About Cara Piper
Cara Piper loves teaching Kindergarten students online with FLVS Flex Elementary! She is a teacher mama, grammar aficionado, blogger, and collector of creative headbands to keep her students engaged during Class Time. Follow her on Instagram @virtualelementaryteachers.
Things to LOVE about Live Video Lessons
By Cara Piper on February 12th, 2020
As you may know, FLVS recently started using Zoom for our live instruction – a cloud-based platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and live interaction. As with any change, this has taken some getting used to, but I am really loving this new tool for interacting with my students and families! Continue reading
8 Tips for Homeschooling Your Kindergartner
By Cara Piper on August 15th, 2019
As a virtual Kindergarten teacher, I work closely with homeschool families. After spending three years in this role, I’ve seen firsthand what works for students learning at home. Read on for my top tips for home education families with young children! Continue reading
Building Online Elementary School Relationships
By Cara Piper on July 10th, 2019
When I first accepted a job with Florida Virtual School as a Kindergarten teacher, I thought there was no way I’d be able to make the same connections with my students as I did in a brick-and-mortar school. I don’t see my students every day and my role looks different than a traditional classroom teacher.
Brain Breaks for Online Elementary Students
By Cara Piper on April 11th, 2019
Brain breaks are a BIG part of most elementary classrooms that you will see today. These mental breaks help students refocus, get some wiggles out, and most importantly – have fun!
Setting aside time for brain breaks is important in every classroom, especially in the virtual world where a lot of time is spent on the computer. We are always looking for ways to get our kids UP and MOVING! Continue reading
Elementary Class Time is the Best Time
By Cara Piper on February 15th, 2019
If you’ve never been in an online elementary classroom before, it may be hard to picture what it looks like.
Today I’m going to share all about Class Time with FLVS Flex Elementary! Continue reading
When Elementary School Goes Virtual
By Cara Piper on December 17th, 2018
I teach Kindergarten at FLVS. I know, teaching Kindergarten VIRTUALLY sounds nearly impossible. So, here’s how it works. Most of our FLVS Flex Elementary students are homeschool students. They register with FLVS for curriculum support and we meet with them twice a week in our virtual classroom for live lessons. Not only are we a teacher for our students, we are a partner with the home educator, which is often the student’s mom or dad. It’s a great option for families who want to homeschool, but also want a classroom experience and the support of a certified teacher. Continue reading
Science Activities for All Ages
By Cara Piper on May 14th, 2018
Our Kindergarten students LOVE doing science experiments!
Recently we asked them what their favorite part of Kindergarten has been, and many of them said “science experiments.” Some may think that because we are a virtual school, our kids spend all their time on the computer. This couldn’t be farther from the truth!
We get our Kindergarteners into the physical world as much as possible to have the same hands-on learning experiences you would find in a brick-and-mortar school. This year, they have gone on nature walks, made slime, created straw rockets, seen sound waves at work, and discovered how animals stay warm in icy water…just to name a few! Continue reading