Moving from a traditional brick-and-mortar school to a cyber charter school model can be a big change, and with the myths and misconceptions floating around out there about online schooling, it’s understandable that students and parents alike are sometimes skeptical when they ask the question “What is online school like?”
But the reality is, the daily routine of a student enrolled in a virtual charter school is much the same as that of a student attending a brick-and-mortar school—with one major difference, of course!
On that note, let's take a closer look at a day in the life of our online elementary, middle, and high school students:
Homeschool Schedule of Virtual Charter School Student at PA Distance:
Whether you're an elementary, middle, or high school student, at PA Distance, your day revolves around the Live Learning Sessions (LLS). Here, students get the golden opportunity to interact with their teachers and peers in real time. It's a platform for not just academic growth, but also for social interactions and relationship building. In addition, every lesson is recorded, allowing students to revisit it at any time, and this recorded library also allows parents to peek into the virtual classroom, giving them a better understanding of the dynamics of our teaching methods.
Breakdown of Charter School Hours By Grade Level
At all ages, we utilize a blended learning environment that features a combination of personalized “synchronous” and “asynchronous” learning environments. The Live Learning Sessions are synchronous, meaning that the students will be engaged in live learning with their teachers while interacting with their peers in a group classroom setting. The “asynchronous” sessions can be thought of as “homework” that’s done during the school day, with the difference being that teachers are available to help their students with lessons whenever they need it.
Here’s a closer look at the learning environment offered based on grade level:
Elementary School Students (K – 5)
- Synchronous Live Learning Sessions
Elementary students spend between 2.5 – 3.5 hours per day in scheduled Live Learning Sessions with their teachers and interacting with classmates.
- Asynchronous Live Learning Sessions
Students in K – 5 will spend about 2 hours per day outside of scheduled LLS working on assignments with the teacher's help, if needed.
Middle School Students (6 – 8)
- Synchronous Live Learning Sessions
Live learning takes place three times a week, in 45-minute blocks, delving into four main areas of study: math, ELA, social studies, and science. Classes such as health, music, art, and computer electives meet live two times a week.
- Asynchronous Live Learning Sessions
Students in grades 6 – 8 will be assigned a homeschool schedule that includes asynchronous learning on the days that live class is not in session, consisting of 30-45 minutes of assignments that are required to be prepared for the next day’s live learning class.
High School Students (9 – 12)
- Synchronous Live Learning Sessions
For high school students, charter school hours in LLS with teachers are an hour long and 2-3 hours of their day, depending on the individual’s class schedule.
- Asynchronous Live Learning Sessions
Students will be assigned independent asynchronous lessons each day, about 30-minute assignments, in each subject, which equates to about 5 hours per subject every week.
Beyond the Virtual Classroom
Learning isn't confined to the screen!
- PA Distance believes in the power of exploration, organizing teacher-led field trips to various locations across Pennsylvania like Historic Philadelphia, Kennywood Amusement Park, and more!
- But that's not where it ends. Even though they are learning online, PA Distance students aren't isolated. There's a buffet of extracurricular activities to indulge in after school. From Dungeons & Dragons Club, Book Club, and Japanese Club for high school students to the Young Actors Theater Club, Chess Club, and Scenes & Stories Club for younger students - there's something for everyone.
- Another standout feature is the Odyssey Fellowship Program, a year-long immersive journey where students learn an array of skills ranging from graphic design and video production to organizing events and professional correspondence.
As you can see, a day in the life of a PA Distance student is anything but mundane! It's a fusion of structured academic sessions, practical exploration, and myriad extracurricular activities, ensuring that every student discovers their unique path, fueling their passion for the future.
At PA Distance, education isn't just about textbooks and exams; it's about creating, engaging, exploring, and discovering-–reach out for more information today!