k12/Virtual Academy Thread, Fall 2011

[elanorh]

ETA: 

So many new folks have recently joined this thread I thought it would be best to just re-title the thread and get going on the Fall 2011 stuff (that way no one gets lost). 

Fall 2011 posts begin at the bottom of this first page of the thread and grow from there. 

**
Older post:  Just checking in with the virtual schoolers -- it's been pretty quiet here!  We are cruising along -- dd1 is not enjoying phonics at all, and is a really good reader - she struggles more with spelling and handwriting, so I think it's time to move past phonics and get into those areas more specifically.  I'm planning to blast through the phonics and just do our own spelling/handwriting for the rest of the year.  She wants to bust through it too!  Anyone have a second grader in k12 who is doing phonics this year (I can't find phonics listed as a second grade course, but they don't list it for K or 1 either, and it's certainly part of the curriculum for that!).  

Edited by elanorh - 8/27/11 at 9:38am

[octobermom]

 Hey. We will be starting my 8 year old Monday in the AZ K12 program. Her school supplies arrived yesterday and she is pretty excited. No computer yet which I though we were getting.. But we do have one obviously...  Anyways my DD is in the second grade as well but I'm not sure how much phonics we will be doing yet. She deffiently struggles with that though my DD has apraxia its minor and overall you can really NOT tell anymore EXCEPT in phonics its jsut not how her brain works even though she is great at reading and spelling.

deanna

[kittie313]

*sneaking in and peeking cautiously*

After withdrawing my oldest two girls from OHVA back in October, I'm seriously considering enrolling my 3rd girl for K in the fall.  What can I say, I REALLY like k12.............  I miss the structure it gave us, and the accountability.  I'm still playing with the idea though, she's pretty fast to pick stuff up and would blow through phonics K and math K (and part of math 1 too to be honest).  I miss OHVA.............  but for this year independent is a much better choice for us I think.

[Smithie]

Hey, Cat! I remember you from Lydia's kindy year. My DS James was doing K12 kindy that year as well.

We are happily homeschooling without external structure this year, but we are also working towards getting a foster placement, and that child will need to be "public" schooled. Imagine my relief to remember that K12 counts! Hopefully we'll have a placement before the end of the school year and can enroll him in the virtual charter school.

[Scarlettmoon]

I've just recently found out about k12 virtual academy and am seriously considering it for my two daughters, 14, and 16.  I do have a question:  Can kids doing this program still take art, choir, pottery, etc. at local schools.  I read on another site that it was against k12's rules, but I cannot find anything regarding this on WYVA.  Can anyone help me with this?

Edited by Scarlettmoon - 1/3/11 at 8:10pm

[elanorh]

Glad you peeked in, Cat!   

Smithie, I'll be curious to hear how the virtual school while fostering works for you guys. 

Welcome!  To Deanna and Scarlettmoon! 

I didn't get a chance to ask Ina's teacher about phonics for 2nd grade today - she hasn't responded to my email but I suspect she is snowed under after the Christmas break. 

Scarlettmoon - I don't know about k12's policies in that area -- it seems to me that non-core subject areas (like art) should be flexible enough to cover that.  And I know that WYVA OK'd us having Ina take piano lessons in lieu of the k12 music lessons this year.  Ed Webster is the superintendent for WYVA - if you can get hold of him I'd hope he could answer your questions.  I don't have a number for him and our contacts are all via WYVA's email system (closed) so can't give you contact info, but maybe knowing his name would help when you are speaking with the k12 people??  Get names of the people you talk with so you have some documentation of who told you what, as you're asking these questions. 

[kittie313]

I don't know about WYVA, but I know that last school year I asked OHVA about that same thing, what if my girls wanted to take a class that the local PS offers that OHVA doesn't.  OHVA's answer was NO, that it would constitute enrollment in a second public school system and that it isn't allowed.  They can't participate in any of the local ps sports teams, band, etc. because they are school-sponsored programs and classes, and that requires at least PT enrollment in the school district or registration as a homeschooler within the district.  Since OHVA is a public school, I wasn't able to take advantage of any dual enrollment oppotrunities for my girls if they wanted to because it would be a violation of state law regarding enrollment and school funding.  Remember, the k12 schools are public schools too, so they get state funding just like your local city school district does based on how many kids there are enrolled.  If a student is enrolled in k12 (or another public virtual academy) and then also enrolled in the local ps for art class or band or something, then that makes two different districts getting funding for the same student.

