The Parent-Teacher Dream Team
Liezel Blom, Activator at Evolve Online School • April 12, 2022
Parent-teacher collaboration is not something new, but what does this mean in a home school environment?
I believe that with the support of good virtual parent-teacher (Activator) collaboration, we help our students develop to their full potential and overcome some challenges. Students and parents reported that some challenges, such as anxiety and social connectivity, were something of the past and better relationships were formed than expected due to the teacher-student-parent relationship through our mastery system and one on one online meetings with students and/or parents.
After building online relationships with parents for more than a year, I have noted the following advantages of positive partnerships between parents and Activators:
- Children enjoy learning more, and through this partnership, education captures the students' attention through interactive content.
- A mutual understanding of challenges and therefore, additional support can be offered in various aspects of online learning.
- Parents have better insight into their children's learning and can support students with independent tasks.
- An open dialogue between parents and activator ensures that issues are resolved in a productive and comfortable manner.
I have also noted that having an 'open-door' email policy breaks down communication barriers. This ensures that students' parents know that they can come to you with any question or concerns they might have about their child's learning.
I, therefore, believe that parent-activator collaboration is vital in developing online communities of learning. Research shows that online communities help instil a sense of belonging and camaraderie, which keeps students engaged and motivates them to persevere.
I would also like to share the following tips with parents:
- Maintain contact with your child's teacher.
- Make sure applications recommended by your child's activator are on their iPad or laptop. Stay in the loop with updates and provide feedback to the teacher on how learning is going at home.
- Create a learning plan with your child to stay in the loop and help them prepare for upcoming work.
- Ask your child how their learning is going and discuss their Gradebook on a weekly basis.
- Keep the week exciting and celebrate their wins, both large and small. Share these moments with your child's teacher.
- Help your child connect with other students in class and find room for opportunities to join parent support groups. This will allow you to engage other parents who are homeschooling or have joined an online school.
Evolve Online School facilitates strong parent-teacher (activator) relationships through clear communication channels.
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At Evolve Online School , students no longer have to choose between their education and their passions. For many talented young people, traditional schooling can make it difficult to balance demanding training schedules, competitions, travel and academic commitments. Evolve’s flexible online learning model is designed to give students the freedom to pursue both, without compromising on academic quality. This was recently showcased through the outstanding achievements of three Evolvees who participated in the World Lyrical Dance Federation (WLDF) competition, held from 10 to 12 April. The competition provided dancers with an opportunity to showcase technical skill, artistic interpretation and performance excellence in a highly competitive environment, while continuing to maintain their academic progress. Among the standout performers were: Theodore Mulder (Grade 4 IEB) Contemporary Solo: 9th Place Gabriella Mulder (Grade 6 IEB) Contemporary Solo: 11th Place Jazz Solo: 7th Place Mia Muller (Stage 9 Cambridge) Jazz Solo: 7th Place Contemporary Solo: 8th Place Cha Cha Solo: 4th Place Jazz Duet: 3rd Place Contemporary Duet: 1st Place Their achievements reflect not only talent and dedication, but also the growing importance of flexible education models that allow students to pursue opportunities beyond the traditional classroom. For students involved in high-level sport, performing arts and other demanding pursuits, Evolve Online School provides a modern learning environment that adapts to their lives - not the other way around. Instead of being forced to choose between school and personal ambition, Evolvees are empowered to excel in both. This balance helps students develop independence, discipline, resilience and time-management skills while still receiving a quality education aligned to internationally recognised academic standards. As education continues to evolve globally, more families are seeking learning models that recognise that every child’s journey is different. Evolve Online School remains committed to supporting students in achieving academic success while also creating space for them to pursue their passions, talents and future aspirations. The success of Theodore, Gabriella, and Mia is a powerful reminder that when students are given flexibility, support, and opportunity, they are capable of extraordinary things.
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