Often students enroll at an online school because they want to minimize the amount of interaction between themselves and their teachers. If that is the case, the student will most likely not respond to a teacher’s efforts to forge a relationship.

Some students find interacting with adults face-to-face intimidating, so the idea of interacting with their teachers digitally makes communication with adults more bearable. These students are more likely to respond positively to a teacher’s efforts to forge a relationship.

We live in a day and time when much of our lives are dependent on the Internet. People trade, communicate, work, and entertain themselves through an online medium. Students are able to forge a relationship with a teacher online, especially when the teachers make initial contact.

How Will Online Teachers Forge Relationships With Their Students?

It all starts with a good introduction.

Teachers at Enlightium Academy always send a greeting letter when a student joins their class. Teachers introduce themselves in a colorful way, where they talk about their interests and families and show themselves as fun, interesting people who will help their students through the coursework. 

For some students, this introduction is enough to break the ice; they will respond with an introduction of their own, and the teacher will remember this conversation.

For other students, an introduction is not enough, and teachers know this. So they keep reaching out to students in different ways. Most of their interactions are through chat on Ignitia, although some students have access to teachers through phone tutorials, screen sharing and face-to-face video chat. 

Be it face-to-face or just written communication, the chance to work one-on-one with the student is what gives teachers the opportunity to truly forge a relationship with them. It is during these interactions that teachers can continue to learn about the person behind the screen name. It isn’t uncommon for teachers to know the names of the student’s pets or to be in prayer with the student and his or her parents.  

What is a Verification of Enrollment?

A Verification of Enrollment (VOE), also known as a Certificate of Enrollment or Proof of School Enrollment, is an official document provided by the school confirming that the student is enrolled in that school. It can be used by parents to prove to their state or school district that the student is receiving a quality accredited education in a public school, private school, or homeschool for such purposes as receiving a driver's license in their state or other legal services. Students must demonstrate compliance with attendance requirements in order to receive a Verification of Enrollment.

A strong foundation is indispensable if you want something to last. The truth of this principle manifests itself in a variety of contexts. For example, when building a house or any other type of structure, ample time is spent in an effort to create a solid, trustworthy foundation. Without one, anything you spend on the building will be a waste.

Do you increasingly get the feeling that public school isn't right for your child? There are many reasons why students may not thrive in public school. Every child has a different learning style, and traditional schooling practices tend to ignore this truth.

Pulling a child out of school to homeschool is a tough decision, but it is one that can bring rich rewards in the quality of both your children's education and your family life. Unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions about homeschooling.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

Loss comes in many forms and for many reasons. Certainly we experience loss when a person we love dies, but loss can also occur when a friendship or romantic relationship ends, when we lose a part of our life that defined us, or when a drastic change in lifestyle (positive or negative) causes us to change our previous environment and habits.

Life’s Bumps and Thumps

Life often throws bumps in your road to achievement. Through elementary and middle school, your parents may have helped smooth the bumps into manageable pebbles. During your high school years, however, the bumps have grown and now they threaten to affect your future. Reality sets in when major obstacles put your goal of achieving a high school diploma in danger.

Dear Students,

Most of you don’t have cause to know this, because most of you do your best not to plagiarize, but I am very strict about plagiarism. I take plagiarism seriously because I believe that as a teacher it is my job to prepare students for their futures, and I know that academic dishonesty, and really any deceptive behavior, can create huge problems for students in school, in college and in the workplace.

As we drove into Igoda, I could hardly believe my eyes. When I left in 2011, most of these houses had grass roofs. A motorcycle was still a novelty, to be exclaimed over by children. Little one-room shack shops had just started to pop up along the main road.

This little village in the mountains of Tanzania had undergone a transformation. Now, signs of new affluence were in evidence everywhere: new buildings, new tin roofs, new beautiful, big shops selling fabric, fresh fruit and even toothpaste. And there were cars, CARS parked in front of houses.

When I was 13 years old, a big change took place in my life: my family moved. Suddenly I had to adjust to a new home, a new city, and a new school. It soon became clear that the public school I was enrolled in was not a good fit for me. The classes were not at an appropriate level for my abilities, and I had difficulty making friends. So I came up with a plan: have my parents homeschool me for 8th grade. I devoted months to convincing my parents and it worked. At that time, the only option I considered was traditional homeschooling, as cyber school education was still a new development in education.