Don't know if that applies to all states though, but it is what OHVA said to me when I asked.  This doesn't apply with private music or art lessons, just adding classes at the local PS. (I sent back the k12 music program last school year and this year both before we withdrew, replacing it with momma-taught piano and violin both times, now my 7yo is learning to read music and play Fur Elise)

[Hopefulmama]

We are still with PA Cyber. We love it so far. DC attends their "Art Reach" classes with other students once per week. That has been a big hit with her. I am impressed with the quality of

teaching and have met some really great parents as well. Does anyone have any experience with accelerated programs with PA Cyber? DD is in K-5 Little Lincoln. She is reading at a 3rd grade level so she is really bored with a lot of the stuff they are teaching like letter recognition and beginning phonics. Her math is at a 2nd grade level so she is bored with a lot of that. She does need more help with writing and spelling and she loves the science that she is learning. She seems like she needs more challenging reading and math but more time spent on writing and science. Any thoughts?

[octobermom]

 I haven't looked into how but I know for a fact we have some VA students that participate in local Band programs...

Deanna

[EXOLAX]

Originally Posted by elanorh 

Anyone have a second grader in k12 who is doing phonics this year (I can't find phonics listed as a second grade course, but they don't list it for K or 1 either, and it's certainly part of the curriculum for that!).  

Hey elanorh!  We have one doing 2nd grade Language Arts.  It's different from K and 1st (and 3rd + as well) in that it is listed as one course, "Language Arts". 1st grade is the last year for phonics and in 2nd they have an individual grammar book and weekly spelling lists all under the LA umbrella.  Mondays LA lesson might include a new spelling list, work in the grammar, usage and mechanics book, and reading.  Another day you might have review of spelling words, analogies and poetry writing.  It appears to me to be prep for 3rd grade where it becomes destranded into GUM, Composition, Spelling, and Literature.  But, no more phonics.  Those concepts are reviewed in the spelling lists.  

Hope that made sense!

[octobermom]

 I'm teaching a second grader as well.. So far no reach dirrect phonics.. Its a li ttle bit annoying because were starting mid semester but yet they want to start her at the begining.. Soo right now shes is way ahead of what they want. I've been honestly going though jsut askign enough questions to make sure its an area she has covered and then just marking the lessons complete.. Same with her Math I'm contacting her teacher soo we can hopefully move her up to a more appropiate level very soon.. On the Flip side since her last school was horrid in liek Science History ect we are enjoying the start lessons in those.

Deanna

[Scarlettmoon]

I did call the 800 number this morning, and the woman looked up specifics for Wyoming.  It sounds like there are no rules against them taking a couple classes as long as the schools here are allowing it.  I'm still going to get more information before making a final decision- I emailed the superintendent of schools this morning about it.  I'm just really hoping this all works out.  If it won't be k12, then I'll look into our other options.

[enjoythesilence]

Subbing. We are using k12 currently, because I sensed that my kiddos needed some stucture, though we are struggling with this new way of doing things. Did any of you struggle with k12 if you were very relaxed with homeschooling before? I wanted to give it a full school year, then re-evaluate, but I'm not sure it's a good fit for us. Can anyone relate?

  Definitely not trying to be negative, just need some perspective from those who have been there. One of my children has some attention/learning challenges, btw, and this may be at the heart of our issues.

[octobermom]

Originally Posted by enjoythesilence 

Subbing. We are using k12 currently, because I sensed that my kiddos needed some stucture, though we are struggling with this new way of doing things. Did any of you struggle with k12 if you were very relaxed with homeschooling before? I wanted to give it a full school year, then re-evaluate, but I'm not sure it's a good fit for us. Can anyone relate?

  Definitely not trying to be negative, just need some perspective from those who have been there. One of my children has some attention/learning challenges, btw, and this may be at the heart of our issues.

