How to Manage School and Work

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Matt Hillesland

One of the major benefits of a Pennsylvania virtual charter school is having the flexibility to set your own schedule. This makes online schooling very desirable for students who need to work while pursuing an education. School and work are both your obligations, but balancing your academic responsibilities with your work commitments isn’t always easy. Fortunately, there are a lot of students who are in your shoes, and it can be done. Here are a few tips to help you manage school and work.

Build a support system

If you’re a student with a job, building a strong support system can help you succeed. You do not have to go at this alone, so surround yourself with people who will support you. Along with your friends and family, reach out to your teachers and learning coaches to make them aware of your work obligations; they can help you develop a school schedule and routine that work for you.

Find a flexible job

Find a job that will accommodate your busy high school schedule, including your schoolwork and extracurricular activities. It’s usually best to choose a job with a fixed schedule, so that you aren’t constantly moving your school routine around week after week. Let your work manager know about your academic obligations and the maximum number of hours you can work each week. Also make sure the job allows you to request off when necessary; request off work well in advance if you need extra time for big tests and assignments.

Be mindful of deadlines

While virtual charter schools offer flexibility, academic deadlines are very concrete. Be mindful of your deadlines, and be sure your work schedule allows you to meet them. As soon as you receive your syllabus, create daily to-do lists to prioritize your responsibilities. Again, utilize your teachers and learning coaches. They can help you craft a work schedule around your deadlines.

Stay healthy

Managing school and work can be stressful, and being overly stressed can take a toll on your body. Make sure you are living a healthy lifestyle to avoid feeling burnt out. Eat well, remain active, and get seven to eight hours of rest every night.

Transitioning from a Traditional to Online School

Posted on November 15, 2016November 15, 2016 by Matt Hillesland

With the rise of technology, online schooling has become a popular option among students of all ages. While online education is common at the university level, it has become prevalent at the high school and middle school levels as well.

A lot of students grades six through 12 are considering making the switch from traditional to virtual schooling because they feel it better suits their lifestyle and academic needs. For someone who has spent most of their years in a traditional school, the switch to an online school can seem like a big transition. Consider these tips for a smooth transition to online learning and to get the most out of your educational experience.

Designate a Specific Learning Space

While PA cyber schools don’t have distractions like class clowns and bullies, it’s important to create a designated home study space, where you can remain focused on your school work. This space should be someplace quiet, where you won’t be distracted by family members or the television. A desk in a secluded home office, for instance, makes a great learning space.

Commit to a Schedule

One of the major perks of being a cyber school student is getting to set your own schedule. With this, a cyber charter school offers great flexibility, allowing you to learn when it’s best for you. But, because you are responsible for setting your schedule and completing your schoolwork on your own time, you need to be very organized and create a daily schedule.

Whether or not you’re someone who needs to balance work and school, reach out to your teachers and learning coaches to help you build a schedule. Your teachers and coaches can help you create a schedule around your other obligations to lay the foundation for academic success.

Utilize Your Resources

A key difference in online schooling is you aren’t being taught by a teacher in person. Just because you can’t raise your hand to ask a question or speak with a teacher after class, it doesn’t mean your teachers aren’t available whenever you need them. In a cyber charter school, teachers are always available, but you have to reach out to them. Your teachers and learning coaches are just a click away, so maintain open communication with them and ask for help and guidance whenever you need it.

5 Back to School Tips for Online Students

Posted on September 20, 2016 by Matt Hillesland

After a summer full of fun and sun, students across Pennsylvania are gearing up for Back to School. The new school year provides the perfect opportunity for online students to start fresh and set the stage for a successful year. Our Pennsylvania virtual charter school is sharing five Back to School tips for cyber students.

Get Organized

Start the school year off the right way by getting organized. Most cyber students work from home, so it’s beneficial to create a designated learning space. Assigning a specific place for school allows students to eliminate distractions and fully concentrate on their studies. Choose a comfortable, quiet space that offers plenty of room for your notebooks, computer, and other supplies. Also get organized by creating physical and/or electronic folders for each course, and use a planner to keep all of your schoolwork and social activities in order.

