Virtual Learning Solutions for High School Success

Seniors, The Countdown To Graduation is ON!

High School, My Virtual Success Stories | 0 comments

You’ve made it!!! Graduation is right around the corner and this is such an exciting time in your life, as well as your families. Guess who else is bursting with pride at your accomplishment? Us! Every time a student reaches graduation, we ring the bell in our office so that everyone knows another student achieved success and the excitement spreads like wildfire throughout our office. It wasn’t always an easy road to get here but you did it. You overcame what life threw at you, trying to curtail your future, and got back on track. Everyone who witnessed your commitment, dedication, and drive to achieve your goals will be celebrating you come graduation day.

This time of the year is hectic! You’re busy planning what will happen after graduation, completing scholarship applications, finding housing, planning an epic graduation party, etc. To keep it all together and not lose your mind, we’ve compiled an end-of-the-year checklist of sorts to help keep it smooth sailing and stress-free.

In the spring…

Double check with your mentor that you are indeed on track to graduate. You don’t want any unpleasant surprises!
Discuss if you’re having a graduation party. If you are, think of where you’ll have it and who you will invite.
When you receive your cap and gown, make sure everything is included and fits properly. Feel free to decorate your cap, so long as it is school appropriate!

Leading up to graduation…

Treat yourself to a nice outfit to wear on graduation day. It’s a big day and you deserve to feel special!
Get those invitations in the mail! Sending them out four weeks early gives folks enough time to plan and will most likely increase the attendance since people will still have the date open.
Gather items you might want to showcase on your graduation boards. Often times, graduates will have tri-fold or poster boards with pictures of them throughout their school days, from kindergarten until graduation. This allows people to remanence and reflect on you.
Make sure you have completed all of your scholarship applications, if you are going on to secondary education.
Steam your cap and gown (if you have a steamer) or take it to the dry cleaner to have wrinkles removed. It’s your special day – you want to look your best!
Now is a nice time to put pen to paper and write notes to those whom have helped you get to where you are today. You may want to write letters to your parents or guardians, grandparents, other loved ones, teachers, and staff members. Kind words of appreciation leave lasting impressions, and it makes you feel good, too!

On the big day…

First thing in the morning, make sure that your phones and cameras are charged. You will be happy to have pictures to look back on of your big day.
Give someone the task of being your official photographer. It will be nice to have pictures from multiple people but if one person knows they are in charge of capturing the moments of the day, you’ll get all the right shots.

After graduation day…

Have your graduation celebration!
Send out thank you cards for those that came or sent you a gift in the mail.
Make sure you have living arrangements figured out if you will be going away to school.
Be ready and excited to start this new chapter of your life!

Even though we broke down important things to do in the remaining days of high school and throughout your last summer before college/trade school or entering a career, don’t forget to take time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. We’ve enjoyed having each and every one of you as students and if you know anyone else that can benefit from our program, please give our office a call at 800-297-2119.

A Different Type Of Summer School

Education, High School, Uncategorized, Virtual School | 0 comments

Reality is setting in for your high school junior. They have realized they won’t graduate with their friends if they continue on their current path, and it is time to do something about it. They are in the same boat as countless others across the nation who need the chance to better a poor grade or make up a missed credit. This is not a dire situation and we can help!

The summer months present the perfect opportunity for your teen to enroll in a credit recovery program. My Virtual Academy district partners offer a unique program that allows students from any high school across the country to take a high school class within an eight-week time period.

Students love completing their credit recovery classes online because of the scheduling flexibility it allows, plus they can do their studies from the comfort of their own home. Our classes utilize the Edmentum curriculum and once enrolled, they will be assigned an academic coach. The coach will contact the student twice a week to answer any questions the student has, discuss their progress, and provide advice and guidance. Parents will also be continuously “in the loop” as the academic coach will contact them twice a week to keep them informed of their students’ progress. If a student is struggling with the material and in need of a tutor, a certified teacher can provide support via phone.

After the student completes the eight-week course, they must take a final exam via zoom. Should the student live outside of that area, they may take the exam at their current school with an approved counselor from the school district.

Courses are very affordable for current students in grades 9-12. While our school is an affordable option for those looking to recover credits, we maintain a high level of standards and meet all State and Common Core requirements.

My Virtual Academy has been awarded accreditation by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), the regional accrediting agencies that span the AdvancED global network.

