.

When kids in grades K–12 begin attending an online school, what can you do to help them thrive when learning online?

One of the most important things you can do is create a positive and supportive learning environment. To accomplish this, consider the following suggestions:

Concentrate on learning. Having clutter-free workspaces is important for your child’s concentration (and your sanity). Removing distractions and creating spaces where your child can be comfortable learning each play a big role in how peaceful the entire educational process feels—for both of you.

Be flexible. No matter how focused your child is, there are going to be certain days when the proposed study plan isn’t working. Maybe a particularly tricky math concept is causing frustration, or perhaps a writing assignment has really left your child stumped. In these cases, stay flexible and don’t hesitate to make any necessary adjustments. Switch subjects, let your child work on his or her favorite subject for a while, or even initiate a spontaneous 30-minute backyard break. Deviating from the plan can sometimes be the best thing you can do to maintain your child’s motivation.

Stay positive. When your child is frustrated or annoyed, your positivity will be soothing and encouraging. Without positive parental backup, younger online learners, especially, may lose their motivation and slack off from their work.

Identify what’s working, and get rid of what’s not. Have your students make a list of the things they like and dislike about attending online school. Sit down together and go over the list, and come up with solutions to the “dislikes” wherever possible.

Keep a Learning Coach journal. Consider keeping track of the strategies you’ve tried, so you can quickly reference what has worked and what hasn’t from your own Learning Coach experiences. You may find that your earlier writings inspire you later down the road.

Maintain open lines of communication. This means really listening to what your child wants, as well as making sure you clearly outline your own expectations. Both you and your child have to be comfortable with being honest when something isn’t working, and then you’ll be able to propose new solutions.

I hope these tips will help you in your Learning Coach journey. What strategies are you applying so far to help your child learn more effectively from home?

Tips and Tricks to Establishing Online Learning Routines

Dan Reiner — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 09:00:00 GMT

What’s your morning routine? Do you allow your kids to stay in their pajamas, or do you make an effort to have them get dressed as part of getting ready for the online school day? PJs or not, one key to helping your student succeed in an online learning environment is establishing routines.

Here are a few strategies that experienced Learning Coaches have used to create manageable routines for their online school days:

Set a schedule—and stick to it. One major benefit of online schools is that your child can learn anywhere, anytime; however, he or she still needs routine and structure to succeed. Designate certain times as learning times, and make sure your student is productive during those times. If you notice that your student treats schoolwork with more of a laid-back attitude when staying in his or her pajamas, consider a PJ day as an occasional reward.
Don’t confine learning to a desk. Because online schools allow your child to learn anywhere, take advantage of this! If you spend lots of time in the car driving your children to extracurricular activities, designate that time as learning time. If your child loves visiting the local library, have him or her bring a few lessons along to complete there. Heading to a grandparent’s house for the weekend? Spend the ride doing multiplication tables, spelling drills, trivia challenges, and other activities.
Give everything a place. When you have the option to learn anywhere, your supplies can end up everywhere. One way to tackle this problem is by having designated storage bins for each subject. When your child works on that subject, he or she takes what’s needed from that specific bin, and then returns it when assignments are complete. This should become part of the daily routine, as it will help your student stay organized.
Remember to schedule mealtimes. These can really eat up a lot of time during the day if they aren’t planned well. One great idea for lunch is to give your online learners “recess” time beforehand. That will provide them a chance to burn off some energy while you put the meal together, and afterwards they can feel refreshed and get back to work.
Schedule a day in advance. Make sure every day is scheduled the night before or earlier, so your child knows exactly what he or she will be working on ahead of time. Prioritization is key for online learning success, especially when students are young or easily distracted.

Are PJs part of your student’s daily attire, or do you feel that getting dressed makes a difference in his or her performance during school hours? Let us know what daily school routines work for your family!

What to Do if You Suspect Cyberbullying

Dan Reiner — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Most of us are familiar with the stereotypical schoolyard bully, but bullies don’t limit themselves just to school playgrounds. With the growth in online communications, cyberbullies can now use email, text messaging, chat rooms, and other online forums to harass others. Has your child been subjected to cyberbulling? If so, would he or she tell you about it?

Cyberbullying affects everyone—the victim, the bully, and even bystanders. Oftentimes it’s difficult for children to talk about it or ask for help.

