Homeschool Edition
February is American History Month!
By Guest Blogger on February 19th, 2013
Teaching American History Grant Cohort Members, Ca’ d’Zan Mansion
I am a history teacher, a lover of American History, and also member of the Florida Virtual School Teaching American History Grant. During the past four years, my grant cohort colleagues and I have visited historical places in the United States. Our studies began in colonial times in Williamsburg and St. Augustine; included slavery and the Civil War, for which we visited Antietam and Gettysburg; and continued with the progressive era where we stayed in Florida and visited Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota. In honor of this month, I wanted to share some great historical places in Florida, perfect for kids and adults! Continue reading
National School Counseling Week
By Guest Blogger on February 5th, 2013
Yesterday marked the first day of National School Counseling week (February 4–8, 2013). In anticipation of this weeklong event, I’ve been considering the question, “What makes student counseling services unique and valuable?” School Counselors endeavor to make an impact on student lives and act as change agents to affect positive outcomes. The unique service provided by Professional School Counselors is to critically examine a problem while focusing attention toward providing the most relevant options for families. The advice offered is valuable in that it leads all parties toward resolution.
Various students have contacted me over the years for assistance with academic advising, planning for college, dealing with peer pressure, or working through emotional concerns. One particular student comes to mind. Continue reading
It’s National Get Organized Month! Help Create an Organized Desktop for Your Online Learner
By Guest Blogger on January 21st, 2013
Professional organizers are women and men who are great at sifting through clutter and creating Zen. You have seen them on television, maybe even read about them in a magazine. This was a career I seriously considered when I left college, but never thought anyone would pay me to organize their stuff! Boy was I wrong.
January is National Get Organized Month and what a better way to begin 2013 then by getting your child organized and ready for his or her online courses. The holidays are over and students are returning to their studies. Continue reading
Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida!
By Guest Blogger on January 14th, 2013
The fifth annual statewide literacy event takes place January 14–18, 2013! The Florida Department of Education hosts this amazing week of activities, including participation from students, educators, authors, artists, and community leaders. On Monday, January 14, First Lady Ann Scott, Department of Education Commissioner Pam Stewart, and author Susan Snyder will participate with the students from the Villages Charter School to kick-off Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! Schools throughout the state will begin the Million Minute Marathon to achieve the collaborative goal of reading for 30 Million Minutes! There will be activities held daily to encourage literacy, including a Voluntary Prekindergarten simultaneous reading of Hot Rod Hamster by Cynthia Lord.
In addition to the state-level activities, school districts are also hosting local literacy events. Florida Virtual School is honored to host many unique interactive virtual events in conjunction with the Florida Department of Education. Continue reading
Giving Students a Voice
By Guest Blogger on January 10th, 2013
Everyone has an opinion on how to “fix” 
education, ranging from the erudite proffers of national experts to the local, hands-on solutions from educators and community members. Education reform is a year-round hot topic that has no shortage of ideas and commentary.
Among the many people weighing in on the future of our educational system, the one missing voice seems to be that of our students. Oh, there is an occasional good news student success story that is shared or an educational-focused editorial authored by a student. Rarely though are there intentional programs to give students a voice in changing their experience. Continue reading
Make it Better
By Guest Blogger on January 9th, 2013
The New Year is fantastic. The annual explosion of holiday consumerism has died down and settled into soft piles of crumpled paper and curled ribbon. There’s the sense of joy from spending quality time with family and loved ones (or waving them farewell until next time). But my favorite part of the New Year is the enormous amount of possibility waiting just around the corner. After all, just look at all the cool stuff that happened in 2012:
http://www.google.com/zeitgeist/2012/#the-world
The New Year is a reminder to keep moving forward and to make things better. And you don’t have to free fall from space, win a gold medal or even win an election to seize the possibility in your own life. You just have to ask yourself a simple question. Is there a better way? Here are a few things I learned asking myself that in 2012: Continue reading