Alger Learning Center & Independence High School Student-Led Homeschooling Since 1981 Seeks Teachers . . . Who want Educational Options & Flexibility

http://www.independent-learning.com/

by Michael Leppert

Mr. John Lackey, founder of Alger Learning Center and Independence High School, is one of the true pioneers in visionary education. John began Alger in 1981 as a student-led learning program that encouraged student imagination and was an alternative to the stifling cookie-cutter approach of mainstream schooling.

After many years of classroom teaching via alternative methods in public schools in Washington State in the 1970s, Mr. Lackey made his own alternative dream school a reality when he opened Alger in 1981. The thinkers and writers that contributed to his teaching consciousness includes a pantheon of names of those who thought about pedagogy and executed hands-on experiments, such as John Taylor Gatto’s Guerilla Curriculum and A.S. Neil’s Summerhill School in England.

Over the four-plus decades of Alger’s existence, John has added many important elements and services to his original school. Alger offers a homeschool extension program for locals; distance learning programs that feature regular teacher-student contact and satellite schools. The satellite program allows teachers to adopt Alger’s methods and provides guidance in creating their own Alger-based schools, anywhere, so that students and families can enjoy the visionary education developed by John Lackey.

Among the regular school services that Alger and Independence offer are: Annual assessments, tutoring, diagnostic testing, transcript and credit analysis. Since Independence is a Washington State approved private school, they can work with public schools and have dualschoolers enrolled. Official state transcripts and diplomas are issued through Independence, after meeting the state graduation requirements.

Mr. Lackey and his highly skilled staff keep Alger and Independence on the cutting edge of homeschooling education and teaching developments worldwide. Their goal is to retain the flexible, creative approach they have used since 1981 and to instill in their students the love of this type of knowledge-gathering throughout their lives. Alger and Independence are continuous enrollment and self-paced, so that students are not chained to Time or bells!

If you are interested in a solid homeschooling program that will light your child’s learning fire, visit John Lackey’s website http://www.independent-learning.com/ and consider how Alger and Independence can improve your lives. Ω

American Online School, (AOS) K-12

https://onlinehomeschooling.us/
info@onlinehomeschooling.us      (541) 961-9816

by Michael Leppert

The American Online School (AOS) is an all-encompassing platform meticulously developed to offer extensive resources and unwavering support for families electing to adopt homeschooling as their educational method. This website strives to blend flexibility with high-quality educational content, while simultaneously fostering a sense of community support, all of which are essential for facilitating a successful and enriching homeschooling experience. By presenting an array of tools and resources designed to cater to the diverse needs of homeschooling families, AOS stands out as an attractive option for parents seeking an effective educational alternative for their children.

How It Works
The AOS website features an intuitive and aesthetically-pleasing design that prioritizes user experience. The interface is remarkably clean, and the navigation is straightforward, allowing users to traverse through the platform with ease. Key categories are clearly delineated, ensuring that users can quickly locate the information or resources they want. The layout is visually appealing, incorporating a harmonious color scheme that strikes a balance between being inviting and not overly distracting, thus enhancing the overall experience for users as they explore the various offerings of the site.

What Is Offered
A major highlight of the American Online School is the vast array of high-quality educational resources it provides. This platform offers a rich selection of curriculum options tailored to grade levels, K-12, encompassing subjects that cater to diverse learning styles and preferences. The materials presented are not only comprehensive but also engaging, utilizing interactive components such as quizzes, videos, and creative activities that captivate students’ attention and encourage active participation in their learning journey. Furthermore, the website continually updates and replenishes its content to align with current educational standards and innovative teaching techniques, ensuring that users have access to the most relevant and effective resources available in the field of education.

Online Homeschool Community
The American Online School excels in its community support segment, which is a crucial component for many families who might feel isolated in their homeschooling endeavors. The platform features forums,  discussion boards and a social zone, providing students and educators a space to connect with one another. In addition, experiences and tips are shared via newsletters, and staff and instructors are always available to families to answer questions regarding their homeschooling journeys. This robust sense of community is invaluable, particularly for those who are newcomers to the world of homeschooling and may seek guidance or encouragement. Moreover, the customer service team associated with the site is responsive, friendly, and knowledgeable, readily available to assist users with any inquiries, technical issues, or challenges they might face while utilizing the platform.

