In the 2021-22 academic year, we will be offering a handful of our most popular offerings online for our learners who prefer to learn online. Our teachers and our staff are committed to providing our learners with connection as well as quality classes, something we feel is incredibly important right now. Let’s connect, learn, and have fun together! All of our online classes are synchronous — that is, learners learning together.
We have compiled a select group of our outstanding classes into an online format focused on learning together in real time. We look forward to seeing you online! We also offer online LOUNGES, which are free ways for our learners to gather online to explore common interests, or to just hang out virtually.
To help our families during this time, we have a new discount for siblings learning together online, as well as a chromebook loan program.
Village Home reserves the right to cancel any class for any reason. If a class does not have sufficient enrollment, we will cancel it and give you a refund for the remaining classes. If we cancel a class during add/drop week, you will receive a full refund.
Once Enrolled in Online Classes
We thrive because we are connected as a community. At Village Home, the parent is the primary educator, so we need to work together to make the online experience as enriching as possible. Our instructors are focused on community in the classroom as well. Here are some guidelines to share with your learner so that they come to class ready to OWN THEIR LEARNING.
- Learners will need a computer and functional internet that supports online conferencing. Please contact us if you are interested in our Chromebook Loan program.
- Your teachers will send you an email with details about logging into the appropriate Zoom classroom. You can download Zoom for free here. Find the download that is best for your platform (client). Be sure to check your spam folder for emails from teachers.
- Log into your virtual class 5 minutes before class is scheduled to start.
- Parents need to be on standby during classes to assist your learner with any technical needs, especially the first week, until they are accustomed to their new “classroom”.
- Details about technology-related requirements are HERE.
Showing Up to Learn In Zoom – a special note about cameras in Zoom
Village Home strongly encourages learners to have their cameras on during class to get the most out of online learning. What is most important, however, is that learners show up to learn comfortably, with or without their camera on. There may be moments that a teacher asks learners to check-in and wave, or to have a camera on when the learner is talking, but in all cases, if your learner is not comfortable on camera, just let the teacher know. We want learners to know they can choose how they show up — they are in charge of their learning. We encourage learners to use backgrounds if they want, and to hide their self-view to make learning on Zoom more comfortable — we have some backgrounds available for download here.
What to Bring to Class — Materials and Required Books for Classes Online
Materials for online classes are kept as simple as possible. We recommend gathering the materials on the supply list for all of your online classes. If additional materials are needed, your teacher will let you know. Materials will be simple items from around the house whenever possible. In some cases, reserving reading materials on Libby, or purchasing a kindle book or paperback book may be needed (these are noted in the class description). Please contact the office if obtaining the required materials is a burden and we will do our best to help you.
Class Kits
In some cases, the instructor will have a “kit” of materials for each learner. Families will pick up their kit on campus (socially-distanced) the week before classes start. Your instructor will send details.
Google Classroom Learning Management System
Many of our classes post work in the Google Classroom platform. Learners will be issued a villagehome.org login for use in Google Classroom. Learners age 12+ will be issued a villagehome.org active email as well.