Building Confidence Through Online Learning
Editor’s Note: Lorie Gurnett has two children, fourteen-year-old Logan and thirteen-year-old Aurora. When both kids began struggling in public school, Gurnett looked for alternatives and found Flex ED. Here’s what she had to say about their Flex ED experience.
Why Flex ED?
There was a time when, because of bullying issues at public school, both my kids were really struggling socially and academically.
My daughter, Aurora, is normally pretty good at making friends, but we had just moved to a new area, and for some reason, she struggled to make friends. Her grades began to fall at the same time her self-esteem did. She no longer had any interest in the activities she used to enjoy.
The Gurnett family.
Logan, my son, also struggled. Every summer, we would ask him if he was getting excited for school to start again. Three summers ago, he broke down into tears and begged us not to make him go again.
We needed something different. We wanted more possibilities and more flexibility for them, without having to worry about them being bullied.
What was the transition to Flex ED like?
The first year Logan was in Flex Ed, Aurora was still in public school. She was a little jealous because she knew Logan was getting more time with mom than she was, and she didn’t enjoy taking the bus to school by herself, either. She was struggling academically, too, so I figured she should try Flex ED, at least for one year, and we would see how it went with both kids at home. It was a little more challenging having them both at home, but I noticed how much their confidence grew. Things began to change.
What changed?
Logan’s first year was very positive. Before Flex ED, he was barely making 60%, but now he has excellent grades. This last year, his third year with Flex ED, was phenomenal for him. He had an amazing teacher, who has actually been with him since the beginning. He really enjoys doing group presentations with other kids, and the interactions he has with other students online. He gets really excited when he knows he has a presentation coming up. And Aurora’s grades improved in her first year, too. It worked out great.
What does ‘flexibility’ look like with Flex ED?
For us, the flexibility we have with Flex ED means that the kids have more time to be creative. They can explore things they’re actually interested in. My kids have always been interested in drama and music. Although a lot of schools have those as electives, with Flex ED we can schedule in lessons during typical school hours.
Logan has started playing the drums and has grown a lot in his favorite hobby, video editing. They actually make movies now. Aurora has taken up piano and recently got a guitar. Last year she also got into singing.
I also like the fact that we’re able to plan family vacations when the rest of the family is available. That’s always helpful. Even if the children have work they need to complete, they can always bring their work along so they don’t fall behind.
About Flex ED
Flex ED offers a unique education alternative that embraces a “school without walls” approach to learning. The program is flexible to meet the growing needs of students and their families in the greater global community. Flex ED’s empowerment model for teaching and learning is on the cutting edge of educational trends, upholding the philosophy that school occurs wherever learning takes place. Through technology, social media, and teacher support, students learn and grow in a safe, supportive online environment.
Flex ED provides the complete Saskatchewan curriculum of education, supervised and marked by a Saskatchewan certified teacher.
Whether students are looking for an online school or need help supplementing a homeschool curriculum, Flex ED can help to facilitate those needs. Learn more at: https://www.flexed.ca
