By: Tiffany Ludwig, FLVS Elementary Teacher

Have you ever wondered if your child could be successful taking online courses? Maybe you have enrolled your son or daughter with Florida Virtual School (FLVS), but now what? Embarking on an online schooling journey can be, and probably is, life-changing.

If your child is currently enrolled with FLVS Flex Elementary or you’re considering online learning for his or her education, I've put together some must-know tips to get the most out of your FLVS experience.

Prepare for Success

This may seem obvious, but it is very important to make sure you have the right tools for your child to succeed when learning virtually. You will want to make sure you have the following:

A clean and organized workspace
It is beneficial to have a clean and organized workspace dedicated to school. This area should limit distractions and be conducive to learning.

A laptop or desktop
Chromebooks, iPads, tablets, and smartphones offer limited functionality in our program. While your child will be able to do minimal work using these devices, it is recommended that content be presented to a student on a laptop or desktop. A speaker (built-in or external), a headset, and a webcam may be additional computer accessories that will make Class Time and your child’s learning experience much more enjoyable.

Printer 
It is highly suggested that your child has convenient access to a printer. There is no need to print everything; however, your child will greatly benefit from being able to print worksheets to complete that will be submitted for a grade.

Spiral notebook(s) for taking notes 
We want to encourage good study habits and in doing so, we recommend your child have a spiral notebook to take notes in as they move through the lessons for each course.

Portfolio 
Use a teacher crate, bin, or binder(s) to house all the work your child completes to document their progress. This may be provided to your school district depending upon your county’s homeschool evaluation requirements at the end of the year. A 3-hole punch is a good idea if you choose to house your child’s work in a binder.

 

Hit the Ground Running

Before being activated, your child’s teacher will reach out to complete a Welcome Call with you and your child by phone. This is the perfect time to ask any questions, give the teacher any pertinent information about your child, learn how to find your way around within the course, and set a successful pace. As soon as your child is placed in a course, he or she will be able to explore the curriculum and start submitting assignments.

Get Organized

Need help getting organized, planning your schedule, or setting goals for your student? Talk with your teacher if you are having difficulty finding a groove.

Remember, “no pace” is not a pace. Your child needs to make continual progress to master new concepts and material. Each student must submit work at least once every seven days. After seven days of not submitting work, your family may receive a concerned call from the teacher with suggestions and support for helping your child get back to work. Remember, our teachers are here to help and want your child to be successful. They can offer success plans and answer questions to help get your child back on track and working successfully.

Set a Schedule

If you or your child are feeling a bit overwhelmed, talking to your teacher should be your first course of action! Setting a schedule and sticking to it will also help. 

Following a daily schedule is a best practice for successful online education. If your child is a traditional school student who is taking individual courses, you should expect them to be working 1-2 hours per week per subject, depending on the course and weekly content.  

Below, you will see a sample weekly schedule for fifth grade students who are enrolled in multiple courses. If you are enrolled in segment 1, you will begin in lessons 1.01. Segment 2 students will start later in the courses. Please know that you can create an individualized schedule that fits your family’s needs.

Communicate with your Teacher

Partnership between you, your child, and your FLVS Flex Elementary teacher is imperative for success. Aside from parents, your child’s teacher is the biggest supporter for your student. Maintaining regular communication with them will greatly benefit your online educational experience and help to ensure your child’s success.

Online education is certainly not something to jump into without thought or planning.  As you know, there are many things to consider when beginning this journey, like how to structure your days, whether or not to find and join a local co-op for homeschooled students, and which courses to choose. We are very glad you have chosen FLVS Flex Elementary to serve your family’s educational goals. We can’t wait to continue serving each family to help all students reach their educational potential.

About the author:  Tiffany Ludwig, Elementary Program Lead Teacher, has taught multiple grade levels at both private and public schools. She joined FLVS in 2011 as a 7th grade math instructor. After becoming a Lead Teacher for 8th grade Pre-Algebra, she eventually found her way back to elementary students, joining the 5th grade team. She loves helping students explore what kind of people they would like to grow to be.