Sarah TimleckB次元官网网址檚 son started Grade One in a brick-and-mortar school, but it wasnB次元官网网址檛 a good fit.
B次元官网网址淚 needed to make a change that would benefit my son,B次元官网网址� she says.
After researching a variety of options, Timleck chose , the South Island Distance Education School. Unlike home schooling, SIDES is a public school in the Saanich School District and offers remote learning with fully qualified B.C. teachers.
B次元官网网址淲ith other home schooling options thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of extra work to build a curriculum from scratch,B次元官网网址� Timleck says. As a single parent working full-time, Timleck thought she was too busy to make it work. B次元官网网址淚t feels almost effortless now. Home learning is so flexible.B次元官网网址�
Public school, from home
In the , certified teachers guide Home Facilitators (parents or guardians) through the B.C. curriculum and take care of assessing studentsB次元官网网址� learning.
B次元官网网址淎ll the content online is sorted into easy-to-follow buckets for reading, math and all the other subjects. We get step-by-step instructions for the assignments with all the materials weB次元官网网址檒l need and the textbooks weB次元官网网址檒l be using. When my son has completed the assignment I scan and upload it and the teacher grades it and provides feedback,B次元官网网址� Timleck says.
SIDES provides report cards three times a year, and teachers offer support and coaching to improve the educational experience through all assignments. Kids arenB次元官网网址檛 alone either B次元官网网址� TimleckB次元官网网址檚 son spends Thursday and Friday mornings face-to-face with classmates at SIDES, and goes on field trips like any other student.
Hands-on, flexible, consistent
School Principal Karen Flello says students enrol with for all sorts of reasons including medical fragility, maintaining consistency through travel, or just to get more time with family at home.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e had students who enrolled in kindergarten and continued straight through to Grade 12 in our program, and weB次元官网网址檝e had students who travelled with their parents on a temporary work assignment who kept up with the B.C. curriculum while abroad,B次元官网网址� she says.
Students are expected to work through the existing program if they are able, but the school can provide adaptations and the support of special education teachers and assistants to accommodate a variety of needs and provide extra feedback.
B次元官网网址淒istance education doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean everythingB次元官网网址檚 on a screen. The elementary program helps Home Facilitators use books, manipulatives and other tools to encourage play-based learning,B次元官网网址� Flello says.
B次元官网网址淚 love knowing what my son is learning day-to-day,B次元官网网址� Timleck says. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not just dropping him off at school and crossing my fingers. I know how heB次元官网网址檚 doing, what his strengths are, and how I can better help him.B次元官网网址�
Enrolment opens May 1 each year for September schooling. Learn more about the program by visiting . To get in touch about elementary programs call 250-479-7125 or email sides@saanichschools.ca.
