As parent, how can you ensure that your student will succeed in Ignite Christian Academy this year? A lot depends on how you start out. Please let me emphasize a few key points:
1. Map out your school year. Because you need flexibility, you determine the plan that shows where your student should be in his courses on any given date. Switched-On Schoolhouse® has a powerful Calendar/Lesson Plan tool to help you with this, but if you are using LIFEPAC® or Switched-On Online®, I recommend you use a printed calendar. Count the number of days in your desired school year and the number of assignments in SOO courses. Using the course syllabus helps. If using LIFEPACs, count the total pages, including tests and projects. On your calendar, pencil in the page or lesson numbers that your student should complete in each subject on each school day to finish by your target end date. Once you have your student's year planned, stick to it. Have your student do schoolwork in the evening or on Saturday if he falls behind. You can revise your plan if you must, but do whatever it takes to keep your student on the revised plan.
2. Provide an environment conducive to learning. This can be the dining room table or any quiet corner of the house where you, the parent, can observe student activity. Things like phones, TV or radio programs, family noises, an uncomfortable chair or wrong desk height, cold drafts, glare on a computer screen, or too much activity outside a near window can be highly distractive. Good lighting is important, and unobtrusive Christian or classical music in the background can help some students. As necessary, eliminate surreptitious web browsing, open computer games, texting, and other distractions.
3. Establish a daily schedule and routine. Students (including teenagers) do better when following a familiar routine. It doesn't matter to Ignite Christian Academy if your student's school day begins at 6:30 or 10:00, but daily consistency will help your student get down to work quickly each day. Make it a habit to start each new school day by having prayer with your student; this is a Christian school, after all, and God is pleased with sincere communication. Schedule short break times. Students (boys, especially) should not be kept sitting in a chair for more than an hour at a time.
4. Maintain awareness. Probably the number one reason that a student fails to complete distance education courses in Ignite Christian Academy is this: the student is not doing what the parent believes he is doing. It does not take a lot of parent time, but it does take a commitment to supervise. Someone once said, "Children don't do what is expected; they do what is inspected." Get familiar with using your student's Switched-On program to review your student's progress, and if using LIFEPACs, make sure that electronic project submissions are taking place. If unclear how to navigate, ask a teacher or your Academy Service Representative; they would be delighted to help you.
In summary, while not the same thing as homeschooling, enrollment in Ignite Christian Academy is a lot like homeschooling since success depends a great deal on parental involvement. The academy can provide curriculum materials, programmed instruction, and teacher support and grading, but the parent must provide physical supervision, a workable environment, and scheduling. We know you can do this well, and we are excited about the potential for your student this year! May God richly bless your investment in Christian education with Ignite Christian Academy!
Dave Bauman
Ignite Christian Academy Principal