Student Success
Field Trips with FLVS Full Time
By Guest Blogger on October 10th, 2013
The Florida Virtual School Full Time program has experienced epic growth throughout the years, doubling in size for two years in a row. This year we continue to expand our reach and will be serving over 7500 students.
As we grow, so does our dedication to overall student success by creating a unique schooling community in which students not only grow academically, but socially as well. Continue reading
The Power of Negativity
By Guest Blogger on September 30th, 2013
Remember the old saying “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me?” I have to say, that through life experiences, I’ve come to realize that this statement is completely false. The bruises that are caused by sticks and stones may last for a period of time, but the scars words leave can last a lifetime. Continue reading
AIME, AMC, USAMO, Oh My!
By Guest Blogger on September 25th, 2013
The science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) field is rapidly growing. There are many programs and contests young students can become involved with to learn more about the different careers in STEM.
Many of these contests, however, are commonly recognized by their acronyms: AIME, AMC, USAMO. Few people outside the field know what these letters actually stand for. Each contest is part of the American Mathematic Competition Association (AMC). This group is devoted to growing mathematic understanding in the nation’s youth. Of the many contests, AIME, AMC, and USAMO are the most popular. Here are the contests behind the acronyms. Continue reading
You Can Learn the Impossible
By admin on September 6th, 2013
They say the first step is admitting you have a problem, so here goes… I am a brain science junky. Ever since my team started doing research 18 months ago, I’ve been fascinated with the science behind how humans learn. But it’s not just me. I’m seeing the work of Carol Dweck, Paul Tough, Sian Beilock, and Heidi Grant Halvorson show up in all sorts of non-educational publications and places. Sure, I work at a school, so it’s natural for conversations to revolve around grit and growth mindset, but last week I overheard preschool moms discussing it at the supermarket. Continue reading
Academic Integrity: Systematic and Scalable Solutions
By Guest Blogger on August 29th, 2013
For five years, I have been a part of the Academic Integrity (AI) Department at Florida Virtual School. I began as an investigator, researching student violations, and eventually moved into the role of manager. While a primary goal of the AI team is to identify and intervene when incidents occur, we also strive to prevent violations from happening. To do this requires a joint effort between all departments, including Professional Learning, Curriculum, Community Relations, and Technology. Continue reading
Why We Love Social Media
By Guest Blogger on August 19th, 2013
Social media has completely changed the way we communicate with each other. Maybe we’re guilty of accidentally referring to our friends by their Twitter handles in real life; spending all week finding the perfect photo for #ThrowbackThursday; doing something cool, just so that you can Instagram it; or using the word “Instagram” as a verb.
(I can just envision my former English teachers sighing in unison as they mark 10 points off this blog post.) Continue reading
Project TAM: Year Zero
By Guest Blogger on August 15th, 2013
I’ve always been fascinated by the concept of nothing (an idea that is immediately contradicted by having a word assigned to it, which implies something). And, as Project TAM enters what I’ve been lovingly calling “Year Zero,” I find that the centrality of bringing forth something from seemingly nothing preoccupies my thoughts and the thoughts of those around me.
FLVS was recently awarded the Next Generation Learning Challenge Grant to be used for planning and development of Project TAM, a breakthrough school model that will allow FLVS to provide new student-centered, self-paced, mastery-based, and blended learning opportunities. Continue reading
Recipe for Success
By Amy LaGrasta on August 13th, 2013
I enjoy cooking and baking. Cooking allows me to try new things, experiment, add a dash of this, a pinch of that, and just get creative! It suits the rule-breaker in me as I don’t always like to follow recipes. Baking is a bit more of an exact science, some room for experimentation, but lots of room for error (if you don’t measure correctly). Baking keeps me on the straight and narrow as I’m rewarded with a yummy treat, but ONLY IF I follow directions. Continue reading
Can Five-Year-Olds Learn Virtually?
By Guest Blogger on August 8th, 2013
Did you know that there are seven times more words in today’s English language than in Shakespeare’s day? Students in the 21st century will have jobs that have not been created yet, for problems that haven’t been realized. Our world is changing! Education is changing too! Florida Virtual School (FLVS) is now teaching Kindergarten and First Grade in a way that we could not imagine 16 years ago. Can 5-year-olds learn virtually? YES! Continue reading
Project TAM
By Guest Blogger on July 15th, 2013
Photo credit: haroldito via Flickr.com
Friday found me crying at the copy machine. As I prepared prereading for my trip to San Francisco, the drear of monotonous copies and collating and stapling proved to be an overwhelming prospect for my mind, stuffed full of words like “untethered” and “ideate” and “platforms.” I wondered how this boded for my week — overcome by a copy machine. And, what does “collate” mean for copies anyway?
Sunday arrived not with a roar but a whisper, and by some miracle of heaven Pam and I both arrived at the airport early. I can giggle a little now at us — two travelers traveling together with a common goal, the mutuality of dreams. Dreams which almost prevented these two preoccupied travelers from boarding the plane, so dense were the clouds. Continue reading