Contact Us

If your teen is in need of credit recovery so they stay on track for graduation, now is the time to enroll. Don’t let their dreams of earning their high school diploma slip through their fingers simply because they need to make up a few credits. For more information on credit recovery, visit our website, call Jennifer Dorcy at 586-791-4110 or email at jenniferd@atsedu.net.

The Time Is Now To Teach Your Teen About Money

Advice, All Educations, Creative Learning, High School, Teenagers | 0 comments

When it comes to parenting, there are certain things that people stress about teaching their children: potty training; riding bikes; long division and fractions; driving; and money! Once your children enter into high school, it’s time to have some serious lessons with them about all aspects of money. It can be a daunting task to adults because, let’s face it, just because we are adults doesn’t mean we have it all together in this department. Our hope as parents is that each generation will do better than the last. So, let’s start preparing the next generation to be smart with their money by sharing some of these tips and guiding them in the right direction – who knows, some of it just might stick!

It’s all about the budget.

Does your tween or teen get money as gifts or an allowance and want to blow it all on the latest craze or on a night out with friends? Teach them how to create a budget now so that they can continue to live within their means in the future. They’ll be adults and out of the house in the blink of an eye so set them up for success now. Have a meeting with your kid and show them how to create a budget that they can live within. The important thing here is to keep in mind you are here to guide them and introduce them to living on a budget, you are not here to create it for them. It’s very important that they be able to see the process and understand the reasoning behind allocating funds in certain categories. Ask them to jot down their expenses so they can see in black and white where their money is going. Teach them that they have a certain amount that gets rationed out for bills and other monthly expenses. Then you can help them set aside a certain amount in savings and then break down the rest into fun things they wish to do, like go to the movies, the mall, get their nails done, etc.

Set goals.

Has your teen had their eye on a big-ticket item? Often at this age, they dream of having their own car or the latest video game system. Those are both big expenses in their own right. Instead of you shelling out your hard-earned cash for those items, encourage your teen to set a savings goal and budget accordingly. They will need to determine how quickly they want to reach their goal and then figure out how much they should save each week to do so. This can be a hard thing for teens but with if they are in the right mindset, they will do it.

Explain the dangers of borrowing money.

Whether your teen just turned 18 and wants to apply for their own credit card or if your teen is asking to borrow money from you to buy something they have their heart set on, this is the perfect time to talk about the dangers of borrowing money. It might be nice to get their hands on something they desire right away thanks to a credit card but explain how much that item would cost by the time they paid back their debt. It’s easy to have that short-lived happiness cause years of financial stress and strain. The same goes for borrowing money from a loved one – don’t do it! The weight on your shoulders of having the pay them back can quickly make seeing this person a nightmare. Your teen may feel guilt, shame, and/or be embarrassed that they had to borrow money in the first place. They also may avoid seeing the person they borrowed from if they are taking longer to pay back the loan than they anticipated. Lastly, the relationship may be permanently damaged if they fail to pay back the full amount because the person who loaned the money may feel taken advantage of. It is simply a lose-lose situation and is best to be avoided.

Responsibly handling money will get your child very far in life (and will keep them from returning to the nest!). Money can be a delicate, personal subject but it’s better to set them up and get them going in the right direction now versus when they are just starting to get their hands on money versus when they are middle-aged and are caught in a pickle. Handling money responsibly translates into being responsible in other areas of their life. Start young and you won’t regret it!

As a student at My Virtual Academy, your child will learn skills that they will use their entire life, just like the financial lessons you will be teaching them. A strong education, from both school and home, will set your child up for success during their school years and beyond. If your son or daughter is in grades 5-12 and would benefit from learning at their own pace and in their own home, please give one of our Enrollment Specialists a call at 800-297-2119 or visit our website today to get more information. We hope to hear from you soon!

Introducing Your Student To Audiobooks

Books, High School, Middle School, Technology | 0 comments

March is reading month and there’s no better time than now to explore the amazing world of audiobooks with your family! Audiobooks are a fantastic way to take in great literary pieces and the wonderful thing about audiobooks is that you can take them with you throughout your day. A lot of people enjoy listening to audiobooks in the car or as they are doing chores around the house. They can also take them anywhere else their phone/tablet/laptop can go because thanks to the plethora of audiobook apps, you can listen right from your handheld device!

