Homeschool Edition
Inspirational Quotes to Share with Students
By Guest Blogger on August 17th, 2017
School counselors are in the unique position to support students with issues related to both school and home life. They are trained to provide counseling and guidance to students of all ages.
This guidance may take the form of one-on-one sessions or phone calls with online students, presentations to high school classes about college applications, family support and information nights, or small group peer-relation work. Continue reading
Hello New School Year – Elementary Edition
By Guest Blogger on August 11th, 2017
FLVS Flex Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th grade. Our teachers can’t wait for another amazing year, but we couldn’t do it without the support of our amazing elementary parents!
The beginning of a new school year brings much excitement and questions tend to follow. There are questions from parents, questions from students, and questions from our FLVS Flex Elementary teachers who want to know how to best serve their students. Continue reading
FLVS Flex Elementary Adds Special Area Classes
By Guest Blogger on August 7th, 2017
Butterflies in my belly! I can’t wait for August 14 – the first day of school.
I never sleep the night before the first day of school each year. I’m so excited to meet our new children and families, and even though we’ve done welcome calls and seen students and parents at our Open House, nothing replaces ClassTime with our Kindergarten-5 kids.
As the principal of our unique online elementary program, I get more excited with every passing day. Continue reading
If You Build It, They Will Come
By Guest Blogger on July 31st, 2017
It was late 1997. A group of six teachers and four support personnel had spent five months learning about teaching online from any source we could find.
We were building courses in Lotus Learning Space, and preparing to register kids for this new thing called Florida High School. There had been tears, there had been elation, and there had been a lot of supposition about what teaching online meant.
We nervously sat around a small round conference table waiting for the phone to ring after we opened registration for the first time ever. We kept saying to each other, “If we build it, they will come,” but would students really want to try this? The “Web School” pilot in Orange County in the 1996-97 school year drew some students, so we had hope.
Finally, after an excruciating wait, the phone rang. We had our first student! Continue reading
Rock On: Expert Advice from Two Master Teachers
By Florida Virtual School on July 20th, 2017
Every time I look back at my career as a teacher, I realize how far I have come.
What I find truly astounding is that what made the most impact in my practice was not learned in the resounding hallways of my Alma Mater or the momentous conference rooms of the many in-service training sessions I’ve completed, but interacting and networking with my peers. Sometimes I will get the best idea from asking a question or brainstorming in a Professional Learning Community (PLC) session.
And just like a movie flashback, I am back at the topic for this blog!
I wanted to ask some questions to our teachers that everyone else also asks. It was difficult to single out one or two teachers, because here at FLVS I feel that I am teaching in the middle of a rock festival and every teacher I know is a rock star!
To narrow it down, I reached out to two of our Teacher of the Year nominees, Amsler Burns and Kellie Shellenberger. Continue reading
Embracing Nostalgia: The Good and The Bad
By Guest Blogger on July 5th, 2017
This post was written by Charissa, a student in the FLVS Creative Writing Club.
Have you ever passed by a place you used to visit when you were young and a nostalgic feeling started to resonate in your chest?
The feeling blew you back in time a bit, and sparked that good memory concealed in your mind to come and revisit. It was probably a joyous occasion, and that feeling of ancient and special happiness surfaces again.
Well, what if something bad happened to you? Would the nostalgic feeling be the same? I highly doubt it would. If I visited a place that held a bad memory, I would feel suffocated by air tainted with unhappiness and regret. I wouldn’t have a happy and elated feeling in my chest. I would feel empty and alone.
Something I have realized in this society is this:
We all have our good places reminding us of the joy and happiness life can bring you, but we also have our bad places that are a reminder of how the world can be messed up sometimes. Some people have one more than the other. Continue reading
5 Tips for a Great Summer
By Guest Blogger on June 29th, 2017
It’s finally here!
Summer is in full swing, and if you’re a student, that most likely means no schoolwork and no intensive schedule to follow.
You’re ready to relax as you’ve worked hard and earned this welcomed break. It may feel like summer will last forever and that you’ll have plenty of time to do all those things you think of doing during the school year.
But while summer is a nice stretch of time, June, July, and August go all too quick…
(Can you believe it’s almost July already?)
So to make the most of the endless sunshine, here are five thoughts on how to make your summer great. Continue reading
FLVS Corkboard: June Highlights
By Florida Virtual School on June 20th, 2017
Hey students and parents—Summer’s in full swing and we have some sun-sational tidbits to share!
But first, a few reminders…
Mark your calendar for the upcoming holiday! In observance of Independence Day, the week of July 3rd (July 3-7) has been designated a holiday break for all FLVS instructors and support staff. The Customer Service Center will be closed on Monday, July 4 only. Students are encouraged to continue their studies as courses remain open, but please be mindful that there will be a brief delay in teacher response. Have a wonderful and safe holiday!
Planning to take FLVS courses this summer? There’s still time to sign up, but don’t delay. Start by browsing our featured summer courses.
Ready to get started? Sign up today! Continue reading
AP Classes vs. Dual Enrollment
By Guest Blogger on June 15th, 2017
This article was originally written and published in the FLVS student newspaper, News in a Click.
It’s a common question among high school students and their parents: AP classes or dual enrollment?
While there is no right answer for every student, each individual might find that one or both of these options suits them best. Each choice allows students to be challenged by rigorous classes, obtain college credit, improve their college applications and save money on college tuition costs. However, location, qualification requirements, method of obtaining college credit, class offerings and costs differ.
AP, or Advanced Placement, classes are created by AP development committees for the College Board. Each AP class has its own development committee comprised of six or seven high school and college instructors from around the country. The classes (including online Advanced Placement courses) and their respective exams are meant to reflect the curriculum students would encounter in a college-equivalent of that class’ subject, while in a high school setting. Continue reading
Military Crossroads with Career and Technical Education (CTE)
By Florida Virtual School on May 26th, 2017
Michael Francis, U.S. Army Sergeant
From 2000 to 2004, I was an active duty Soldier in the United States Army and have been in the Florida Army National Guard since 2005.
There are many parts of my military career that stand out in my memory. Basic training, my drill sergeant during the hot summer at Fort Jackson, being in my promotion board during the September 11 attacks, being deployed during multiple state emergencies, and so much more. Most recently, and regardless of political platform, I was honored to play a role in our democracy by providing security support for the 2017 Presidential Inauguration in D.C.
However, these memories and events are not what changed me the most.
Instead, it is the military’s connection with CTE that has been the most valuable. That connection positively affected my personal life, my educational pursuits, and my civilian career.
Although military life is not for everyone, the skills and knowledge that are integrated within CTE are for everyone, whether an Army future is in the cards or not.