Today, my friend Crystal is here to tell us more about another education option, Hoosier Academy hybrid school.
Trying to figure out what we would do for my five-year-old’s kindergarten year was one of the most stressful things I’ve been through as a mom. I knew that our local public school was not a good fit for us, and private school was not in our budget. I was 100% sold on homeschooling, but my husband was hesitant. In addition, my social butterfly son was looking forward to having classmates, a lunch box, and a other aspects of the “real school experience.” Was there a solution that would work for all of us?
When I heard about K12’s Hoosier Academy Hybrid School program, I was immediately interested. Hoosier’s hybrid students do web-based learning at home three days a week, and then spend two days in a more traditional classroom setting. It sounded like the perfect blend for our family, so we decided to do more research. The more I learned about the program, the more I was sure I wanted to try it for our first year of school.
We are now about a month away from completing our first year of hybrid school at Hoosier Academy, and I am incredibly pleased about the progress our son has made. We’re proud to be a Hoosier Academy family, and we’re looking forward to many more years of learning there.
So, How Does It Work?
Monday through Wednesday, my son and I sit down in front of the computer and log in to our OLS (online school). That’s where we record attendance and follow the guides for our lessons each day. Our school is online, but we definitely don’t sit in front of a computer all day! K12 sends each Hoosier family all of the books and supplies that they’ll need for each lesson. We read, do worksheets, and work on projects, just like other students.
The computer is integral to what we do, but the computer does not teach my son, I teach my son. As my son’s designated learning coach, it’s my responsibility to work through the lessons with him and make sure his work is getting completed. This is not a program for parents who can’t invest several hours a day working with their child. Parents are expected to be actively involved in the learning process.
That being said, we have lots of flexibility. For us, most at-home days we do school in our pajamas. We may double up on lessons on Monday so we can go on an outing on Tuesday. We can do lessons early in the morning, or later in the evening. We can spend extra time in areas where we’re struggling, and move more quickly through the easy stuff. And if we have questions, we have the support of our awesome teacher and principal.
Thursdays and Fridays, my son grabs his lunch box and backpack, and we drop him off at Lynn Black Elementary in Lawrence. He goes to school from 8:15 to 3:15 on those days, and gets to have many of the “normal” experiences we associate with school. There’s a library and a playground, but there are also smaller classes and some of the best teachers you’ll ever meet. I enjoy volunteering at the school so much because I love seeing our teachers in action. Dr. Chalker, our principal, is a hands-on leader who you’ll see at drop-off and pick-up each day. He also spends lots of time in the classroom with the kids, and he isn’t afraid to join my son’s Kindergarten class for circle time.
Hoosier Academy is an Indiana public charter school. Because of this, our students do take the ISTEP and IREAD tests. If this is a dealbreaker for you, then Hoosier may not be the right fit for your family. We view it as a necessary evil; we don’t love standardized testing, but we understand that it’s something we have to do if we want our school to continue to exist. Even with ISTEP requirements, these are not teachers who are just teaching kids how to pass a test. The staff works hard to make learning fun, exciting, and relevant for the students. The K12 curriculum is robust, and I am impressed by all the things we are covering this year.
How Can I Learn More?
Our school has lots of great informational events coming up in the next few months, and I highly encourage you to take advantage of those. In addition, if you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact me. I’d love to share more with you about why we love our school. So many people we talk to tell us, “I didn’t know something like that existed!” Not only does a hybrid program exist, it can be a great option for families who want the best of both worlds. As you consider your options for the fall, don’t rule out the hybrid school experience!
Crystal is a freelance writer, blogger, wife, and homeschooling mom who lives in Indianapolis. When she’s not teaching reading and taking her kids on adventures, she blogs about life and parenthood at Mom For Less. She also manages a faith-based website, Steadfast Women. You can follow Crystal on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
