Parent Edition
Say No to Car Payments
By Guest Blogger on April 9th, 2015
Did you know that less than half of high school seniors qualify as financially literate?
With student and household debt soaring, it’s time to help change that statistic. High school students can change the way they look at money forever with Dave Ramsey’s Foundations in Personal Finance, now available through Florida Virtual School.
Through this curriculum, nearly 2 million students have been empowered, equipped and entertained while building confidence in their own financial decision-making. Topics covered include saving, budgeting, debt, life after high school, consumer awareness, bargain shopping, investing and retirement, insurance, careers and taxes.
Continue reading
Spanish Lip-Sync Challenge
By Guest Blogger on April 7th, 2015
Challenge your peers to a Spanish Lip Sync Battle!
The FLVS Spanish Club, Spanish Nuts at Play (SNAP) is sponsoring a creative virtual contest for students to practice their Spanish vocabulary skills.
All you have to do is post a video of yourself lip-syncing a song in Spanish that’s 30 seconds or less on social media! Your video might be chosen to be featured by Florida Virtual School or the SNAP club.
You don’t have to be a SNAP member (or even a student!) to participate and join the fun.
What is Physical Science?
By Guest Blogger on April 2nd, 2015
Most parents are familiar with biology, chemistry, and physics.
I like to think of physical science as a bridge to these courses. In the Physical Science course at FLVS, we take the concepts that students have learned from previous science experiences and prepare them for the higher-level science skills needed in future science courses and beyond.
The Florida Virtual School Physical Science course offers interactive activities and virtual labs to help students build science confidence. The course nurtures the science literacy the current generation will need to fix our next set of problems as a society. Continue reading
Writer’s Block? What NOT to Do
By Guest Blogger on March 24th, 2015
We all can relate to the moment when you’re writing – or sit down to write – and then boom, you have no idea what to tell your fingers to do; you’re just blank.
It’s the writer’s worst enemy and can be the hardest, and rarely the easiest, thing to get over. We would do anything to get back on track and out of this torturous, uncreative state. We stare at blank sheets waiting for things to happen and bang our head into the wall repeatedly thinking our brain just needs a kick start. If you’ve done these things, we’re not judging, but…maybe it’s not the best way to handle the situation.
Here are some do-nots that, if you resort to them, could resort to the demise of your story; but he’ll most likely live, I promise. Continue reading
2015 Teacher and Support Staff Person of the Year
By Guest Blogger on February 19th, 2015
Earlier this month, FLVS President and CEO Ronald Blocker announced our new FLVS Teacher of the Year and recognized our School-Related Employee of the Year.
The 2015-16 Macy’s Teacher of the Year for FLVS is Spanish teacher Ms. Caroline Jacobson. Jacobson currently teaches Spanish 2 and 3 and is helping to develop our new Spanish 4 course that will roll out in the Spring.
Suzette Soldate, Human Resources Executive Assistant, is our 2015 School-Related Employee of the Year. Soldate has been with FLVS for three years and serves the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Executive Director of Talent Management. Continue reading
Two Big Priorities in America
By Guest Blogger on February 17th, 2015
Health care and education – two big priorities, important to all Americans.
The two often compete for dollars in state budgets. I recently read Turn and Face the Strain: Age Demographic Change and the Near Future of American Education by Dr. Matthew Ladner, Senior Advisor of Policy and Research for the Foundation for Excellence in Education.
I was impressed to learn how the two can work together to secure a better future. Intrigued? Continue reading
Attending the State of NASA
By Guest Blogger on February 13th, 2015
I recently had the privilege of attending the State of the NASA address given by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden.
The day was full of exciting news and details about NASA’s 2016 budget, captivating science, technology, engineering, and math enthusiasts across the nation.
The SpaceX Dragon, Orion spacecraft, and Boeing CST-100 were on display behind Bolden as he addressed plans for future missions beyond low Earth orbit, with destinations including Mars and Europa. Bolden also described the excitement surrounding student involvement in NASA innovation and STEM research.
National Career & Technical Education Month
By Guest Blogger on February 6th, 2015
February is National Career & Technical Education (CTE) Month.
In order to recognize the important contribution that CTE makes to our educational system, and ultimately our economic success, Governor Rick Scott released a Proclamation declaring February 2015 as Career & Technical Education month in the State of Florida.
In his proclamation, Governor Scott commends the efforts of CTE to both stimulate economic growth as well as preparing students for success in college and careers. Florida Virtual School currently provides CTE opportunities to over 10,000 Florida students annually through 28 different course options. Continue reading
Happiness Starts with YOU!
By Amy LaGrasta on February 4th, 2015
Attitude is Everything.
Have you ever thought about it? It’s true. In 2014, I read The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor. You should read it too! It has really helped to change my mood and shape a new way of positive thinking. In the book, Achor posits that daily affirmation of three happy or good things, no matter how big or small, will help your mind re-focus on the positive.
I have really worked hard to exercise the “three good things daily” practice. My team also shares positive things in their world regularly, creating a positive team and work environment (And if you know anything about counselors, we deal with some pretty tough stuff!) Overall, this daily habit creates a mindset focused on being grateful. It has positively affected my attitude at home with my family and at work with customers and colleagues. Continue reading
Becoming a Student Again with Astronomical Research
By Florida Virtual School on January 30th, 2015
Last year I was honored to be chosen as a NITARP teacher.
NITARP, short for the NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program, pairs teachers with astronomers from Caltech and NASA, and allows the teachers to do authentic astronomical research.
I thought this program would be something that was a little out of my comfort zone, as I only had classroom experience (like most science teachers), but I decided to apply anyway as it would be an educational experience. To my surprise, I was one of eight teachers that was accepted out of hundreds of applicants.
The teachers were split up into two teams, each with an astronomer to lead them. My team had educators from Boston, Colorado, and California and my astronomer, Varoujan Gorjian, was from Caltech and NASA. Continue reading