School at Home/Virtual Schooling?

Are you interested in Virtual Schooling? Well I’ve gone the gamut when it comes to educating your child; public, charter and private. Had the private schools in my area not shut down en masse, this blog would not be written. After my eldest son’s first year in high school, the private schools began to close and the merry go round search began again. Fortunately for my younger two, the public school they attended (which was my old elementary school) had a dynamic principal. All was well until Detroit’s emergency financial manager began merging elementary and middle schools together. My boys were in elementary school at the time and let me be frank with you, when THEY told me that the kids in the school were bad I got concerned. So I spent the summer going over my options. I began researching the idea of homeschooling and the more I studied, the more impressed I became. I settled on two concerns that some of you may have as well. The first was the curriculum.

1. How in the world would I choose it? 

2. What did they need to learn from it?

3.  How to verify that they were learning subject material for their age group.

The second concern was:

1. How would I teach the material (my patience is low and my math is elementary).

2. Would I have the discipline to stick with it? I flourish with short term projects.

The more I thought about it, the more I was convinced that I was on the right path. However, having two minor boys and a small budget was daunting for me as I erroneously thought that I would have to pay outright for a homeschooling program. I prayed to the Lord that if this was the path I was to follow then He would have to make a way financially. Later on in the day, I ran across a recommendation for k12. After much research, I realized my prayers were answered. As a curriculum provider, parents do not have to worry about what courses to choose. Just like a regular brick and mortar school, the program is outlined and prepared for the students. Your son or daughter is given an assessment at the beginning of the year to determine their level. Homeroom teachers are provided and the students are able to interact in a virtual classroom with their teacher and other students. My children attend a Virtual Charter Academy (just like a brick and mortar charter school) which means they receive public funds. We were able to receive a loaner computer, internet stipend (paid twice a yr) and all of the books and materials (microscope/slides/germs) needed for a full year. I invested in pencils, pens, and binders, paper, and macaroni noodles and visited the library for two different reading assignments that my youngest had. In that instance, the children were given an optional reading list which was so vast that I understood why the books weren’t provided. One of the books was in our home library and the other we retrieved with no problem at our public library. No uniforms were needed, winter coats/boots, dues and fees. I cleared off a shelf in our home, had another computer so they would not have to debate over time and began our school year.

Next time we’ll talk about state testing and personal insights about my children and our household.