We are an online schooling family. Yep, you heard that right. I have been teaching in the online world for more than ten years. And our first grader and fifth grader? Yep! They attend an online school too. While it definitely isn’t traditional, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
People Think We Are Weird
When I tell people that we chose online school for our children, reactions are varied. Some people are concerned, suggesting that our sons need to be able to socialize with other students. Others are curious, wanting to know why we chose online school rather than a traditional brick-and-mortar school for our sons. Still others have no idea what online learning looks like, and they simply have a hard time wrapping their brains around it all.
A Teacher’s Perspective
I am a career educator. I have been teaching English and Social Studies in both the traditional and online classrooms since 2005. I have worked in hard-to-staff schools, and I have worked in private schools with celebrity families. There are a few takeaways that I want to share from all of my time spent in education:
- While students do socialize in school, that is not the main goal. The goal is to learn and grow.
- School today is not the same as it was when we are in school.
- In many classrooms, teachers spend so much time on classroom management, that learning takes a backseat.
- Traditional classrooms are not always best for all students.
- Online schools provide an awesome opportunity for students to focus on learning, in an environment where they feel safe and comfortable.
What Didn’t Work
We have tried a traditional school for our children. It quickly became clear that it just wasn’t going to be a good fit for either of our sons. Our littles had always been home with me, and going to school caused a great deal of anxiety–for everyone!
We gave homeschooling a try, as well, but I couldn’t keep up with the boys. My oldest was flying through the curriculum so quickly, and I was struggling to find things to keep him engaged. My younger son was picking things up so quickly that he was becoming bored and disinterested.
My dilemma was this: A good education is a non-negotiable in our home. We needed to find an option that would keep our sons engaged, provide a safe space for them to learn and grow and, most importantly, would preserve their love for learning.
What Is Working Now
We have been so lucky to find amazing online schools, first in Colorado and now in Southern California, that have allowed our sons to flourish and shine. And I am always eager to share the benefits of online learning with other parents who are interested, or at least curious, about what online learning is, and how it works. I’ll be sharing more about our school choices and how we found the right fit in a future post.
The Joys of Online Learning
For now, I’ll just sing its praises. Online school has meant:
- Our sons can focus on learning in the comfort of our home.
- Individualized education, and teachers who are responsive to the unique needs of their students.
- Unbelievable academic growth and success for both of our sons, in very different ways!
- Play. Lots and lots of play. When school is done, they get to be kids!
- I get to be more engaged with what they are learning, and I get to provide support when they need me.
And, it is important to note that online school isn’t the same as homeschooling—our sons have credentialed teachers, assignments, live class sessions, and grading, just like a traditional school.
As this blog grows, I am excited to share more about online learning. I have so many tips and tricks to support young learners in the virtual setting. And I bring a unique perspective, as I am an online educator too!
What questions do you have about online school? I’d love to answer them in a future post!
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