It’s hard to imagine that your child can be bullied without the bully being physically present. However, written words can have damaging effects. It is important that you and your child recognize and ultimately avoid these cyberbullying techniques:

Flame mail—Abusive email designed to enrage, normally copying the message to other people in order to create a spectacle. Flame mail is frequently used along with hate mail that shows racism, sexism, or other prejudices.
Text messages—Bullies use text messaging to harass victims from a distance. As with flame mail, the bully may even copy his or her entire address book to spread rumors or embarrassing images.
Online forums—Bulletin boards, chat rooms, and social networking sites are used to publicize disparaging comments and humiliate the target. Some cyberbullies even build websites dedicated to tormenting the targeted individual.

iSafe.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and empowering youth to safely and responsibly use information and communications technologies, has developed several programs to raise awareness about Internet safety. Here are some of their recommendations to help deal with cyberbullies, play it safe online, and be good cybercitizens.

Handling Cyberbullies

A child’s psyche is fragile during the early childhood and adolescent years, and a direct attack from a cyberbully can have disastrous effects. Here are some guidelines to help stop the cyberbully:

First and foremost, teach your child how important it is to tell a trusted adult immediately if he or she is being harassed, rather than keeping it a secret.
Next, do not engage the bully. Tell your kids not to open or read a cyberbully’s messages. Your child may be curious, and defending himself or herself is a natural reaction. However, responding to the bully only perpetuates the torment. If the bullying is associated with your school, report it to authorities at the school.
If advances persist, keep all messages to document the bully’s actions. Instruct your child to save the messages in a separate folder for easy access.
Protect your child and get help. Tell your child to never agree to meet anyone in person. If the bullying is occurring through chat, instant messaging, or text messaging, contact the proper authorities. Often, a bully can be blocked from those sites or from your telephone number. If your child is threatened with physical harm, inform the local police immediately.

Prevention

Implement some of these cyber-safe techniques to make things difficult for a cyberbully:

Don’t give out personal information. Encourage your child to avoid exchanging email addresses or phone numbers with anyone online without your permission. Always double-check your child’s privacy settings so only people in his or her contact list can send a message, call, or send an instant message (IM). A bully has a hard time targeting your child if he or she doesn’t have any ammunition.
Have your child delete messages from people he or she doesn’t know or that seem angry or mean. Bullying can’t occur if it’s not allowed to start.
Tell your kids to use their instincts while on the Internet and immediately end any interaction that seems suspicious. If something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t.
If you allow your child to use social networking sites like Facebook, learn about safety tips provided by the site.
Monitor your kids’ online interactions. Common Sense Media makes it easy with concrete, age-appropriate advice. Visit http://www.commonsensemedia.org/cyberbullying for more information.

Netiquette

One of the best defenses against cyberbullying is using netiquette—that is, etiquette on the Internet. Some netiquette tips to discuss with your child are:

Display good manners. Encourage your child to use the same manners online that are expected at home. Be polite, and others will tend to do the same.
Think twice before you write. If your child keeps a low profile online, the chances of cyberbullying will be lower.
Words have power; use them wisely. When communicating online, the person on the other end of the conversation doesn’t have the benefit of visual cues, such as facial expressions, to help interpret the intended meaning. Consider these tips to help ensure that you’re understood:

Think about the subject line and message when writing emails, and whether the content could offend the recipient. If so, rewrite it.
Using all capital letters is considered yelling in online dialogues. Use all capital letters in moderation.
The tone of your conversation should be calm.
Don’t use offensive language or call someone names.
Take turns talking. Don’t flood the chat room with repeated messages or gibberish. This will impede conversation between others.
Use emoticons—icons that represent emotions—to help express feelings in writing and prevent misinterpretation of the tone of your message.

Talk to your kids about cyberbullying. And please share any other tips you have found effective for avoiding and dealing with cyberbullies.

No One Should Have to Fear Going to School

Dan Reiner — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Thousands of kids across the country are afraid to go to school because of a bully. In honor of National Bullying Prevention Month, I’d like to share some exceptional online resources for educating your family about the serious impacts of bullying. Even if you are fortunate enough to never have experienced or witnessed a bullying incident, it’s never too late to help your children take a stand against the destructive forces of bullying.

One extremely talented and previously bullied student who now attends Connections Academy, Gabbie Rae, feels so strongly about ending bullying that she is using her amazing voice and music video to help spread awareness. As you talk to your kids about this important topic, you can start the conversation off with this catchy tune and its powerful message:

Having trouble seeing? Try going directly to YouTube.