In an age of instant posting, messaging, tweeting, status sharing, etc., social media etiquette for students is an essential subject. Considering the global and permanent nature of the Internet is key. You might think that the comment or picture you posted this weekend will eventually disappear into cyberspace; however, that is not the case.

Many parents ask themselves at one time or another, “How can I set a good example for my child? When is a good time to start? Does it really make a difference?” As Christian parents, we know that God has given us children to teach and direct in His way. It is a great responsibility, but where do we begin?

As a Christian educator, I believe that it is the parent’s, rather than the state’s, primary responsibility to take an active role in their child’s education. The Bible says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). W. H. Peterson, in his article regarding religious education stated that a child is not the mere creature of the state; those who nurture a child and direct his or her destiny have the right, coupled with the parental duty, to recognize and prepare their child for life (Petterson, 1968). This is very important because parents should have a choice when selecting a school that meets the academic and developmental needs of their child.

Hello and welcome back to our series Growing in Grace. This segment is going to focus on three key disciplines of the Christian life: slowing, solitude, and silence. A. W. Tozer said, “The need for solitude and quietness was never greater than it is today.” Tozer is well known for his writings about how to thrive in Christ. I believe he is right when he says that we have a true need for solitude and silence like never before.

When you are the parent of an online private school student, you might find yourself in a role that you never imagined: Information Technician. You are now in charge of ensuring that your student has all of the correct technology he or she needs to complete the schoolwork.

Buying a computer is like buying a car. Your selection is dependent upon your intended use. A family of six living in Alaska might choose an SUV, while a retired couple in Florida may purchase a convertible. Your computer purchase should complement your lifestyle.

Deciding to homeschool is the first step in an amazing journey. Now that you’ve taken this step, you are probably wondering what legal requirements you have to fulfill so you can start educating your child at home. The important thing to keep in mind as you work through the legal requirements is that you have the right to make decisions about your child’s education. All states recognize, in one way or another, the right of parents to homeschool their children. However, the laws regulating homeschooling vary between states, and it is important for homeschooling families to read and understand these laws, to know their rights, and to ensure they are complying with the relevant regulations.

Welcome back to our series entitled Growing in Grace. We are discussing how to mature in our faith amidst a fallen world. We have already focused on the importance of meditation and prayer, and are now moving onto understand the value of fasting. This is a subject that is often overlooked or rarely talked about, yet Scripture frequently talks about the value of fasting.

Welcome back to our “Growing In Grace” series. We are currently discussing the Christian disciplines that help us grow in receiving the grace of God fully available to us through Christ on the Cross. The big question of this series is “What helps us know and grow in God’s grace, and how do we do that in our lives every day?” Today’s topic is prayer.

This is the first segment in the series Growing in Grace, which focuses on how we develop and strengthen our walk with Jesus. To start the series off, we will discuss the spiritual discipline of meditation. Like counterfeit coins or dollars, meditation has its counterfeits: taking the same name and similar form. Counterfeit meditation claims to connect you with the divine and grow you spiritually. Often times it produces temporal results (momentary relief from stress for example), which makes it an influential counterfeit. Nevertheless, these forms of meditation do not genuinely transform one’s soul (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18) and bring about lasting healing (Matthew 11:28-30).

January 20, 2017 - West Liberty, Ohio
April 10, 2017 - San Bernardino, California
May 4, 2017 - Irving, Texas
September 13, 2017 - Rochford, Washington

It seems like in recent years the number of shootings have gone up. Every few months students in another town face the terror and danger. Every few months another community asks the question: How did this happen?

We are starting a new Theology In Action series entitled Growing in Grace. The series aims at answering the overarching question, how do I grow in my relationship with Jesus? Specifically, how do we find clarity, conviction, and confidence in Christ, in a culture of confusion, complacency, and compromise? Throughout this series we will allow God’s Word to confront us and answer these questions. It will be divided into seven parts and Jesus will be our exemplar, our template on how to grow in His likeness.