 Well I'm comming from the opposite.. A child who was in PS (and was excelling)  and now doing the VA but so far I've been quite pleased on how relaxed it is. Our days have gone something like this

8:30amish everyone is finially awake

breakfast (I make sure everyone eats well and isn't rushed)

morning "chores" about 20- 30 mintues where shes helps me and we get whatevver morning things done around the house

break about 30-45 mintues and tiem to make sure everyone is dressed baby is changed ect

finially start

DD picks her first lesson from her chart thats ready for her I teach just the objectives if shes can show me in 2-3 problems that she gets what a noun is or understands how to figure the missing number we go on I wont drill her for hours unless its desired we skip optional stuff listed.. We ussually sit and work out her Math and Language arts in one sitting and maybe1 hour total. She needs a drink sehs gets it hungry we get a snack needs to stretch we move to a couch or bed or the floor wants to read we move to literature feels like drawing we illistrate.. ect while I do have her focus on finishing what we started there is little she requests that can't be met..

free reading or study island time or games (related to her work) while I put the baby down for a nap

1-2 more subjects covered 

ussually done by noon.. Lunch nice and relaxed

  The days are also filled with games we do bannanagrams to practive spelling words, monoply and such for math, we invent silly scavanger hunts to reinforce Science and History.. (gather 6 grams of mini horses and place a pin in Cecilias favorite color over the captial of Italy ... Today we did groccery shopping and she answered questions like.. If daddy Mommy REALLY lile apples and want 1 each for 5 days but Cecilia only wants a little bit and the baby can only eat a little bit so they will share an apple for 5 days how many in all do we need.... VIOLA she got her math credits!

Or when we passed a huge hole.... with lots of dirt beside it

 what if the hole boss came by and said you need to measure  the mass of what was removed what could her use and how... (scales and balance and weighing dirt)

What if the dirt was all gone then what?  (volume and filling hole with water)

Viola we have done some science...

stuff like that....

Its quite relaxed

Deanna

[cbyrum]

We started the year with my 1st grader in CAVA and K'er in our local school. In November we brought her home as well. Both kids are doing well and enjoying it.

What made us most happy was getting my 1st grader into 3rd grade math right at the start of the year. Even then it took quite a bit of time - I'd say the 1st quarter - to get him to a point where he was learning anything new. Our local school had him do K math all last year even though he should have been allowed to go to 1st (at least) for math. We did opt to keep him at 1st for LA just so he got more exposure to the literature and actually talking about it. He LOVES to read and is probably at a 3rd-4th grade lvl but doesn't really like to think or talk about what he read. He'll move up to 2nd grade LA next week as well as 2nd grade Science, History and 4th grade math next month.

My K'er who started in Nov at the beginning of the curriculum will be moving to 1st grade Math, LA, and History next month based on current progress. We could probably have started her at 1st for Math and LA but starting her late made things a bit messier.

All in all we're quite happy and may be doing Community Day programs soon (one day a week where they have some classes with other kids).

Courtney

DS July 04

DD Sept 05 - my amazing little preemie

[octobermom]

 I have a question on hoe they agrred to this.  My one big issues I'm having is we just this semester pulled her from her brick and motar charter and started her atr home in the k-2 program. She is in the second grade and while super smart and excells at her grade it is where shes should be.. BUT they are starting her at the BEGINING of 2nd grade instead of 2nd semester. I get that they want to see where she is but she is getting bored. I've actually started just reviewing the lessons and doing the assessments and stuff my self or asking jsut 1-2 just to make sure questions to my DD then moving on so we can get to where she REALLY is. It not the best for DD though cause shes begining to think it will ALWAYS be this simple.
I have a question on how you managed that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbyrum 

What made us most happy was getting my 1st grader into 3rd grade math right at the start of the year. Even then it took quite a bit of time - I'd say the 1st quarter - to get him to a point where he was learning anything new. 

[kittie313]

Originally Posted by octobermom 

 I have a question on hoe they agrred to this.  My one big issues I'm having is we just this semester pulled her from her brick and motar charter and started her atr home in the k-2 program. She is in the second grade and while super smart and excells at her grade it is where shes should be.. BUT they are starting her at the BEGINING of 2nd grade instead of 2nd semester. I get that they want to see where she is but she is getting bored. I've actually started just reviewing the lessons and doing the assessments and stuff my self or asking jsut 1-2 just to make sure questions to my DD then moving on so we can get to where she REALLY is. It not the best for DD though cause shes begining to think it will ALWAYS be this simple.
I have a question on how you managed that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbyrum 

What made us most happy was getting my 1st grader into 3rd grade math right at the start of the year. Even then it took quite a bit of time - I'd say the 1st quarter - to get him to a point where he was learning anything new. 

