THE PART YOU PLAY
Embracing the Role of Learning Coach
Does a parent have to be present for online school? Here’s what we’ve learned through our years of providing online public school to children like yours: While you don’t always have to be in the room, you’ll need to monitor your child’s daily learning and make sure they’re understanding and completing their lessons. And you'll do just that as your child’s Learning Coach.
As a Learning Coach, you’ll have the best of two worlds. You’ll be able to provide your child with a level of support and guidance that no one else can, and you’ll get to watch them learn, progress and succeed. It’s a role you’ll feel meant for.
Embracing the Role of Learning Coach
Embracing the Role of Learning Coach
Setting Learning Coaches Up for Success
Being a Learning Coach is an amazing opportunity. At Connections Academy, we offer plenty of online resources and support to set you up for success. From orientation programs to 24/7 access to helpful resources and more. By being a Learning Coach, you can be there for your child when they need you most. And we’ll be right there with you, helping you along the way.
Embracing the Role of Learning Coach
Meet Narelle
Parent and Learning Coach
As a single parent with an unconventional work schedule, Narelle Daley wasn’t sure whether she could take on the role of Learning Coach. Watch their story, including the many benefits and opportunities flexible learning has given Narelle and her student.
Embracing the Role of Learning Coach
Meet Shannon
Parent and Learning Coach
When Shannon’s student was looking for greater academic challenge, she immediately thought of Connections Academy. Learn how this small business owner is playing a greater role in her daughter’s education – with the support of the greater Connections Academy community.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Being There for Your Child
You know what your child needs. What excites them. What challenges them. What they dream of when they imagine their future. As their Learning Coach, you’ll be by their side, partnering with our teachers and staff to help your child become the person you know they can be.
What should you expect? Learning Coaches are responsible for structuring their child’s school day, a task made simple with our online scheduling tool. You will also monitor attendance, stay in touch with teachers by phone or email and provide one-on-one support with learning activities. However, the specifics of your role will shift as your child grows older and gains more independence. Choose your child’s grade level to learn more.
Your Role in Online Elementary School
For Iowa Connections Academy children in grades K–5, Learning Coaches play an important part in everyday learning. You should expect to:
- Schedule your child’s day with school activities and breaks
- Spend about 5 hours a day overseeing schoolwork
- Lend a hand with online school lessons and regularly connect with your child’s teacher
- Help make sure your child is understanding their lessons and progressing
- Celebrate their achievements and encourage them to keep going
Your Role in Online Middle School
For Iowa Connections Academy children in grades 6-8, Learning Coaches take a step back. As in most middle schools, your child will work with subject-specific teachers as they gain independence alongside knowledge. As their Learning Coach, you should expect to:
- Spend 2-3 hours a day overseeing schoolwork
- Lend a hand with some lessons
- Check to make sure your child is understanding what they’re learning and keeping their grades up
- Communicate one-on-one with teachers on a regular basis
- Connect your child to their teacher when needed
Your Role in Online High School
For Iowa Connections Academy children in grades 9-12, Learning Coaches give their children plenty of freedom to work independently and gain the resilience they’ll need to succeed in adulthood. As your child’s Learning Coach, you should expect to:
- Spend 1 to 2 hours a day overseeing schoolwork
- Double-check to make sure your child is completing their assignments
- Connect your child to their teacher when needed
- Attend regular teacher conferences
RESOURCES
The Guidance You Need
Being a Learning Coach is an amazing opportunity. To help you make the most of it—and ensure you can help your child succeed—we offer plenty of resources and support. This includes:
- Online orientation program, which introduces you to the Learning Coach role and provides tips on how to offer the right support for your child.
- 24/7 access to our online Learning Coach Central where you’ll find a wide range of resources designed to guide you forward
- Toll-free number for a Connections Academy technical support representative, who’ll help you troubleshoot computer-related issues
- Easy ways to connect with teachers and our staff whenever you have a question or need additional support
- Parent network where you can join other Connections Academy parents and share tips and advice
- Opportunity to become a local community coordinator and work with teachers to put together special projects and plan in-person field trips
By being a Learning Coach, you can be there for your child when they need you most. And we’ll be right there with you, helping you along the way.
COMMUNITY
Connecting on the Local Level
Want to stay connected to Connections Academy and learn more about our local families? Join us on Facebook. Whether you live in one of the small towns or big cities of Iowa, your local community is a part of who you are. And that makes it a part of who we are, too. Across the state, our community coordinators, Learning Coaches and students volunteer and participate in community events.
Joining us on Facebook is also a wonderful way to learn more about the role of Learning Coaches, including how families just like yours make Online School work for them.
Community
Follow us on Facebook to stay connected with the local Connections Academy community and learn more.