Parent Edition
Travel is the Ultimate Education
By Guest Blogger on November 16th, 2015
This is the seventh post in a series by the Cooney family about their world travels, made possible by the flexible learning offered at FLVS.
Recently, friends of ours withdrew their nine-year old daughter from school to take her with them to Washington, D.C. and Iceland.
They planned to tour the nation’s capital before leaving for Iceland for the family’s first trip abroad. To do so, Jennifer (not her real name), would miss approximately a week of school. Jennifer’s mom contacted the school well in advance and completed the necessary paperwork to request an excused absence. She outlined in detail all that Jennifer would experience and see during the trip.
However, the school principal did not respond and after repeated calls asking for an update, it was time to leave. Continue reading
The Power of Picture Books
By Guest Blogger on November 13th, 2015
On my day off this week, I find myself eagerly drafting my first blog post for FLVS because (as all writers understand) I not only enjoy writing, I need to write.
So given my literacy background and current position as a first grade teacher at FLVS, I think I’ve chosen the right topic for me and you, my readers. Author Randy Pausch eloquently says, “Your passion must come from the things that fuel you from the inside.”
My own children were quite young when I started my career in early childhood education, but it was clear to me then (and even clearer now) that I am passionate about beautiful picture books and quality children’s literature. Continue reading
November is National Scholarship Month
By Amy LaGrasta on November 12th, 2015
It’s never too early to start thinking about how to pay for college.
Paying for college is a costly endeavor. Figuring out how to pay for college can be confusing and difficult. While student loans must be paid back, scholarship money can pay for tuition and fees directly and does not have to be paid back. A scholarship reduces the amount of loans and out-of-pocket expenses you must pay. Therefore, scholarships are the best answer for many students.
The good news is that scholarships are easier than ever to find and apply for thanks to online tools that can connect students to billions of dollars’ worth of funds. There are scholarships out there for everyone! You can find scholarships for being left handed, good at soccer, art, or just for being tall! Continue reading
Why Today is a Great Day
By Guest Blogger on November 11th, 2015
Veterans Day? I am not much of a blogger – in fact, counting this blog, I have written one blog.
That being said, I could not pass up the opportunity to blog about Veterans Day. It’s a different sort of holiday for me, one that I never paid much attention to growing up. It seemed like almost everyone I knew had served in some capacity or another. Veterans Day was just another holiday in which everyone participated. To that end, I never thought twice when I graduated high school and headed off to serve. Of course while I was in the Army, almost everyone I knew either had served or was still serving. Veterans Day was just another day.
But Veterans Day is not just another day – it is a great day!
Continue reading
Got Notes? (Part 2)
By Florida Virtual School on November 5th, 2015
sketch – note
/skeCH nōt/
Noun
1. A substantially awesome method for taking notes that is easy, fun, and does not require drawing ability (stick figures welcome!)
Verb
2. Combining doodles and notes and increasing your memory retention by transferring an idea from your head to the paper!
This definition summarizes some of what we learned in part one of this series. Continue reading
Seven Survival Skills for Careers
By Guest Blogger on November 3rd, 2015
In his critically acclaimed book, “The Global Achievement Gap,” author Tony Wagner explores what he considers to be “Seven Survival Skills for Careers, College and Citizenship.”
After spending time with the most successful executives and professional people in the world, Wagner came to the conclusion that there is a gap between what our students need to be successful when they enter the real world and what we are teaching them in the classroom.
As a result, he created a list of essential 21st Century skills that all people need in order to be successful in college, in their career, and for their overall citizenship. Continue reading
National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month
By Amy LaGrasta on October 30th, 2015
At one point, bullying was simply considered a rite of passage in childhood.
Today, research shows that bullying has a significant impact on one’s education, health, and safety.
Bullying can negatively impact a child’s education. It is estimated that 160,000 children miss school every day due to fear of attack or intimidation by other students. Research shows 15 percent of all school absenteeism is directly related to fears of being bullied at school.
One out of every 10 students who drops out of school does so because of repeated bullying. Continue reading
Student Researches Sunscreen’s Effects on Oysters
By Guest Blogger on October 28th, 2015
Hi! I’m Madison, a student at FLVS.
While attending a Busch Gardens camp in the summer of 2014, I learned that the park utilizes oysters to naturally filter their lakes. I soon became fascinated with oysters, and after some research, I discovered oysters are dying globally due to pollution.
After this discovery, I formulated an experiment focusing on the effect of micronized chemical sunscreen (as used in spray sunscreen) and nanosized zinc oxide sunblock (as found in thicker, clear sunblock) on the ability of a bivalve mollusk (or oyster) to filter bay water. Continue reading
Red Ribbon Week 2015
By Amy LaGrasta on October 26th, 2015
Don’t Wait to Talk to Your Child About Drugs!
While it may seem difficult or feel awkward, it is important that parents have these conversations and keep the lines of communication open. Research shows that talking to your child early and often is key.
According to the National Family Partnership, children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are 42 percent less likely to use drugs than those who don’t, yet only a quarter of teens report having these conversations.
Almost 90 percent of youth reported that their parents would strongly disapprove of their trying marijuana once or twice. Among these youths, only 5.1 percent had used marijuana in the past month. However, Continue reading
Writing Clicks as a Means to Express Oneself
By Guest Blogger on October 22nd, 2015
I’m happy when I’m writing or thinking of ideas about what to write. I’ve been that way for as long as I can remember. How lucky I was to find this out about myself while still in school!
You see, after reading a poem I wrote, my second grade teacher, Mrs. Kast, said to me “Suzan, you’re a writer.”
I still remember those words of encouragement, although that is now thirty-something years ago. That praise not only boosted my spirit, it stuck with me my whole life. I began to create, theme, and express myself in many different styles of writing. My friends knew I would always carry paper and pen wherever I went, because you never know when creativity will strike! Continue reading