 Well last school year with my second dd in K, I wanted her put into math 1 but they ent us math K and said to just do the unit assessments until we hit her place and that when she hit 90% to let our teacher know and she'd put in for math 1.  By thanksgiving we had her in math 1.  I did unit assessments and found a couple units we needed to do, and that worked for us.  The assessments for the individual lessons within the unit I marked scores for if she had passed the unit assessment to show mastery so she didn't actually do those.  I did the same when my oldest was in 1st grade, the school sent us phonics and lang arts 1 for her but then I had the teacher assess her to put her back into the K level of them and then we did unit assessments in phonics K until we hit her place in it.

[cbyrum]

Originally Posted by kittie313 

Originally Posted by octobermom 

 I have a question on hoe they agrred to this.  My one big issues I'm having is we just this semester pulled her from her brick and motar charter and started her atr home in the k-2 program. She is in the second grade and while super smart and excells at her grade it is where shes should be.. BUT they are starting her at the BEGINING of 2nd grade instead of 2nd semester. I get that they want to see where she is but she is getting bored. I've actually started just reviewing the lessons and doing the assessments and stuff my self or asking jsut 1-2 just to make sure questions to my DD then moving on so we can get to where she REALLY is. It not the best for DD though cause shes begining to think it will ALWAYS be this simple.
I have a question on how you managed that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbyrum 

What made us most happy was getting my 1st grader into 3rd grade math right at the start of the year. Even then it took quite a bit of time - I'd say the 1st quarter - to get him to a point where he was learning anything new. 

 Well last school year with my second dd in K, I wanted her put into math 1 but they ent us math K and said to just do the unit assessments until we hit her place and that when she hit 90% to let our teacher know and she'd put in for math 1.  By thanksgiving we had her in math 1.  I did unit assessments and found a couple units we needed to do, and that worked for us.  The assessments for the individual lessons within the unit I marked scores for if she had passed the unit assessment to show mastery so she didn't actually do those.  I did the same when my oldest was in 1st grade, the school sent us phonics and lang arts 1 for her but then I had the teacher assess her to put her back into the K level of them and then we did unit assessments in phonics K until we hit her place in it.

We were initially given math 1 but I spoke with several people while registering and was told that when we met with his teacher we'd get it squared away. While waiting for that meeting I gave him the end of semester 2 assessment which he got 100% right. When we met with his teacher she gave him the end of semester 2 assessment for Math 2 - which he again passed 100% right in front of the teacher. So by end of day that day he was switched to Math 3 and we got his materials about a week later.

For my daughter we did start at the beginning of semester 1 even though we were actually starting during quarter 2. Initially just so she could get used to it we did every lesson but lately we've been just doing the unit checkpoints - if she passes we mark the rest of the lessons in that unit complete (after I double check there is nothing new not on the checkpoint) and move on. This has her at 80+% in Math K which she started in November. Had we started earlier I probably would have gotten her moved to Math 1 at the beginning but I thought it might be useful to keep her in Math K just in case there was something she hadn't learned yet.

With DS I knew we needed to do something different - last year during K he was doing EPGY at 3rd grade level at home which is why it took until about halfway through Math 3 before he hit anything he didn't already know. He just gets math - he learns quickly and very much needs to be able to go at his pace and no one elses.
 

[jzm9vs]

Hi - it depends on how and where you are enrolled... and the grade of the child.

[cameragirl]

We enrolled our daughter in the CA program through Elk Grove School District. Since this is our first year, we decided to try the program with their assistance. The financial burden also isn't there. Right now we're held up waiting for a transfer request. The school district we live in does not offer anything like this, but they're being ridiculous about signing the transfer. When we asked for it, they said it would take a day or two. We showed up two days later to pick it up, and were told it could take 6-8 weeks. What the heck? Elk Grove is seeing what they can do to work around it since kindergarten is not state-mandated, and she has not been enrolled in our district.