The Brylski Company  |  A Full Service PR Firm
  • Home
  • Who We Are
  • What We Do
  • ELECTORAL CAMPAIGNS
  • Press Releases
  • Contact

Louisiana parents taking on the role of "Learning Coach"

11/12/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
The parents of more than 1200 Louisiana students have learned that one of the responsibilities of a free, virtual charter education for their child is being right there with the child’s day-to-day school activities.

“At Louisiana Connections Academy, our parents are actively involved in a student’s achievement and accountability,” said Principal Caroline Wood. “Our parents serve as learning coaches with their children.”

This is actually a role most parents look forward to playing. After all, some parents enrolled their child in a virtual, public charter school like Louisiana Connections Academy because of the flexibility it allows for planning the family schedule.

“Being a learning coach to my three kids has been gratifying to help them achieve academically while also giving our family a chance to have time to handle our personal schedules,” said parent and learning coach Caprice Abed.

As Louisiana Connections Academy’s Parent Outreach Coordinator, Shelly Centanni is quick to point out, a Learning Coach is not a substitute teacher. Rather, the parent or guardian at home is a facilitator ensuring that their student is completing assignments and attending on-line lessons.
          
“In early grades, the parent ensures the child is practicing necessary skills taught by the teacher and through the curriculum in order to master grade level concepts. But these parent responsibilities decrease as a child progresses to middle and high school and becomes a more independent learner,” said Ms. Centanni.
One of the most important duties of a parent as Learning Coach is to establish a “classroom” in the home, so that the child has an optimal learning environment, just as they would at a brick-and-mortar school. 

A home “classroom” prepares the student, as well as keeps the school’s materials from taking over the entire home, said Mrs. Abed.            

Ms. Centanni conducts two “live lesson” sessions each week for parents covering the basics on how to navigate Connexus, the school’s learning management system. Connexus is like a teacher lesson planner that keeps the educators, parent learning coach and student on track.

“I’m here to address any questions or concerns parents have so that they feel confident and are effective in their role as Learning Coach,” said Ms. Centanni. The school also offers a blog where parents can interact with each other and offer tips. Throughout the school year, there are orientations, tutorials, support networks of parents, and on-going interaction from teachers and counselors to keep parents on track with their child’s progress.            

“It’s important to understand what a child needs to succeed in a virtual charter, just as it is important for me to set by boundaries,” said Mrs. Abed. “My success is as important to my kids succeeding in this school as their commitment.”            

Tips include knowing when to shut off the “learning coach” role, building in effective play-time, and letting the parent who works outside the home serve as the night-time coach. One parent let her husband serve as the “home principal” to resolve differences between her and her child regarding a classroom issue. 

As recent surveys of LACA parents show, they are proud of their accomplishments as well as their children. High marks for the school’s teachers, curriculum, individualized learning and scheduling flexibility result in high marks for the school. Nine out of 10 parents would recommend the school to others.            

Now in its third academic year, LACA, which serves all grades K-12, said they are strongest with students from grades 4-11; competitive with state averages on ACT and other tests; and will retain at least 75 percent of enrolled students from one year to the next.            

“The biggest challenge for our school is not keeping the student engaged; it is keeping the Learning Coach comfortable with their responsibilities. It’s a great expectation and a great gift to work so hard with your child,” said Principal Wood.    
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    March 2022
    October 2021
    September 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Categories

    All
    Arnie Fielkow
    Assessor Erroll Williams
    Audubon
    Baton Rouge
    Ben Franklin
    Ben Franklin Elementary
    Charters
    Conspiracy Theory
    Eastbank Collaborative
    Eastbank-collaborative
    Einstein
    Geri Baloney
    Gnoccs
    Greater New Orleans Collaborative
    Hynes
    IHSNO
    ISL
    Jeffrey Rouse
    Jfk
    Kenner Discovery
    Laca
    Lake Forest
    Lapcs
    Leesville
    Louisiana Caregivers
    Louisiana Policy Institute For Children
    Lusher
    Mandie Landry
    Morris Jeff
    Nbrpa
    Noise Ordinance
    Noise Ordinance
    Nomma
    Opioid
    Paulette Irons
    Sci High
    SLC GNO
    SLC-GNO
    Smithstag
    Stacy Head
    Stacy Head
    Teacher Fair
    Trineday
    University View Academy
    Warren Easton
    Warren Perrin
    Wilson
    Young Audiences

    RSS Feed

© Brylski Company 2019
  • Home
  • Who We Are
  • What We Do
  • ELECTORAL CAMPAIGNS
  • Press Releases
  • Contact