What;parent;couldn’t;use assistance in identifying skill;gaps,;choosing;cur- riculum, having support
and accountability to create a structure
for their student’s learning. And who
couldn’t use knowledgeable resource
people to provide guidance through the
setbacks along the learning journey?
Wings to Soar Online Academy can provide this and also create a Custom Learn-ing;Plan;with;just;the;right;amount;of
challenge to create the perfect opportunity for your child to SOAR! I was quite
impressed at the thoroughness of Wings
to Soar Online Academy. (www.wings
tosoaronline.com). Beth Ellen Nash is
curriculum coordinator and intervention specialist for Wings to Soar Online
Academy.;Beth;Ellen,;thank;you;for;shar-ing with The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
from your many years of experience
working;with;homeschoolers.
TOS: How did you come to start Wings
to Soar?
Beth Ellen: I ran a homeschool-style
school;in;Madison,;WI;for;8;years;for
outside-the-box 5th-12th graders. In
2011,;I;extended;our;reach;to;the;many
families;with;struggling;learners;I’d;met
as;I’ve;spoken;and;consulted;at;home-school conventions throughout the
country by transitioning online.
TOS: What does the name Wings to
Soar represent?
Beth Ellen:;Sometimes;kids;come;to
us;with;broken;wings;and;we;help;mend
those wings by accepting where they are
as a valid starting point. The soaring eagle is a symbol of hope that every student
can soar to reach their fullest potential
when provided a learning path that is
tailored to their unique needs.
TOS: What sets Wings to Soar apart?
Beth Ellen: Wings to Soar comes
alongside the homeschooling parent to
provide assessment, curricular guidance,
encouragement, and a combination of
online, print, and hands-on curriculum
to meet the needs of the individual child
within the context of the family. We provide as little or as much support, structure, and accountability as needed so
families;don’t;have;to;do;this;alone.;We
can;flexibly;adjust;for;the;realities;of;life
and;work;through;challenges;together;as
co-teachers with the parents.
TOS: How can a family see if Wings to
Soar is a good match?
Beth Ellen:;We;offer;a;free;2-4;week
trial period for families to try out a num-
ber;of;our;over;two;dozen;online;pro-
grams;while;we;zero;in;on;the;Custom
Learning;Plan;that;is;just;right;for;that
particular child.
TOS: What might a Custom Learning
Plan;look;like?
Beth Ellen:;A;3-6;year;range;in;aca-
demic;skills;with;any;given;child;is;not
uncommon.;A;chronological;5th;grader
may be on level in reading, with advanced vocabulary, lagging in writing,
and struggle with 1st grade spelling
words,;all;while;approaching;Pre-Alge-bra;level;in;math.;No;wonder;a;one-size
fits;all;approach;to;learning;in;a;tradi-tional;classroom;hasn’t;worked;well!
We start with assessments to identify
skill;gaps;in;math,;reading,;spelling,;vo-cabulary, grammar, and writing. While
it’s;important;to;back;down;to;the;cur-rent functional academic level to build
a solid foundation, for the student to
catch up, we need to gradually build up
the time and intensity at that just right
level.;We;recommend;modifications;and
accommodations as needed for success
in age-appropriate science and social
studies;while;shoring;up;weak;skill;areas.
We;draw;upon;over;25;online;curricular
programs and numerous print resources
to;create;a;Custom;Learning;Plan;that;is
tailored;to;each;child’s;unique;learning
needs.;We;are;flexible;with;our;curricu-lum when needed and strive to provide
the challenge each student needs while
166;Annual;Print;Book;2014;•;Mid-Year;Enrollment;www.TheOldSchoolhouse.com
Child’s;Wings;So
They Can Soar!
By;Heather;Mader
We treat each child as an
individual, not a label.
