Parent Resources Offer Peace of Mind
Whether you have a child currently enrolled in Laurel Springs or are considering online school as an option for your son or daughter, it is important to recognize your role as a parent in such a learning environment. Parents of online students will help oversee the students’ work and progress, serve as a secondary instructor, assist in creating schedules and routines, and potentially serve as a liaison between student and teacher. Understanding how you can help as a parent is critical to the long-term academic success of your child. Laurel Springs will help guide and prepare parents for the duties associated with online education.
Laurel Springs Hosts Virtual Open Houses for Families
Laurel Springs hosts monthly virtual open house sessions for families interested in learning more about enrolling in online school. Among the questions that each session aims to answer are how online learning works, how Laurel Springs instructors administer lessons, how children develop relationships with their teachers, and the social opportunities that are present in an online learning setting. Faculty and staff members are made available during each session to answer parents’ questions in a real-time virtual classroom.
Laurel Springs Educators Will Serve as An Ally to Parents
Each teacher is proud to be an academic resource for parents. It is important for parents to get to know their child’s educators and open lines of communication. An open dialogue will allow parents to understand what their child is or should be learning and help facilitate that process even outside of dedicated online school time. Parents can enhance the learning process by drawing parallels between the lessons and everyday life. Additionally, Laurel Springs educators may suggest supplementary resources that parents can incorporate at home to reinforce course material.
Establish Points of Contact at Laurel Springs
We understand that not every individual learns in the same way or at the same pace. Our friendly staff at Laurel Springs is happy to assist with each student’s specific learning needs. Beyond getting to know teachers and educators, parents should become familiar with academic counselors and other points of contact through the online school. As a team, we can help cultivate a learning environment that will allow each student to succeed. We can help set reasonable expectations for each child’s academic journey through a better understanding of their situation at home and how he or she learns best.
Recognize How Your Child Is Performing and Provide Feedback
After establishing a working relationship, Laurel Springs teachers will serve as primary academic resources for parents. Information gathered through communication with educators and counselors will allow parents to monitor their child’s progress and begin a discussion about areas for improvement. Armed with the knowledge of how their child is performing, parents can set aside time at home to discuss progress.
Create an Environment Conducive to Learning
Left of their own volition, many children would lack the discipline necessary to thrive in an online learning environment. For that reason, it is critical that parents help establish a routine for their child. A successful learning environment is likely to include a regular sleep schedule and dedicated time for learning each day. Parents should discuss with their child how he or she is most comfortable learning and create a setting or workspace that will help establish sound work habits. A dedicated learning space should be quiet and monitored. In instances where a student prefers to change settings to re-focus attention, the learning space can be mobile. Learning spaces should be well-organized and include all essential materials to avoid disruptions.
Connect with Other Laurel Springs Families
Families of Laurel Springs students can be significant academic resources for parents of new or returning students. Connecting with other parents will foster a channel for the open exchange of ideas regarding how to assist your online education student, how to structure your home to promote learning, and parenting strategies, among other benefits. Laurel Springs will provide ways for parents to connect with others to share best practices and help their children establish an added social circle.
Encourage Students to Get Involved with Their Peers
Creating a healthy social foundation is an essential element of any educational atmosphere. Parents should encourage their child to get involved with social networks and clubs once they become available during the middle school years. Participation in social clubs will cultivate more well-rounded students and prepare them for success in different learning or professional environments.
Ways Parents Can Assist Elementary School Online Students
Students will require distinctive support for their online education based on their ages and grade levels. For students in Kindergarten through the fifth grade, parents will be required to oversee much of the learning experience. Laurel Springs will provide a variety of academic resources to ensure a proper learning progression, but much responsibility will fall on the parents at home to ensure successful completion of assignments and projects. Online elementary school students will require a lot of support from their parents and educators. A daily routine for students in this age group should include wide-ranging activities and breaks to avoid a loss of interest or engagement. Parents will be responsible for facilitating this schedule in a manner that best fits their child. Furthermore, parents will need to monitor and recognize their child’s comprehension so that it can be accurately communicated to his or her Laurel Springs educator. This understanding will help mold the student’s lessons and learning pace.
A Shifting Parental Approach to Online Middle School
Middle school is a transformative time for students, and Laurel Springs aims to help parents contribute to the success of their middle schoolers by providing resources representative of their child’s maturation process. Parents of students in grades sixth through eighth will be able to allow more independence. While parents will still need to assist with some lessons and coursework, it is critical to a child’s development that he or she learns to think critically and solve problems more independently. However, this freedom makes it even more imperative that parents monitor how well their child is comprehending the subject matter. Being aware of a student’s understanding of the material will dictate when he or she should receive additional instruction or guidance. Parents should communicate with teachers regularly to help devise learning plans. Independent of coursework, parents should encourage getting involved with social organizations beginning in the seventh grade. Social immersion will help broaden horizons and generate new interests for their child.
Allowing Online High School Students to Thrive
As students in the ninth through twelfth grades become more capable of directing their studies, parents are able to move into a supporting role with regards to academic oversight. Laurel Springs’ upper school offers a high-quality curriculum that was designed to prepare students for college academics. High school parent resources include access to the curriculum as an observer of their student’s course progress and an understanding of graduation requirements. Parents should be verifying that assignments are completed but otherwise promote autonomy. This freedom will allow each student to take ownership of his or her education and explore future goals.
Parents Enable Students’ Success at Laurel Springs
Laurel Springs offers all necessary academic resources to parents and ensures that they are comfortable with the learning environment and the role they play in facilitating their child’s scholastic success. Our faculty and staff will regularly communicate with parents regarding their child’s academic progress and areas that may need improvement. Furthermore, we will share ways that parents may connect with other parents to share best practices and allow students to connect socially with their peers to ensure a well-rounded educational experience.
