Mr. Vazquez recently completed an adjectives Spanish lesson with his scholar, who jumped right into the activity.

Fourth-grader Hunter A. completed a lesson on climate in Ms. Grimes’ class. Hunter researched climate in Temecula, CA, and added pertinent information to help understand the topography within the Temecula region.

Why did your family choose to learn from home instead of a traditional school building?

Lyric attended our local elementary school through fourth grade, but we discovered her peers were moving in directions that were not in line with our values. We thought that a certain clique mentality was going to become worse during grades 5-8, and Lyric was being bullied for standing up for the “underdogs” at her school, so we decided to try Compass Charter Schools, and we love it!

Does learning from home help your scholar achieve their goals?

Learning from home definitely works for us, but we know that’s not true for all families. Lyric socializes with other kids of all ages and backgrounds who volunteer in her community. We have suggested to other moms that they should try online learning. We have heard that they did try it, but their children ended up back at a traditional public school. We think that they couldn’t get past the “culture shock” that nobody tells you about when you transition to teaching at home. It can be incredibly demanding, and it is not for everyone!

A typical day depends on the workload. We are usually up between 6:30 and 8 am, and log on after breakfast and exercise. The days we do best are dictated by learning labs because on those days, we have a rigorous schedule. Other days allow for variables such as doctor visits, errands, other projects, etc. Lyric manages online selling in her own time and, depending on her sales, has to prioritize prepping packages and visits to the post office.

Lyric has had opportunities to shine at Compass. She had a rough time in ninth and tenth grade with the frequent doctor and physical therapy visits. The kids around her were not going through the same thing, so they were insensitive. At Compass, she has the freedom to be herself, and the other kids aren’t constantly “looking” at her and judging her.

There are always challenges, and I think this is why people drop out of online programs before really giving themselves time to succeed. The challenges are daily, in fact, and people need to allow for that. Whatever you have going on in your personal life has to take a back seat to your school day's priorities.

Personalized learning is definitely modeling to your children how one should work out of the home. You can’t allow people to come over and distract your family from getting work done. You know that if you indulge in taking it easy, the work won’t get done, and you can see on the dashboard the consequences of falling behind. I can sympathize with people who started distance learning this year, and they can’t handle it. I wonder how other parents feel about explaining coursework that they may not have seen since college or that they feel they can not explain to their own children.

Coming from a procurement/entertainment background, I thought I had worked in some pretty stressful corporate environments in the past. Still, they were actually easier than being a full-time learning coach! If no one in your circle is experiencing the same demands, there really aren’t other moms and dads who can laugh (or cry) with you about some of the challenges of trying to encourage your child to stay on pace, have enthusiasm for what can seem like impossible coursework, and tolerate criticisms from your peers because they don’t get why your academic life seems different than theirs.

Why did your family choose to learn from home instead of a traditional school building?

We originally decided to homeschool while we were living in New York for work. My husband's work schedule was Tuesday-Saturday until the late evening, so if we had our children attend a traditional school, they would have had very little time with dad. Homeschooling allowed us valuable family time. When we moved back to California, we decided to continue because we enjoyed the flexibility, ability to choose our own curriculum, and spend more time together.

Does learning from home help your scholar achieve their goals? If yes, please explain how.

Absolutely! We have learned that unit studies are one of our favorite ways to learn, and it allows us to do several subjects together, despite differences in grades. Learning together teaches our boys how to work together and brings different ideas to enhance learning. We have also focused on areas where our scholars struggle and move more quickly over areas where they clearly show proficiency.

Why did you decide to school from home with Compass Charter Schools? Describe your experience.

A friend with another charter explained the overall process to me and gave me a list of recommended schools. Compass was at the top of the list. After researching, we decided that charter homeschooling would be the best fit for our family, and Compass was incredibly responsive and lovely to work with. We have been with the same supervising teacher since we started, and we have an incredible relationship. She has helped us find a curriculum that would work well with our children (who have completely different learning styles) and encourage and support them. Compass has provided so many opportunities for our homeschooling journey that we would not have accomplished on our own.

Share a piece of advice you’d give to a parent thinking about taking their child out of school to school at home?

Do not try to replicate school at home. Don't try to overschedule each day. Instead, look for opportunities to ignite the love of learning in your child. If they get excited about a specific subject, investigate that subject together. So many areas of interest actually cross over multiple subjects, and your child will be more engaged in the learning process.

What do you, your scholar, and the family enjoy doing together during your free time?

We love traveling! We have family in Northern California, Colorado, and the east coast. We also love visiting San Diego and Palm Desert. Our scholars also enjoy playing soccer, golf, and tennis. We play lots of games and ride bikes.

What is your job title and job responsibilities at Compass? How long have you worked for this organization?

My title is Online High School Teacher, and I am responsible for engaging and supporting scholars in Compass's academic endeavors. I currently teach world history, and I am also passionate about the AVID program. I have worked for Compass for a little over a year.

Tell us your “why” for doing what you do here at Compass.

My “why” for doing what I do at Compass is helping scholars get on the right path to achieve their future goals. It is important to road map what scholars want to achieve as far as a future career and personal goals. This allows scholars to research the necessary post-secondary education that is required to achieve their future goals. It also provides scholars with the immediate motivation to achieve the academic goals to set them up for success in the future.

As an educator, is there a piece of advice you’d like to share with learning coaches or scholars?

The advice I would like to share with learning coaches and scholars is that it is important to make the most of each day. Using a calendar is the key to success. Plan out time for work in each course and also time for wellness every day. Mental wellness must be part of scholars' daily/weekly goals. Ultimately, the work you put in now will determine your future success or failure. Use your future goals as motivation now to propel you towards achieving your goals.

Share one thing about you that very few people know.

I worked on a presidential campaign, which required me to collaborate with the secret service!

What do you and your family like to do during your free time?

My family likes to make the most of our awesome Southern California weather and proximity to the beach by surfing, boogie boarding, and swimming in the ocean each week. We also enjoy skateboarding, hiking, and going to Disneyland.

What is your job title and job responsibilities at Compass? How long have you worked for this organization?

I have been a Supervising Teacher in the Options Program for over a year and a half.

Tell us your “why” for doing what you do here at Compass.

I love being able to help families create individualized learning experiences and help them be successful in ways they might not be able to at a public school. I love the families I work with and love getting to know the scholars and their interests.

As an educator, is there a piece of advice you’d like to share with learning

coaches or scholars?

Don’t be afraid to try new things. You never know what you might be good at, and you don’t want to look back and regret not trying for fear of failure.

Share one thing about you that very few people know.

I was afraid to take an art class because I didn’t want a failing grade on my report card. I found out years later that I actually really enjoy art.

What do you and your family like to do during your free time?

We love to watch movies, bake, go on walks, go to the beach, and spend time with extended family.

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