Tips for Parents

Making the Journey the Destination

By Guest Blogger on July 14th, 2015

This is the third post in a series by the Cooney family about their world travels, made possible by the flexible learning offered at FLVS.

“There once was a man who became unstuck in the world. He realized that he was not his car, he realized that he was not his job, he was not his phone, his desk or his shoes. Like a boat cut from its anchor, he’d begin to drift. He took the wind for a map, he took the sky for a clock, and he set off with no destination. He was never lost.” – Castles in the Sky

Seeing the world will change your life.

There is simply no way around it. Once you take the first step in your journey to understand a new culture, learn a different language, climb a higher mountain, or sail across a deeper sea, you will never be the same. Continue reading

Got Balance?

By Amy LaGrasta on June 8th, 2015

Do you ever stop and think about how much you juggle to find balance on a daily basis?

First, there’s the never-ending work or school/life balance. Then, there’s the healthy/non-healthy balance. How much and what we eat needs to be considered along with and how much we sleep and exercise. The balance between saving and spending is also part of that struggle. Balancing family, friends, and personal time can also be a battle. You name it, we’re trying to balance it!

Finding our balance might seem like a small thing, but it has a profound impact on our daily function. Finding and maintaining balance is something we usually don’t think about, until we lose it. Continue reading

Traveling the World with Family: A Mom’s Perspective

By Guest Blogger on June 5th, 2015

This is the second post in a series by the Cooney family about their world travels, made possible by the flexible learning offered at FLVS.

When Mike and I decided to take off for a year to travel the world with our three teenage sons, the decision was the easy part.

Walking away from the life we currently knew was the difficult part. After we made the decision in 2005, we went into planning mode. We all had our respective roles.

In between running an online business, homeschooling our three sons through Florida Virtual School, and carting them to various activities, I spent copious hours researching travel websites and books, creating a budget, and finding places where we could immerse ourselves in the culture. What we all discovered is that planning is definitely necessary, however, it is also equally important to have a plan B, C, or D. An even better option is to learn to go with the flow! Continue reading

Strengths and Weaknesses of Online Learning

By Guest Blogger on June 3rd, 2015

I recently read an article entitled “Strengths & Weaknesses of Online Learning.” The article mentioned the following advantages to online learning:

Flexibility in time and place…Synergy…Student Centered…Access to Resources…High Quality Dialogue…Level Playing Field…Creative Teaching…

I found this interesting, but the weaknesses really caught my attention. Continue reading

Creating Global Citizens One Country at a Time

By Guest Blogger on May 4th, 2015

This is the first post in a series by the Cooney family about their world travels, made possible by the flexible learning offered at FLVS.

Do you ever dream of traveling the world with your family?

Have you wondered what it would be like to sell or donate all your stuff to become 21st century nomads?

Have you ever considered the benefits of giving students a hands-on, immersive education to complement and enhance a traditional classroom experience?

A series of stories over the next several months by members of the Cooney family (including three FLVS alumni) will answer these and many other questions about what it’s like to travel the world as a family. Continue reading

Cash in on this Advice!

By Guest Blogger on April 21st, 2015

When I was a teen, my parents didn’t talk about finances with me, my twin sister, or older brother.

While my parents instilled values that prepared us for life after high school, financially we weren’t prepared. I had no clue how much electricity, water, food, and basic living expenses were. I made a car payment every month and paid my insurance, so I had that down. The rest was lost on me.

I’m no financial planner. Parents, you don’t have to be either to share financial knowledge with your student.

Students, your parents have a lot of experiential advice to offer.

Seniors – Go fill out the FAFSA!

By Guest Blogger on March 2nd, 2015

It’s tax time, and you’ll want to ask your parents to get those taxes wrapped up so you can fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

The FAFSA is the form you need to fill out to apply for college funding. In fact, this application is responsible for deciding the disbursement of billions in grants, loans, and work-study funds each year.

For example, the Federal Pell Grant (which does not need to be repaid) provides $5,775 a year (though the amount you qualify for will depend on financial need). Continue reading

These are a Few of My Favorite Things!

By Guest Blogger on January 8th, 2015

During a recent vacation, I was committed to experiencing something new every day.

I spent my time in Arizona hiking halfway down the Grand Canyon, stayed in a B&B in Sedona for two nights, hiked the trails around Phoenix, and enjoyed tons of other activities.

I have visited some beautiful places and this vacation inspired me to share a list of some of my favorite places to visit in the United States. It just might spark a few ideas for your own future family trip! Did you travel anywhere special over the holidays?

Holiday Health Tips from FLVS Students

By Guest Blogger on December 19th, 2014

As our students, parents, educators, and staff prepare for Winter Break, we are excited to feature two articles from our student newspaper, News in a Click, about staying healthy over the holidays.