Flexibility and Customization
Understanding that each child possesses unique learning needs and preferences, AOS focuses on the different learning styles and offers a commendably flexible approach to education that promotes customization. Students can choose from a broad range of subjects and delivery methods, including traditional textbook learning, engaging online courses, and hands-on, interactive activities that make learning enjoyable and engaging for children. This fosters a personalized learning experience, allowing families to create a curriculum that is tailored specifically to their child’s interests, optimal learning style and developmental pace, ensuring a more effective and enjoyable educational experience.

Cost
When it comes to pricing, the structure offered by American Online School is notably competitive compared to other online homeschooling platforms available today. While there are a number of valuable resources that can be accessed for free, the premium content provided by the site is priced reasonably, making it accessible to a wide range of families. Additionally, the various payment plans available offer a degree of flexibility, allowing families to select an option that best fits their budget while still gaining access to quality educational materials and resources.

The American Online School emerges as a valuable, commendable resource for families who are engaged in or considering homeschooling. With its extensive repository of quality content, vibrant community support, and flexible learning options tailored to individual needs, the platform lays a solid foundation for fostering a well-rounded education at home. Although there are minor changes that could elevate the functionality and accessibility of the site even further, it undoubtedly stands out as a leading choice for parents exploring educational alternatives for their children. For those committed to providing a home-based education, the American Online School is a platform that promises both reliability and effectiveness, making it well worth considering. Ω

https://www.bluetentonline.com/

* Offering live, asynchronous, and self-paced classes with student-to-student and student-to-teacher interaction.

* 3 NEW courses: Physics, Intro to Statistics, and Intro to Psychology

Since 2010, Blue Tent Online has been an online educational provider for high school homeschoolers.

Founded by Brigid Thompson, an experienced educator and homeschooling mom, Blue Tent Online offers a comprehensive line of proven academic classes for homeschoolers, coupled with a community-building atmosphere. Classroom discussions and regularly used webcams allow students and instructors to develop a rapport that facilitates easy interaction.

All Blue Tent instructors hold degrees in their respective field and have experience working with students in a virtual classroom setting.

The core curriculum that Blue Tent offers is broad and geared towards an enriching high school course that will prepare students for further academic studies. Many courses are offered in two formats – live and self-paced to allow homeschool families the flexibility that is often desired.

Blue Tent also offers several Advanced Placement (AP,) College-Board approved courses. In math they offer: Algebra 1 & 2; Honors Algebra 1 & 2; Geometry and Honors Geometry; Precalculus, Honor Precalculus, and AP Precalculus; Intro to Statistics and AP Statistics; AP Calculus AB and BC.

The science offerings are: General and Honors Biology, AP Biology, Honors Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy & Physiology, Introduction to Psychology, and AP Psychology.

They will also be offering a summer Biology Dissection Intensive where students will work through six dissections over the course of six weeks.

The English offerings are also significant: Introduction to Literature and Composition is a great entry point for eighth grade students. For high schoolers: English Lit & Comp 1 and 2 (self-paced), Honors English Lit & Comp 1, Honors English Lit & Comp 2, AP Language and Composition, AP Literature and Composition, Advanced Senior English, Aspiring Author’s Club, Journalism Club, The Zenned Out Student, and Creative Writing workshops that run in the summer.

The presence of experienced homeschoolers on the administrative and teaching staff offers a unique value to homeschooling families. These instructors know the landscape of homeschooling – a definite boon to your student’s coursework experience. You can be confident that these instructors have developed curricula that will set your student on the path to success. If you are contemplating an online educational opportunity for your homeschooled high school student, visit the Blue Tent Online website at bluetentonline.com, and read the team member bios.

You can contact Blue Tent directly with any questions. Feel free to email at bluetentclasses@gmail.com or call (919) 888-1589.

by Alyssa Martin, Ph.D., NDCDE

On behalf of the North Dakota Center for Distance Education (NDCDE), I extend the warmest greetings as you prepare for the upcoming school year. As homeschool families, you are likely making those final, often difficult decisions about curricula, delivery methods, daily schedules, meeting state legal requirements, and finding opportunities to connect your students to co-curricular and extracurricular activities in your community. I can relate-I often assisted my mother with this annual planning for home-educating my youngest brother. Through this direct experience, I gained a deep appreciation for the power of educational choice.

