Christian parenting center for encouragement and tips. 

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Faith, Family, Education, Technology, Life's Challenges, Holidays, Activities

Learn More About the Arizona Voucher Payment Program

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Did you know that the state of Arizona offers a program called Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs), which provides the parents or guardians of eligible students with a certain amount of money that they can use to pay for private school tuition or other educational expenses? 

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How Homeschooling Can Help Students Stay Focused and Avoid Classroom Distractions

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Distractions in the classroom are a common issue for many students, leading to a decrease in academic performance. For some students, the solution to this problem is homeschooling, as it can provide an environment free from interruptions and allow them to stay focused on their studies. In this article, we'll discuss how homeschooling can help students stay motivated and avoid distractions that may come from classmates. We'll also explore the benefits of homeschooling and tips on how to make the transition easier.

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A Passion for Christian Education: Hearts and Minds

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Getting to Know Enlightium Academy’s Executive Director – Part 2

In my article entitled “The Formative Years: Education and Family”, I briefly shared my early dream of starting a school with Christian values. Growing up in Kyrgyzstan, the former Soviet Union republic, I longed to be able to learn about God in school.

Adapting to America

Spokane, Washington is known for being a family-friendly city with many parks and lakes. The climate is very similar to Kyrgyzstan, where we lived before moving to the United States of America. Our family came to Spokane in August of 1991. Within ten years, more than 20,000 Slavic refugees immigrated from the former Soviet Union and made Spokane their home.

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Why Should I Send My Child to Your School?

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Since the dawn of the 21st century, various alternatives to K-12 public education have become more common. One of the rising school choice options available to parents, which reflects the reality of how students learn nowadays, is online education. Online education (1) is designed around the learner, allowing for self-paced learning that provides students with opportunities to speed up or slow down as necessary; (2) provides the flexibility offered by online technologies to support the needs of diverse learners; and (3) opens a wide array of options to all learners1

In a post-pandemic world, online education has drawn more attention not only from the media but also from academia and health organizations. In the fall of 2020, many public and private schools switched from in-person to remote learning. A decrease in teachers and students’ physical presence in the classroom resulted in an increase in interest in online learning. This is why parents wanted to enroll their students in an online school such as Enlightium Academy: to prevent gaps in education in times of crisis. One parent reported that they enrolled their child “due to COVID and that their public school was not fully equipped for remote learning” (Parent of a 6th-grade student, WA).

Ken Robinson2, an international advisor on innovative education, noted that a solution to the downsides of public education is individualized learning through the use of technology. Using technology in education allows students to discover their individual talents, puts students in an environment where they want to learn, and helps them naturally discover their true passions.

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The Formative Years: Education and Family

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Family Foundation - Part 1

As far back as I can remember, I had a deep desire for education. I was the seventh of nine kids in my family. My dad valued education and spent evenings with all of us. I remember having a big round table in the living room where all my siblings would complete homework under my dad’s supervision. Sadly, he passed away when I was only eight years old.

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How an Air Filter Can Improve Your Child's Homeschool Learning Environment

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As a parent of an online student, you want to ensure that your child has the best learning environment possible. But did you know that the quality of the air in your home or workspace can have a significant impact on your child’s ability to learn? Poor air quality can cause allergies, illness, and distraction from unpleasant smells. Investing in an air filter for your student’s learning environment is one simple way to dramatically improve their educational experience and help them stay focused and healthy.

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Does Your High School Diploma Expire?

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For some high school students, the question of whether their high school diploma will expire, is a confusing one. What good is an academic diploma if it won't be accepted by a college admissions department? 

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The Value of a Meal Plan for Homeschoolers

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Welcome to Enlightium Academy’s blog series, Healthy Meal Plans for Homeschoolers! It’s important for families to be healthy at home and in their communities. Food and nutrition are important components of lifelong health. My goal in this series is to share the tools you need to plan and provide healthy meals for your homeschoolers.

What is the best diet? People understand that there is a connection between what you eat and your health. Parents especially are eager to provide the best they can for their growing children. Whatever your family eats should meet your family’s health and nutrition needs, respect your resources (e.g. time, money, energy, and skills), and, of course, taste good! 

Meal planning is a popular method families use to make sure what they eat is appropriate for their lifestyle. Ideally, meal planning also makes mealtimes less stressful so you can enjoy spending more family time together. In the next sections, we will discuss the basics of meal plans, how you can stick to a meal plan, and what to do when you are tired of eating the same foods over and over. Finally, I will share a simple meal plan to help you get started.

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Tips for Memorizing Scripture as a Family

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Recently, one of my students shared her frustration and discouragement about not being able to recall Bible verses that she recently committed to memory. I assured her that this happens to the best of us. For starters, remember that while some people are more naturally gifted at memorizing, it is a skill that can be developed. What is the prize? Having God’s Word stored away in your heart so that it is easily accessible in times of need. For example, Psalms 119:11 reads: “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (ESV). This one verse suggests that memorizing Scripture, among other things, is intrinsically connected to the sanctification of the whole person (body and soul) which no doubt involves resisting sin for God’s pleasure and our good. It can and ought to play a vital, joyful, and formative role in the spiritual life of each individual, family, and church. 

