Connections Academy Blog, Virtual Learning Connections

I just read a new study by Harvard Professor Nancy Hill concluding that parents’ helping children with their homework does not help them do well in school (article by Deborah Blagg, 2009). Wait a second, I thought, that is what good parents do! My wife and I take turns working with our three children on their homework because we assumed that our efforts would help them succeed in school and beyond. I guess if the world always worked as we expected, we wouldn’t need research.

So if “homework help” isn’t really helping, what should we be doing to ensure that our children are successful in school and in life? According to Professor Hill, volunteering (e.g., PTA, helping out in the classroom) helps a little, and educational activities (e.g., trips to the library or a museum) also can’t hurt, but what really can make a difference is our ability to connect children’s schoolwork to their life’s work. Hill writes, “Our study shows that helping children understand the value and utility of education correlates well with higher achievement levels in middle school and high school.” Children need to understand that mastering their times tables, reading Shakespeare, and learning the state capitals all have a connection to higher education, meaningful work, and ultimately a good life. If you can convince them of that, then they will get their homework done on their own—and you will just need to get out of the way.

So how do you do this? Hill’s analysis ...

My kids are great procrastinators because I've taught them well. Right now, I'm staring at a 43 pound suitcase filled with years of good intentions. It's filled with photos, news clippings, programs from dance recitals and awards my kids have received. I would love to have these items organized into easy to view photo albums or scanned into digital albums, but it's easier to come up with reasons why I can't do it, such as, "I don't have time", "I want this to be a family project", or my favorite, "They’re safer in the suitcase because I can grab it quickly in case of a fire."

Procrastination for virtual school students comes in many shapes and sizes. I see procrastination typically rear its ugly head during lessons that my students are working on independently. A little procrastination is something we are all guilty of every now and then. When it happens regularly, though, it presents a real challenge. Throughout this month I will be writing about different reasons I think most students procrastinate and offering my suggestions for what you can do about it.

One reason why our students procrastinate is due to weak study habits.

I can usually spot when this is the problem because it sounds like this: (in a whiny tone)

"I can't do this" , "It's too hard", "This wasn't in the lesson", "It's boring", "I don't understand it".

So what is the first line of defense for this? Watch your student study a complete ...

Whether you are homeschooling or in virtual school, spending so much time together can make it easy to forget that doing a little extra for your children during the school day can go a long way.

Here are some ideas that only take a few minutes, but could make a big impact on your child's attitude:

• Display - Hang a paper or picture your child is especially proud of on the refrigerator.
• Brag - Send a copy of this semester's report card to a friend or maybe a grandparent.
• Share - Read just one more book together before bed, or share a special poem with an older child.
• Praise - Every day draw attention to something your child does well.
• Spoil - Cut the edges of their sandwiches, or add hearts to the center of an apple with a cookie cutter.

Even if they act like it's silly, older kids still love your attention.  Little things do mean a lot.

Don't you just love when a friend calls you for a favor?

A friend called just as I was getting ready to dive into a warm bag of homemade microwave popcorn (...but that's another story). She wanted to know if it was easy to use a virtual school. My friend knows that I've been a Learning Coach for my kids in Connections Academy for a few years, but she never thought it would be something that she could do. We talked for a couple of hours and the conversation continued to come back to concerns she had about organizing and whether she knew enough about math and writing to be able to give her kids everything that they needed.

I love these phone calls. It gives me an opportunity to reflect back on choices I've made and share the successes and mistakes I've made along the way. My mind was racing with things I wanted to share with her. After several years of using virtual education as both a homeschooler and in a virtual public charter school, I have learned that there are a few basic keys that have helped me to make this a great experience for my family.

1) Focus on the big picture - It's easy to get caught up in all of the day to day juggling of details to support your student. At the start of each school year, write down the reasons why you have chosen virtual education and use these as a reminder ...