Houston County Career Academy - Dothan, Alabama

Christi-Ahn Caldwell

My son has been attending virtual school since it was offered with COVID. This would make his 4th year being a vitural student. Because he is a social butterfly I was not concerned with having him home socially. I most definitely dont have concerns with his ability to learn virtually. The facts are he has matured tremendously taking responsibilities of his assignments, due dates, maintaining his emails. This style of learning is a great way to set your child up for the real world. They have 1/2google meets the children click those link and have to join in time so time management is exercised daily great tool for the real world. With this experience my son if challenged can now identify exactly where he doesn't understand so I can help him from that step or inform the teacher to help me help him or allow her to take the lead. I personally have learned a lot there were problems I thought I had correct and broke down and had her review and she identified where I went wrong so I could teach my child. Just terrific team work on behave of your child. So as parent we have a job to check their grades daily and ensure all assignments are completed. My son being his 4th year virtual I explained to him this could have easily been college online being completed this year. It is very similar really the main difference are no silibus on your first day and the type of testing. This year they are incorporating more social events like holiday parties and science experiments after testing so rather than take a test and go home a few times a year now they stay a bit long to do something cool and engaging. I am planning on taking him out of virtual school for 7th and 8th grade so he knows the student he is in high school with as I do want him to have a more traditional high school experience. If I find it doesn't work for him I will gladly transfer him back to virtual. Frankly, I just want him to complete in a different environment traditional school for 7-12 is where I am aiming since he has great study skills, he can identify what he know and where he looses it himself, and he is super responsible for his work and when it is due from the virtual environment. At this point no teacher can really tell me about how he learns since I am his first teacher the only thing a teacher can inform me is if he ever gets a B or C then I know he doesn't understand or being a kid being lazy. I encourage any parent that is getting too many notes home, has found traditional school a challenge to consider virtual if you have a responsible adult around to help if they don't understand the work assigned. Just remember are parents we aren't in school but their education is a team process so learn from the teacher and I encourage you to check grades daily and all work assigned is completed on the day assigned to ensure if they don't understand a day doesn't go by before you identify what you need to review and teach them..it is great bonding..Google the question teach yourself that evening if u have too.. remember everyone learns differently....you can Google worksheets to strengthen their weaknesses teach them the tools needed to teach themselves really great life lesson. Also no school supply list. Lastly, Black history was taught show casing many many many people not just MLK ,Rosa Park, etc which disgust me that traditional schools stick to those very few years after year like there aren't enough Black stories to fill up the entire month and change every school year for Black History Month start with Black inventor. Virtual does teach different people daily in Feb and I have been blown away by it because I know black history very well not being from the south and raised in a black city and college so this was a welcomed sight. I question how we expect children to be able to be considerate of other cultures if not taught about them we have adult ignorance. We can change this with our children's education and exposure. I hope this review helps. You are welcome to ask Google questions as a Google reviewer and being local I will be happy to answer.

Mysie Brown

Debra Dekle