Being Your Student’s Advocate

One of the main reasons that I, as a parent, decided to pull my two children out of the small brick and mortar school they were attending, was because my oldest wasn’t receiving the curriculum-specific help that he needed. I feel that it’s so essential for our children to receive the help that they need – not only in order to understand what’s being taught to them, but also to be able to move forward, confident in their own abilities. When we can foster that atmosphere of positivity and understanding, it boosts our student’s abilities to trust not only in themselves, but also in the learning process itself.

One of the beautiful things about the K12 model, is that the learning coach to student ratio is so low. At our brick and mortar school, my child was made fun of (for not understanding something, and for needing to figure out his math problems on a sheet of paper), and the teachers were also unwilling to take the time to help him. This all resulted in him being afraid to ask for help, even when he drastically needed it. Now that we school with K12, he’s no longer afraid to ask for help, or to admit that he doesn’t understand something. If I see that he is having a hard time with his math, for example, it allows me to explain the problem to him in different ways, until I can explain it in a way that makes sense to him. The K12 process allows us to tailor the curriculum to his exact learning needs. Being able to do this for him, ensures that he is understanding what I’m teaching, and building the foundation properly, for the remainder of that subject.

Another wonderful aspect of the K12 curriculum, that has really allowed me to be an advocate for my students, is the ability to speed up or slow down, as my students have needed it. My youngest student is an accelerated learner. So she has been able to go through the curriculum at a much faster rate, than what she would’ve been able to at a brick & mortar school. She is no longer stuck learning at someone else’s (the teacher’s) pace. Now if I see that she already understands something, we can fast track to the test, and she can move forward at a pace that’s right for her. The same holds true for my oldest student, who tends to need a little extra help in certain subjects. The K12 model allows me to take the time to explain things to him, at a pace that feels right to him.

Another way in which K12 has allowed me to be my students’ advocate, is with our teachers. Whenever I have had a question regarding curriculum, testing, or live Class Connect sessions, my students’ teachers have always been there for us. I find that as long as I use my voice to speak up when I have a question about something, the teachers are always willing to lend us a hand. Such a refreshing change from the brick and mortar experience!

All in all, I have found that K12 has allowed me to positively advocate, in multiple ways, for my students’ needs. I not only feel that their individual learning needs are being met, but I also feel that I, as their parent and learning coach, am being supported by those that truly care, every single step of the way.

Image courtesy of Kelly Hill

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