Below are some helpful resources for educating kids of all ages about recognizing and preventing bullying:

StopBullying.gov: provides helpful information from various government agencies on how kids, teens, young adults, parents, educators, and others in the community can prevent or stop bullying. You can learn what bullying is, how to recognize the signs of it, and how to get help.
Girl Wars: provides information about relational aggression and suggests different ways to stop female bullying. You can read case studies, watch role-play scenarios, and help your child develop strategies for ending relational aggression and pursuing positive relationships with peers.
Defeat the Label: a collection of social advocacy tools to help you take a stand and put a stop to bullying in your environment.
Teen Line: operated by teens, for teens, this website promotes a confidential telephone helpline that runs every evening from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. PST. If you have a bullying problem or just want to talk with another teen who understands, this is a great resource.
PACER National Bullying Prevention Center: you can use these unique digital resources that address bullying in creative, relevant, and interactive ways to engage with and educate others about the impact of bullying:

Free creative activities: for K-12 students, to raise awareness of and understanding about how to respond to bullying.
PACER Center’s Kids against Bullying: this website is made just for kids and explains bullying in ways that younger children can understand. It also provides activities and resources to teach them how to appropriately respond to it.

Cartoon Network’s “Stop Bullying Speak Up”: compiles video clips, pictures, tip sheets, and polls related to bullying. Network actors speak up about bullying issues and talk about the benefits of taking appropriate action in these situations
Education.com – Bullying at School and Online: an extensive collection of resources for children, parents, and teachers about how to identify bullying, spread the word about its negative consequences, and work together to stop its effects.

It’s never too early to start talking about bullying, and it’s incredibly important to give kids the resources they need to take a stand. So go ahead and start the discussion today. Help your children learn that it’s never okay to hurt people’s feelings. As Gabbie Rae says, “Bullying is so out of style!”

Virtual School and Working Parents: Ways to Make It Work

Peggy Barnholt — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 09:00:00 GMT

One of the questions parents often ask me is, “Can children attend a virtual school if both parents work outside the home?”

The answer is, It depends on the grade level of your student. The Learning Coach plays a key role in the elementary years, and for kids in elementary school it’s recommended that someone is available for guidance full time. As the student becomes a more autonomous online learner, he or she will need less supervision in middle school—and online high school students are usually able to succeed independently.

However, stay-at-home parents are not the only ones who are capable of serving as Learning Coaches for children attending online schools. There can be more than one designated Learning Coach. Another responsible adult can help facilitate daily lessons and assignments, or you can share Learning Coach responsibilities with your partner who supports your student while you are away from home. Some working parents are on different work schedules and each can spend time with the students—one in the morning, the other in the afternoon.

Even if you cannot arrange for such assistance, depending on your child’s age you can develop an arrangement with some creativity and flexibility on everyone’s part. Below are a few suggestions for how you can potentially make this arrangement work:

Plan your child’s learning schedule around your work schedule. Make sure the activities that require the most support and input from you are done during the times you’re home. Designate your working hours for independent reading and subjects your child has an easier time digesting.

Utilize to-do lists. Without clearly defined to-do lists, your child has a higher likelihood of becoming distracted or straying from his or her studies. Leave clear instructions for the times you are out of the house, and make sure assignments are completed as required.

Make use of planning tools. Online school planning tools can help you integrate your family calendar with your student’s lesson scheduler. Get your child used to managing the planner early. This way he or she never misses a chance to work with the teachers, whether it is by attending all scheduled online classroom sessions or going to teachers’ office hours.

Be flexible. There may be times when your child is not able to complete something without your support. Set aside another time to work on that assignment, and encourage your child to continue working on the things that come more easily to him or her when you are not readily available.

For full-time working parents, evenings and weekends are usually the best times to dedicate to being a hands-on Learning Coach. For part-time workers, it may be mornings, afternoons, or evenings that work best.

Remember to plan ahead so that you can either take time off from work or flex your personal schedule so your student can attend social activities like field trips and complete required state testing.

Take advantage of teachers and peers. In many virtual schools, certified teachers work one-on-one with you and your child to develop an individualized learning plan and provide extra assistance on your schedule. Take advantage of this resource and encourage your child to get in contact with his or her teacher for extra help.

School discussion boards, real-time classroom conversations, and email communications are all ways your child can interact with other students. If you aren’t there to help, encourage your child to go through these methods when trying to solve a problem or complete a tricky assignment.

Virtual schools make it possible for working parents to take an active part in their children’s education because online learning provides flexibility. It isn’t easy to do (especially with younger students), but with dedication and flexibility, I’ve seen it work for some families. Children can learn on their own schedule, which in some cases may also work around their parents’ schedule, utilizing all seven days of the week for educational purposes. Remember that usually assignments can be submitted at any hour of the day or night!

Are you a working parent whose child is currently attending a virtual school? What strategies have worked best for you? What advice do you have for working parents who are thinking about taking this step?