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Safe Internet Searching for Homeschooled Students

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In this modern day and age, technology is what makes homeschooling a reality. The popularity of online learning has resulted in the need for more online resources. The Internet has a large pool of resources that parents and students can tap into to acquire information they may need. However, we recommend that students develop wise internet surfing skills in order to safely gather information online. As a parent, you might be wondering: “what should I do to make sure that my student is equipped with the right tools to be a safe internet user?” However, not only is it important to make sure that your student is a safe internet user but also, as a parent, you need to make sure that you are well informed and equipped with the right software to protect your student and your computer.

 

Five things are especially important for your student to keep in mind as they explore the Internet.

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West Virginia Homeschooling Requirements

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Enlightium Academy is an approved private Christian school that is accredited by Cognia and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) that has served homeschool, online, and co-op school students in K-12 since 2003. As K-12 education policies are different in each state, it is a parental responsibility to check on their state’s homeschool requirements and fulfill them as applicable. To assist parents with this process, Enlightium provides basic information about each state’s requirements. Parents are also encouraged to review their state’s requirements at hslda.org/legal and/or West Virginia Department of Education, as educational policies are subject to change over time.

Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and Washington D.C.; however, with a freedom to educational opportunities comes a responsibility to understand and fulfill legal requirements. This can be worrisome, yet you’re not alone in this endeavor. Enlightium Academy is here to help!

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Keeping Your Brain Sharp

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Summer is a time of rest and relaxation, and for most people this means putting off most, if not all, of their academic endeavors. And while taking a mental break can be a good thing and result in renewed energy for school later, this doesn’t mean that learning has to stop. It’s easy to fall victim to laziness during the summer and cease reading and learning in every capacity.

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Social and Emotional Support in Online Learning

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Are there opportunities for socializing in online learning? 

The critics of homeschooling argue that homeschooled students are socially delayed due to an inability to physically meet with other students; however, modern-day online homeschooling allows students to socialize face-to-face via video group sessions1. There are also numerous socializing opportunities available to students through sports, church, and extracurricular peer-to-peer opportunities within their own communities. 

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Homeschooling and Social Engagement

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As parents consider the pros and cons of homeschooling their children, perhaps the most debated topic is that of social engagement, and the topic deserves our attention. The conversation is possibly the most polarizing part of making the decision to educate a child at home. Opponents of homeschooling assert that children in a brick-and-mortar school are given the opportunity to socialize with their peers during a crucial time of development in which they learn how to interrelate appropriately with other children their age. While it is true that traditionally schooled children likely do have more interaction with their peers, parents must consider whether this is in their child’s best interest. 

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Tax Benefits for Enrolling in an Online Private School

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Several states have K–12 private school education tax benefits, deductions, or refund programs. Please keep the following in mind:

  1. Legally, Enlightium Academy is considered a private school, not a homeschool.
  2. Enlightium Academy is accredited, an important distinction for several states in filing for tax benefits. Enlightium Academy is accredited by Cognia and the Association of Christian Schools International. More information can be found here.
  3. This article is intended to inform you on the first steps that need to be taken to prepare for filing; speak with a tax professional and/or conduct further research before filing.
  4. Laws are subject to change. 
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Academic Article: Personalized Approach to Learning

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An individualized approach to learning has been used for decades in K-12 schools as it addresses students who need to proceed through a curriculum more slowly or immerse in a certain topic or principle to really “get” it. 

Personalized learning goes beyond individualization; it seeks to understand the personality of the learner which includes the student’s preferences, interests, and aspirations. In personalized learning, instruction is tailored to each student’s interests, innate curiosity, strengths, and needs. It includes enabling student voice and choice in what, how, when, and where they learn - to provide flexibility and support to ensure mastery at the highest standards possible. 

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Do You Know Someone Who Needs to Experience What You Have at Enlightium? (Referral Program Guide)

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As you experience the differences of schooling with Enlightium Academy compared to your child’s previous school, you may feel the need to celebrate your journey with family and friends. Since you likely share stories with your friends and family about important milestones and events in your child’s life, along with the joys of watching them grow, we would like to empower you with this guide on how to share your educational achievements and the fruit of a sound Christian education through Enlightium. To help you celebrate your story with your friends and family, our Referral Program allows you to gift a tuition credit or Amazon gift card to anyone who enrolls and receive a tuition credit or gift card for your family per referral.

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What is Online Learning?

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Some of the most important developments in education have happened since the launch of the Internet - online learning.

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Technical ESOs for 12th Graders: Carefully Storing Sensitive Data

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At Enlightium Academy, students have Expected Student Outcomes (ESOs) for each grade level. This means that upon completing the 12th grade, each student is expected to grow not just academically, but spiritually and socially.

One of the three academic ESOs is technical capabilities. Upon reviewing this article, students in 12th grade are expected to understand the reason for carefully storing sensitive data.

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Technical ESOs for 11th Graders: Creating Secure Passwords

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At Enlightium Academy, students have Expected Student Outcomes (ESOs) for each grade level. This means that upon completing the 11th grade, each student is expected to grow not just academically, but spiritually and socially.

One of the three academic ESOs is technical capabilities. Upon reviewing this article, students in 11th grade are expected to understand the reason for creating secure passwords.

Passwords can be a beast. Below are some practical (and actually sort of fun) actions for you to take to stay on top of your passwords.

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