Set Attainable Goals

Setting personal goals can increase your motivation and improve your performance. Perhaps you want to make Honor Roll, get a B on your math exam, or improve your time management skills. Set short-term and long-term goals that are attainable, specific, and measureable, and determine the steps you’ll take to achieve them. For instance, if you want to improve your time management skills, you can make a list of each task you need to complete each day and assign them a specific time slot for when they’ll be completed.

Along with setting goals, decide how you’ll reward yourself for achieving them. Having an incentive will help you work harder toward accomplishing them. Talk to your parents about your goals and what they can do to help you reach them.

Establish a Routine

Many students choose a Pennsylvania virtual charter school because it offers greater flexibility than a traditional school. This flexibility puts students in charge of managing their time. Establishing a routine for your schoolwork can help you stay on track.

Get to Know Your Teachers

At 21st Century Cyber Charter School, your teachers and learning coaches are here to help you succeed. Just because you’re not in a traditional classroom setting doesn’t mean your teachers and counselors aren’t available to offer assistance and guidance. Get to know your teachers, principals, and other school staff and learn how you can reach them. 21CCCS also provides every student with a learning coach, who helps keep track of your progress and communicates with you at least on a bi-weekly basis to ensure you are receiving the instruction and guidance you need.

Check Your Tech

21CCCS students are supplied with all the technology they need for their schoolwork, including a Macbook, tablet, calculator, and more. When you receive these items, take the time to familiarize yourself with them, as well as any computer programs or software you may be using for your courses. Our new student orientation will help you with this.

Is a Cyber Charter School Right for Your Child?

Posted on September 8, 2016September 20, 2016 by Matt Hillesland

Pennsylvania virtual charter schools are revolutionizing what it means for a child to get a truly individualized, high quality education—and one that prepares them for the digital future. Online charter schools provide an alternative to traditional K-12 schooling, one where students can work asynchronously and in a more self-directed way, while striving for the highest possible academic achievement. Many parents find themselves wondering if this kind of school might be right for their child. And for many, the answer is yes.

There are many different kinds of families and children who choose a Pennsylvania virtual charter school. It’s a personal choice that only you can make. Here are some of the top reasons we see with students who thrive in the virtual environment:

To learn to be self-directed. One of the most important life skills for anyone growing up today is being capable of taking initiative and managing oneself in self-directed work activities. This has always been a key skill for leaders and is increasingly in demand for top jobs across all industries. A virtual charter school helps students learn this habit at a young age, by allowing them to structure their own schedules around fixed academic requirements. Academic mentors will help the student build a schedule that will allow him or her to be successful.

To provide stability with busy schedules. All kinds of families find value in an online school, but for many, it’s a way to accommodate a life that is busy with other interests. Traditionally, students would attempt to balance a schedule that required them to be in school for seven straight hours with pursuit of an outside interest such as acting, dancing, music, or athletics. With an online school, students are still able to have the structure of formal schooling while working their school hours around an intense pursuit of their interests.

To teach 21st century computer skills. The future of business is online. When your child grows up, they will perform many of their work tasks in an online environment and often work with colleagues and supervisors who are in different cities or even on different continents. By growing up in this kind of environment, they will be at home in tomorrow’s professional climate.

Individualized education. The flexible environment provided by cyber charter schools allows students to build an educational experience tailored to their specific needs. Students are able to structure their days around a school schedule that suits them, spending less time on subjects they learn easily and spending more time on subjects they struggle with.

How to Overcome Test Anxiety

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Matt Hillesland

Does the thought of taking an exam make your heart race and palms sweat? Though it’s normal to feel a little nervous before a test, feelings of intense worry or self-doubt can hinder your test-taking abilities, as well as cause discomfort. People of all ages can suffer from test taking anxiety— even adult professionals taking a certification test.

Fortunately, there are many techniques that can help manage and even overcome your test anxiety. However, while these strategies may for work some, they may not work for everyone. Talk our cyber schools’ counselors or a mental health provider for further assistance with overcoming your anxiety.

Come prepared. Being ill-prepared for a test can contribute to your anxiety. Make sure you are preparing for your exam using a study approach that works for you. To do this, think about how you retain information best. Some students are visual learners, while others may benefit most from reading and writing the material. You’ll feel more at ease if you’ve thoroughly studied and practiced the material that will be on the test.

Learn to relax. There are a variety of relaxation techniques that can help you remain relaxed and confident come exam time. Focus on calming yourself through deep breathing exercises, relaxing your muscles, and refocusing on a positive outcome.