Audiobooks can be a fun option to keep your kids engaged in reading when reading doesn’t quite seem to be something they are into. We’ve compiled some great audiobook options for your tweens and teens that are sure to pique their interest. Don’t forget to check out our top apps for downloading audiobooks! There are some great options that range from free to subscription-based companies out there. Without further ado, here are some stellar options for your student to further explore:

Audiobook Recommendations for Middle School Students

A Series of Unfortunate Events #1: The Bad Beginning

by Lemony Snicket, narrated by a full cast, featuring Tim Curry

Are you made fainthearted by death? Does fire unnerve you? Is a villain something that might crop up in future nightmares of yours? Are you thrilled by nefarious plots? Is cold porridge upsetting to you? Vicious threats? Hooks? Uncomfortable clothing?

It is likely that your answers will reveal A Series of Unfortunate Events to be ill-suited for your personal use. A librarian, bookseller, or acquaintance should be able to suggest books more appropriate for your fragile temperament. But to the rarest of readers we say, “Proceed, but cautiously.”

Boy: Tales of Childhood

by Roald Dahl, narrated by Dan Stevens

Find out where the bestselling author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The BFG got all his wonderful story ideas in this autobiographical account of his childhood!

From his own life, of course! As full of excitement and the unexpected as his world-famous, best-selling books, Roald Dahl’s tales of his own childhood are completely fascinating and fiendishly funny. Did you know that Roald Dahl nearly lost his nose in a car accident? Or that he was once a chocolate candy tester for Cadburys? Have you heard about his involvement in the Great Mouse Plot of 1924? If not, you don’t yet know all there is to know about Roald Dahl. Sure to captivate and delight you, the boyhood antics of this master storyteller are not to be missed!

When You Reach Me

by Rebecca Stead, narrated by Cynthia Holloway

Shortly after a fall-out with her best friend, sixth grader Miranda starts receiving mysterious notes, and she doesn’t know what to do. The notes tell her that she must write a letter—a true story, and that she can’t share her mission with anyone.

It would be easy to ignore the strange messages, except that whoever is leaving them has an uncanny ability to predict the future. If that is the case, then Miranda has a big problem—because the notes tell her that someone is going to die, and she might be too late to stop it.

The Mighty Miss Malone*

by Christopher Paul Curtis, narrated by Bahni Turpin

“We are a family on a journey to a place called wonderful” is the motto of Deza Malone’s family. Deza is the smartest girl in her class in Gary, Indiana, singled out by teachers for a special path in life. But it’s 1936 and the Great Depression has hit Gary hard, and there are no jobs for black men. When her beloved father leaves to find work, Deza, Mother, and her older brother, Jimmie, go in search of him, and end up in a Hooverville outside Flint, Michigan. Jimmie’s beautiful voice inspires him to leave the camp to be a performer, while Deza and Mother find a new home, and cling to the hope that they will find Father. The twists and turns of their story reveal the devastation of the Depression and prove that Deza truly is the Mighty Miss Malone.

*Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Harry Potter Series #1)

The Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling, narrated by Jim Dale

Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility. All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley – a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry’s room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn’t had a birthday party in eleven years.

But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry – and anyone who reads about him – will find unforgettable. For it’s there that he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic in everything from classes to meals, but a great destiny that’s been waiting for him… if Harry can survive the encounter.

Audiobook Recommendations for High School Students

Code Name Verity

by Elizabeth Wein, narrated by Morven Christie and Lucy Gaskell

Oct. 11th, 1943-A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it’s barely begun.

When “Verity” is arrested by the Gestapo, she’s sure she doesn’t stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she’s living a spy’s worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution. As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage, failure and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from the enemy?

Dracula

by Bram Stoker, narrated by Alan Cumming and a full cast

When Jonathan Harker travels to Transylvania to meet with the mysterious Count Dracula, he ends up enslaved by the vampire who wants to learn about England. Leaving Harker for dead, Dracula travels to London where he begins to menace Harker’s fiancée, Mina, and her beautiful friend, Lucy. After escaping from Dracula’s castle, Harker returns to London where he meets Abraham Van Helsing who may have a way to destroy the blood-sucking monster! Originally published in 1897, Dracula is one of the best-selling and most influential novels of all time.

Eleanor and Park

by Rainbow Rowell, narrated by Rebecca Lowman and Sunil Malhtra

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is the story of two star-crossed misfits—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love—and just how hard it pulled you under.

A 2014 Michael L. Printz Honor Book for Excellence in Young Adult Literature

Winner of the 2013 Boston Globe Horn Book Award for Best Fiction Book.

A Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book of 2013

A New York Times Book Review Notable Children’s Book of 2013

A Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of 2013

An NPR Best Book of 2013

Personal Effects

by E.M. Kokie, narrated by Nick Podehl

Ever since his brother, T.J., was killed in Iraq, Matt feels like he’s been sleepwalking through life — failing classes, getting into fights, and avoiding his dad’s lectures about following in his brother’s footsteps. T.J.’s gone, but Matt can’t shake the feeling that if only he could get his hands on his brother’s stuff from Iraq, he’d be able to make sense of his death. But as Matt searches for answers about T.J.’s death, he faces a shocking revelation about T.J.’s life that suggests he may not have known T.J. as well as he thought. What he learns challenges him to stand up to his father, honor his brother’s memory, and take charge of his own life. With compassion, humor, and a compelling narrative voice, E. M. Kokie explores grief, social mores, and self-discovery in a provocative first novel.

The Diviners

by Libba Bray, narrated by January LaVoy

Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City–and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult.

Evie worries he’ll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer.

Printz Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Libba Bray opens a brand-new historical series with The Diviners, where the glittering surface of the Roaring Twenties hides a mystical horror creeping across the country.

Downloading Audiobooks

There are a ton of apps and websites that allow you to download audiobooks. Some charge a fee for each download or charge monthly subscription fees, and others are free to members. Here are a few apps to check out when you are ready to start downloading:

Audible (Android, iOS: $14.95 per month subscription)
Audio Books by Audiobooks.com (Android, iOS: $14.95 per month subscription)
Bookmobile (iOS: $3.99 after free trial)
Nook Audiobooks (Android)
OverDrive (Android, iOS: Free through your local library)
Hoopla Digital (Android, iOS: Free through your local library)

Get Listening!

We are so excited that you are giving audiobooks a try. The whole family is sure to love the experience! If your tween or teen tries one out and it doesn’t strike their fancy, give another one of our recommendations a shot. Books are definitely a personal preference, but the good news is there are thousands of books out there just waiting to be read (or listened to!). If you or your student has a favorite audiobook that you think others in the My Virtual Academy community might love, pop on over to our Facebook page and share the title(s) with us. We look forward to hearing from you!

All book descriptions were pulled from www.barnesandnoble.com

Beating Senioritis: The Finish Line Is In Sight

Advice, Education, High School, Teenagers | 0 comments

We totally get it. The holidays are long gone. Your mind has turned to graduation and let’s face it, you are beyond ready to be done with high school! Senioritis is a very real thing that takes over those who are nearing graduation and it happens every year to the next group getting ready to graduate. Senioritis can be defined as the time when students who are in their final year of school feel an overwhelming lack of motivation and a decline in performance. Sound familiar?

There doesn’t need to be any shame in your game! Almost all of us can say we’ve been there. The end is approaching and after working so hard year after year, it’s easy to begin feeling “over it” and want to sail over what remains of the school year. While your eyes and mind are set on what is ahead after your high school graduation, keep in mind that you still have these final months to push through and keep up those grades. This is the time to make the most out of your senior year and enjoy it to the fullest!

School needs to be in the forefront.

While it’s tempting to toss your hands up and accept any grades that come your way these last few months, keep your eyes on the prize. You need to get through these remaining courses in order to graduate, so don’t be this close and blow it right at the end! You may be focused on employment after high school or maybe you’ve been accepted into college, but remember you have to finish this first. Also keep in mind that colleges can pull transcripts through the end of your high school career even though you may have been accepted already.

Focus on the subjects that excite you.

Do you have a passion for science? What about history? English? There’s bound to be something that ignites a fire inside of you and once you find that, study up on it or work a little ahead of pace while you are still in high school. This is the perfect time to delve a little deeper and see what career you may want to pursue surrounding that passion.

Connect with your teachers, mentors, etc.

The support team you have with My Virtual Academy is like no other. You have people cheering you on and wanting you to succeed everywhere you turn. If you think you can hide and sneak around these last few months, forget about it because they’ll find you and get you back on track. We all have your end goal in mind, and we want you to succeed. Take these last few months to soak in all the knowledge they have and utilize these supportive members to the fullest.

Set goals for yourself.

If you are having a really hard time with getting motivated to get up and do your schoolwork, why not give yourself some incentive? You could do things like tell yourself that if you complete your lesson or do a mastery test by a certain time, you’ll treat yourself to a healthy snack or a longer break than normal, for instance instead of taking a 5 minute break, you take a 15 because you reached your goal. Making learning fun is the key to staying interested and motivated.

We really work hard to make sure that each of our students succeeds and reaches graduation. We know this time can be hard. You might feel like you are already beyond your high school days and onto college, but reel yourself in and remember that you have just a short time to go, then you will be on to the next chapter of your life. Always remember that we are here for you, cheering you on along your educational journey!

