One of the most common questions I field is from parents who want to know what online-learning programs are best for their kids and how to use them. (This doesn’t terribly surprise me. Ambient Insight projected that the number of preK-12 students who are enrolled in formal extracurricular online-learning programs is growing at a 5-year compound annual rate of 28 percent. When soccer moms like me catch onto something, watch out! That segment, in fact, will play a critical role in taking online learning mainstream, in my opinion. See American Spectator’s article titled “Meet the Suburban Parents,” which concludes with the thought that “if any force has the potential to reform the traditional public school, it is the righteous indignation of a rudely awakened upper-middle class.” Amen.)

In response to the requests, I wrote “Homemade blended learning for a summer day,” which Mary McConnell graciously posted on her blog at the Deseret News. Here’s a Staker child in action, recording his progress with his summer learning:

Chalk one up for the Tiger Mom. Hope the blog is helpful to others who are caring for children. If readers have more ideas for how to encourage extracurricular online learning, please send your comments.

Author

  • Heather Staker
    Heather Staker

    Heather Staker is an adjunct fellow at the Christensen Institute, specializing in K–12 student-centered teaching and blended learning. She is the co-author of "Blended" and "The Blended Workbook." She is the founder and president of Ready to Blend, and has authored six BloomBoard micro-credentials for the “Foundations of Blended Learning” educator micro-endorsement.