Tips for Parents
New Online Learning & Training Community
By The Virtual Voice on March 27th, 2020
Resources for online educators, schools, and families đź“ť
As the educational needs of students across the nation continue to evolve, Florida Virtual School (FLVS) is proud to announce a new Online Learning Community designed to support online educators, schools, and families!
Continue readingHelping Our Captains Succeed with FLVS Elementary
By Guest Blogger on March 12th, 2019
Learn more about one home educator’s FLVS Flex Elementary experience with her young student filmmakers and ambassadors dubbed “The Captains.” Whether your child has been enrolled for a few years or you’re new to FLVS, these tips can help your elementary student succeed!
As a mother and grandmother, the responsibility of educating our 8-year-old son, Captain A, and 7-year-old grandson, Captain SySy, weighs heavy on my heart and mind as their home educator. The world is not always a perfect place and people can be unkind, so our family strives every day to help our Captains be the best human beings they can be!
I am beyond grateful for our partnership with FLVS on our Captains’ education. The FLVS Flex Elementary team not only cares about making a difference and helping them to succeed in their educational lives, but also about their personal successes as future leaders. They have been a huge network of support in our Captains’ volunteering world.
The truth is, it isn’t always easy being a homeschool educator! Continue reading
Start Your Middle School Experience Off Right
By Melodie Robelo on August 28th, 2018
For students in middle school who have never taken an online course before, understanding expectations and how to navigate new material and assignments can take some time. Whether your child is taking their first course or their fifth, here are a few tips to help him or her succeed at FLVS.  Continue reading
6 Ways to Help Your FLVS Elementary Student
By Allison Voltaire on August 27th, 2018
As the author Thomas Fuller once said, “All things are difficult before they are easy.”
Whether your child is new to online learning or you are a returning FLVS elementary family, our team is here to help you navigate our new curriculum and find ways to best meet your son or daughter’s educational needs. Your teachers are here for you! Don’t hesitate to ask them for help. The Flex Elementary team is also hosting weekly welcome sessions to help families find their way. Have questions or feedback? Our administrative team would love to hear from you!
With this in mind, we wanted to share a few helpful tips for our online elementary parents.  Continue reading
Going Beyond “What Do You Want to Be?”
By Anne Flenner on August 8th, 2018
How many times have you been at a back-to-school event or a family reunion and someone asks your child, “So what do you want to be when you grow up?”
In many cases, the child responds back, “Firefighter, Teacher, Doctor, Athlete,” and then the conversation ends. While asking a child what they want to do when they grow up is a great question, how can we go deeper with our kids to help be an advocate for their future? Continue reading
10 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day
By Linda Childs on April 22nd, 2017
Earth Day is full of reminders to take time to protect our planet.
Across the state of Florida, local events are planned to pick up trash on the beach, recognize local farmers, and celebrate science and its contributions to ensuring everyone has access to clean water, soil, and air.
Search local events on Facebook to find fairs, speakers, art vendors, and other resources that promote an awareness of sustainable life choices.
Are you volunteering anywhere for Earth Day? Tell us where in the comments below!
Whether you’re heading out for the day or plan to stay at home, these tips can help you make a difference on Earth Day – and every other day too! Continue reading
Make, Bake, Partake – Volunteering at School
By Suzan Kurdak on April 17th, 2017
My mom was blessed with the baking and hospitality gene. As far back as I can recall, she loved to play hostess—still does, and when people come over, she has a quiet way of honoring them and making them feel special. It shows in the details, from a sparkling clean house to using the good dishes and serving delectable treats.
I remember my mom volunteered to be the class mom for Mrs. Kast’s second grade class in New York. I glowed whenever she’d come into my classroom to drop off some cut outs for a project we were working on, or when she’d bring in homemade cupcakes for a class party. And while I just thought I had the coolest mom in the world, she had sneakily found a way to stay connected to me during the school day.
April is Florida School Volunteer Appreciation Month and today marks the first day of Public School Volunteer Week. Continue reading
Why Libraries Still Matter
By Melodie Robelo on April 11th, 2017
As a young girl, I always enjoyed visiting my local library.
My librarian, Mrs. Ferris, knew me by name and greeted me with a loving smile. She always had recommendations for great books, from beautiful Caldecott Medal picture books to the latest Newberry Award winners. She knew just the right stories that would captivate me for hours, keeping me up well past my bedtime as I read by the light of a flashlight under my covers.
In the days before the internet became a household staple, the library was my go-to source for answers about life’s most pressing questions. Even with nothing but that clunky card catalog of old, Mrs. Ferris could find resources to answer my many questions within minutes of me asking them. I wanted to know everything there was to know about kangaroos? Got it. Pompeii? Easy. The Holocaust? Let’s try reading Number the Stars and go from there. Continue reading
FLVS Corkboard: March Highlights
By The Virtual Voice on March 20th, 2017
It’s March, and minus the cold snap madness, spring has sprung—and FLVS continues to sow seeds of learning!
While you may be rooted in the “here and now” of schoolwork and tasks to accomplish this semester, we understand that some of you may already be thinking of life after high school. For many, that may mean college. Or, maybe you think you’d like to go to college but aren’t sure if you “have what it takes” or if you can afford it.
Great news! If you are a student in Florida, you can learn how to prepare for college without leaving your home. (But we do recognize that leaving the home is ultimately the goal of every child—and their parents.)
Virtual College Week
You can explore the notion of college all from your living room if you make plans now to participate in Virtual College Week, April 4-6. Presented by FloridaShines, students and parents can get free expert advice on all things college-related, including the admissions process and financial aid. Gather important information, ask questions, hear from others—demystify college at no cost. Continue reading
Celebrate Literacy Week 2017
By Dr. Jeanne Giardino on January 23rd, 2017
Photo Credit: Chronicle Books
Each year the state of Florida and FLVSÂ dedicates one full week to celebrate all things literacy.
Appropriately titled “Celebrate Literacy Week,” the entire state joins together to share their love for literacy through activities that include reading, writing, listening, speaking, and thinking!
Celebrate Literacy Week is presented by Just Read Florida and the Florida Department of Education to remind everyone that “Literacy Changes the World.”
Now in its seventh year, Celebrate Literacy Week allows school districts and families to engage in fun activities that bring the community together for the love of reading.
The Just Read Florida website provides a comprehensive list of activities that all families can enjoy during this event. They even include a printable bookmark to help us all keep our place as we read, read, read! Did you know that the more a child is exposed to print and books the more successful a reader they will be as they grow? Continue reading