Think positive. Approach the test with confidence and personalize your success using a strategy that works for you. You may prefer repeating some words of encouragement to yourself, or closing your eyes and visualizing a positive outcome. Focus on clearing your mind of negative thoughts, and view the test as an opportunity to show off your knowledge and hard work.

Talk to your teachers. You don’t have to feel alone when you have test anxiety. Your teachers are here to help and support you. Talk to your teachers and let them know what’s going on. Your teacher can help you feel more comfortable and offer suggestions, as well as help you understand what will be on the test and how to prepare.

Remember, if you suffer from test anxiety, you are not alone. Reach out to your family, counselors, teachers and classmates for support.

5 Effective Study Tips for High Schoolers

Posted on May 17, 2016May 17, 2016 by Matt Hillesland

Developing good study habits is crucial to academic success. Not only does studying help students earn high marks on exams, but also it enables them to develop a more thorough understanding of a given subject. Here are some effective study tips to help students expand their knowledge and succeed academically.

Identify your learning style. Everyone learns differently. The learning style that works for you may not work for someone else. Generally speaking, there are four types of learners: visual, auditory, read-write, and kinesthetic. Understand which type of learner you are and cater your study approach to best suit your needs. Maybe you learn best with visuals. Or, perhaps writing down what you’re reading helps you retain information best.

Minimize distractions. Create a designated study space that’s free of noise and other distractions. If you’re studying at school, pick a secluded area in the library where you can really focus. At home, choose a quiet room that’s closed off from the rest of the house and away from the common living spaces. Your room may be a good place to study if you have a desk. Studying in bed can result in you laying down and falling asleep. No matter where you study, avoid any distractions that can disrupt your focus, such as your phone and TV.

Don’t procrastinate. When studying for an exam, many students make the mistake of procrastinating. Putting off your studies until the last minute and cramming the night before is not a good study practice. Cramming makes it difficult for your brain to retain all the information you are learning. Instead, study your coursework throughout the semester. In addition to your assignments, study your coursework a little every night. This will lessen your workload come exam time and ensure you’re really understanding and retaining the information.

Ask questions. Reach out to your teachers if you have questions about any of the material you’re reviewing. Teachers are available to answer any questions you may have. Reaching out for help will also show your teacher that you’re dedicated to the class and really want to learn.

Get a good night’s sleep. The night before a big test, make sure you get a full eight hours of sleep. While you may be tempted to stay up late studying, doing so will only hurt your chances of acing the test. Your brain needs to be well rested so you can remain focused and attentive at test time.

To improve your grades and expand your knowledge, utilize these five study tips. For more helpful resources, visit our online school in PA.

October is Bully Prevention Month!

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Ben Ozgur

It’s October, and that means a lot of things! Breast Cancer Awareness, Fall Festivals, and Bully Prevention Month. This is a time of the year in which people come together to raise awareness about bullying. Here are some quick facts about bullying and the things you can do to help when you know others are being bullied!

The Facts:

An estimated 160,000 children miss school every day because they are fearful of intimidation, taunting, and ridicule by their classmates.

1 in 7 students in grades K-12 is a bully or a victim of bullying.

90% of 4^th through 8^th graders report being victimized by bullying.

4,400 deaths per year, according to the CDC, are caused by suicide. It is the 3^rd leading cause of death among young people.

61% of students said they shoot others because thy have been victims of physical abuse at home.

Types of Bullying:

Verbal: teasing, name calling, insulting

Social/Indirect: spreading stories/rumors, exclusion from groups, embarrassing someone in public

Physical: hitting, kicking, punching, spitting, tripping, pushing, breaking someone’s things

Cyber: using social media (Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Blogs, etc) or other technologies to bully

Prevention:

So, what can you do about bullying? Some of these ideas might be helpful to you.

Make sure your school has a clear policy in place to define and deal with issues of bullying.

Start a school club or program for Anti-bullying.

Use social media for good! Help to spread the word about the negative repercussions of bullying.

Talk to someone! Your teachers, guidance counselors, friends, and others are here to help you!

Continue to educate. Knowledge is power. Spread the word about bullying, what it is, and how it can be prevented. Become an advocate today!

Time Management!

Posted on October 4, 2013 by Ben Ozgur

We are well into Quarter 1! Great job to everyone who has been working hard in classes. Your teachers are glad and excited to see such great progress!