Early in my brother’s education, several teachers identified him as not entirely fitting the mold. This predated terminology that is now common among special education professionals, such as “on the spectrum” and “autistic.” The teachers simply sensed something was different about him, were unsure of how best to respond, and, with large class sizes and limited paraprofessional support, recommended placement in special education classes. My mom tried her best to prevent this placement from happening and to make traditional schooling work for my brother, having seen its success for her other children. Still, despite volunteering in my brother’s classroom, spending extensive time reteaching him every night, and trying to equip him with strategies to adapt, she could not be in the classroom with him constantly. Ultimately, this fueled her decision to homeschool.

My mother found resources through a local homeschool organization, and despite the significant financial commitment, my parents decided to purchase a complete correspondence curriculum. Videos and course material were regularly sent to our home, and completed assignments were returned to a licensed teacher for grading. My brother flourished under this arrangement, instilling in me a fundamental belief that education simply cannot be delivered with a one-size-fits-all approach. My mother’s relief and hope that came with finding the right educational approach for my brother was palpable, and it’s a feeling I wish for all homeschool families.

I assumed my role as the state director for NDCDE in August 2022, transitioning from my previous position as the assistant vice president for academic affairs at the University of Mary, a private institution in Bismarck, ND. I was attracted to NDCDE for many reasons: most importantly, it gave students and families educational choice; it allowed me to return to K-12 education, where I spent ten years early in my professional career; and I had recently spearheaded an initiative at the university to identify and implement standards for quality online education in a strategic effort to grow enrollment, which brought deep fulfillment. Although I am a lifelong North Dakota resident, before applying for the NDCDE director position, I had not heard of this state school. I still regret this knowledge gap as my family would have undoubtedly benefitted from the services it offers.

NDCDE is the only statewide virtual school in North Dakota, serving as a supplementary education provider to K-12 school districts and homeschooled families. It educates students not only in North Dakota but also across the country and world, with content delivered by North Dakota licensed teachers who provide individualized instruction in an asynchronous, self-paced format. NDCDE is Cognia accredited and offers courses piecemeal or as part of a high school diploma program. We purchase curricula from vendors known for creating high-quality, engaging content, and our in-house content experts and instructional design team tailor the courses to align with North Dakota priority learning standards. Our teachers, who are education leaders, often participate in the state-level committees that establish these standards.

NDCDE course offerings include those required by North Dakota state law and those aimed at equipping students for post-secondary matriculation and the workforce, with a strategic effort currently underway to increase the number of dual credit and industry certifications offered. To help evaluate and further enhance the quality of education at NDCDE, we are moving to a competency-based framework under which we will continue to issue final letter grades but also closely monitor and report on students’ level of proficiency under North Dakota’s priority standards.

With the above as our educational framework, NDCDE provides a myriad of benefits to homeschool families. First, and likely of high importance to homeschool families, we value transparency. You’ll find a complete syllabus for each of our courses available for your review in our store, and once enrolled in a course, you’ll be able to review all the material covered in it. Second, we aim for affordability. Most of our courses are $259 for North Dakota students and $349 for out-of-state students. Except for some dual credit courses, none of our courses require textbooks, and we limit material lists to only what is needed, with strong consideration towards requiring only budget-friendly items. We allow families to select their proctor outside of their immediate household, referred to as a learning coach, and provide both the learning coach and parent with access to dashboards showing student progress and outcomes. Our instructors also monitor these metrics, help coach students through our courses, provide timely feedback, and are strongly encouraged to schedule individual meetings with students to deliver truly one-on-one instruction.

I often wonder what additional doors may have opened for my brother and family had we known about NDCDE. Would my brother have had more opportunities to explore his interests in-depth through elective and CTE offerings, helping him make more informed decisions about his post-secondary educational path? Would other family members have begun taking advanced NDCDE coursework to accelerate their learning, perhaps graduating early or earning dual credit to reduce their time to completion and student debt load? Could those of us in my household still enrolled in traditional schools have used NDCDE to help fulfill certain state graduation requirements and allow more time in our school schedules for more academically rigorous pursuits? What is certain is that NDCDE provides families with these choices. Part of this commitment is based on my direct exposure to home education and its transformative impact on my youngest brother, who went on to finish college and lead a productive and successful personal and professional life-all because of the power of educational choice. I invite you and your child to consider taking a course or exploring more information on our diploma program to experience the many benefits and choices NDCDE offers your students firsthand. Enrollment for North Dakota students is open any time and begins on August 5 for out-of-state students. Regardless of your educational decisions for the year ahead, I wish you and your child every success as you grow together in your academic pursuits. Ω