Have you checked out or YouTube channel lately? If you’re still trying to make up your mind about where to further your education or what career path to take, head over to it and watch some of the videos. We’ve had some fantastic speakers at our Career Corner, and we hope that you liked our guest speakers as much as we did! Click here to start browsing! If you know someone that needs their high school diploma tell them to call us at 800-297-2119.

Standardized Tests: Preparing Your Teen

Advice, Education, High School, Test Preperation | 0 comments

Standardized testing…two words that evoke a lot of emotions with parents and educators and there are people on both sides of the fence. Standardized tests are tests that are administered and scored in a consistent (standard) way. Those who are for standardized tests think that they are fairer since every person receives the same test and then the same system is used to grade each test. The consistency allows for tests to be compared and is considered to be more objective. Due to all of these reasons, standardized tests are commonplace amongst schools and your student is pretty much guaranteed to take several during their school years. These tests don’t have to bring a lot of angst and anxiety to you or your student. There are ways to prepare your student so that they can take the test with confidence!

Study Ahead and Practice

Cramming for a test may be how most teens tend to study but encourage them to begin their studying well before the test date. When a student crams for a test, they may think they are able to retain the information, but in reality, they are more apt to make errors and end up in a panic during the test. They might get their facts mixed up or forget them all together. Studying for a week or two ahead of time allows the student to practice and practice until they know the facts like the back of their hand. Also, if you are able to track down practice tests, have your student take them. This will get them familiar with what the test format could be like and will allow them to test their skills and knowledge.

Scan the Test

Encourage your teen to take a look at the entire test before beginning. If they see areas of the test that they can answer quickly and correctly, have them begin there. Then, they can tackle the harder areas after. Your teen could also take inventory of how many questions are on the test and then determine how much time they have to spend on each question. This will assist them in budgeting their time and they’ll be able to decide if they have extra time to spend on the hard to solve problems. Also, if a question stumped your teen, clearing their mind and circling back to the problem may allow them to view the question in a new way or jog their memory of the answer.

Take a Breath

It’s easy for student’s to get anxious and start to panic if they hit an area of the test that is difficult to answer. That response is natural, but they should know what to do to cope and refocus their mind, should this anxiety set in. Encourage your student to take a moment, close their eyes, and clear their head. Taking a few slow, deep breaths will reduce some anxiety and will let your teen get a second wind. They will then be ready to tackle the remaining parts of the test with a renewed determination.

Always Read the Questions in Totality

It’s easy to skim a question and think you know what someone is asking but often times, even one word can change the whole meaning of what is being asked. It’s crucial that your student read the WHOLE question before choosing their answer. This allows for less thoughtless mistakes. Misreading and misinterpreting questions account for a lot of the incorrect answers on tests. Should time permit at the end of the test, encourage your student to review their answers. This review should help them catch any mistakes they made.

Process of Elimination

Let’s face it, there are bound to be questions that your teen simply doesn’t understand or wasn’t prepared to answer. Make sure they know how to address this, should the need arise. The best way to handle questions such as these are to use the process of elimination. They should start by eliminating any answers that they know are 100% incorrect. Once the wrong answers have been eliminated, they can make an educated guess as to what the correct answer is. Should they determine there is more than one right answer, they could select the answer of “more than one.” If that isn’t an option, then they are incorrect and they need to choose what answer best suits the question.

A Few Last Pointers…

Make sure your teen gets a solid night sleep the evening before the test. Staying up late to study won’t help their scores unfortunately. If they are tired when they take the test, mistakes are bound to be made.
Have your teen dress in comfortable, appropriate clothing so they aren’t distracted or fixing their clothing during the exam.
Cook a good, well-rounded breakfast for your child the morning of the test. A full belly will keep their mind off of stomach growls and onto the test at hand.
Tell them to use the bathroom before the test. A full bladder will be very distracting during the test and they may not be able to leave the room once the test is underway.
Lastly, make sure your teen has a few sharpened number 2 pencils and erasers. They may even be able to pack a small handheld pencil sharpener in case they need it during the exam.

Test taking skills are great things to learn and fine tune. People are given standardized tests in almost all years of life and knowing how to prepare, stay calm, and properly answer the questions will help your teen throughout the course of their lives. Have any questions on the type of tests that we administer or on our courses? Our staff is eager to talk to you so please, give us a call at 800-297-2119.

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