In an effort to help you keep on track, we wanted to share some great tips. What is time management all about? How can you get on the right track and organize your day in the best possible way? Read below to learn more about time management.

1.) Discover Your Schedule.

What do you do everyday? How is your schedule currently arranged? The first step to designing a time management plan that will work for you is to recognize and then analyze what you are currently doing. Then, you can start to break down how you work. You can ask yourself questions such as these:

– Do you spend several hours each day working at all once?

– Do you need to take frequent breaks?

– What are the biggest distractions for you?

2.) Build Blocks of Time

Are there certain things that you would like to do in specific chunks of time? Perhaps you love art and would like to spend at least two hours each day working on that. Perhaps you struggle with science and need to dedicate a lot of time to that. Whatever you need to schedule in order to complete your work should live on a schedule, broken into feasible chunks of time. Perhaps 2 hours of science or math will not work for you. That’s ok! Maybe 15 minute chunks will work better. Trial and error will help you decide. Piece together something that you can feasibly see yourself completing, and take it from there.

3.) Create Breaks!

It is unrealistic to work all day every day. You need to make sure to include appropriate break times. That means just the right amount of them, and breaks that last for the right amount of time. Maybe taking a two-hour break will become too distracting, making it harder to get back to work. Figure out what is feasible for your learning style and stick to it!

4.) Study Space

Be sure that the area in which you are working is appropriate for your work. Your study and work space should be quiet, comfortable, temperature appropriate, and productive. Setting up shop in your living room with the television on may not help! Sitting in a space that is too cold or too hot can even become distracting! Ask your parents/guardians for help. Make your study space someplace you’d like to be each day.

5.) Make Time for Review

Your attempt at time management may not be successful the first time around. That is OK! This means that you may need to map out a new plan or a new schedule. Talk with your learning coach, teachers, and parents/guardians for assistance. Trying a new schedule, blocks of time, break routine, or study space is completely acceptable! Evaluating your needs on a regular basis is important. Be sure to openly communicate your learning needs so that you can become successful!

Life As A Cyber Senior!

Posted on October 2, 2013October 27, 2015 by Ben Ozgur

Hi, everyone! My name is Hannah Bisbing and I am a senior at 21CCCS. Last year, I was fortunate enough to compose a blog post instructing students how to cope with school-related stress. This year, I have returned to the 21CCCS blog for a new adventure. Throughout the year, I will be updating our blog with posts about senior life. These blogs will cover topics including: the challenges of college applications, SATs, dealing with senioritis, and other random anxieties.

~Welcome to “Life as a Cyber Senior!”~

To begin our first discussion, I will provide some personal information about my current school life. Within the past month, I have submitted two college applications to attain a priority status at Pennsylvania State University. I have written numerous personal/supplemental essays for other schools, studied for the October 5^th SAT, and attempted to stay on track with my schoolwork for 21CCCS. Without a doubt, this is certainly an exciting, yet chaotic, time for seniors. While school will be demanding this year, especially for the first semester, each of us should try to enjoy our hectic experiences as much as possible. That’s because for many of us, college life is less than a year away!

Last week, I also attended an informative event at Penn State, which was targeted at high school seniors. I actually went to the same event during my junior year, but the experience was even more thrilling the second time around. This time I knew that I had already applied! These types of occasions are excellent ways to become familiar with college settings, to ask questions to knowledgeable staff and students, and to visualize your contribution to a particular school. I highly suggest that seniors, juniors, and perhaps some eager sophomores take part in a few of these trips before deciding where to apply to school. Sometimes the college where you think you “should attend” is not actually where you truly belong. Feeling comfortable at a college and being able to envision yourself succeeding there is just as important as any college’s academic aspects.

For now, my main advice about getting back into the school cycle is to breathe. Focus on your goals and keep plugging along with your work. You can do this! Just take one step at a time.

And just for seniors, here’s a little reminder:

…but I think we can all agree that the meme goes a bit more like this…..

If you would like to comment or share any information, please visit the 21^st Century Cyber Charter School Facebook page. Feedback from students, parents, and teachers could be featured in upcoming posts!

Very Cool Event This Weekend!

Posted on September 26, 2013 by Ben Ozgur

For more information, CLICK HERE and access the web page directly.