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7th Grade
Mari
Mari thrives in an online school with flexibility for medical appointments, hands-on lessons, and social activities through a military co-op.
Meet Connor
Connor succeeds in a hands-on learning environment where he can take breaks and move around, focus with the help of his fidgets, and have enough time for assignments.
Why This Family Chose K12
A hands-on, involved learner, Connor needs extra support to focus and wasn’t thriving in a traditional school environment. His parents, Heather and Matt, wanted him to enjoy learning and get the most out of it—instead of feeling like he just had to get through it.
Learn in a flexible environment
The rigid structure of traditional school left Connor unmotivated, unfocused, and disempowered. Now, working at his own pace within a flexible schedule, he’s engaged and enthusiastic about learning.
Get support for individual needs
Connor learns best with frequent breaks to move and dance. Online school lets him stand and stretch freely, use his fidgets to help focusing, and embrace his own learning style.
Benefit from a new approach
School doesn’t have to be confined to long hours at a desk. Connor benefits from online school’s hands-on activities and built-in free time—and his parents finally see their son feeling confident as a learner.
A Day in the Life of Connor
Connor has a lot of energy to fuel his curious and active mind. Online school’s supportive learning environment empowers Connor to be himself and achieve his best.
Everything You Need to Thrive
Everything You Need to Thrive
Schoolwork for Connor is a mix of scheduled, live classes, self-guided offline assignments, and hands-on activities.
On a typical day, Connor might start with a geology lesson on his own, followed by live English and math classes led by his state-certified teachers. If he’s ever stuck, his mom and Learning Coach, Heather, is there to help. He can also ask his teachers questions in class, via email, or during weekly office hours.
Connor’s workspace features his computer and desk, set up with his fidgets for when he needs extra support. K12 provides the educational materials for Connor’s assignments, such as books, computers, and various supplies for activities.
Space and Time to Explore
Fresh air and budding friendships are important parts of Connor’s online education experience. Time away from his desk reinforces the idea that learning happens in all sorts of environments.
HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES
School Outside the Classroom
Connor’s learning isn’t limited to class time. He also works on tactile science activities, creates LEGO® structures and artistic projects, and joins his parents at work to learn about their jobs in real time.
During breaks he soaks up the outdoors on his skateboard or takes his pup, Everett, on energizing walks.
SOCIAL TIME
Build Meaningful Friendships
Online school’s flexibility gives Connor opportunities to maintain his older friendships and meet new friends through activities like LEGO® club, coding club, and fun outdoor adventures with local homeschool groups.
His online school LEGO® club engages in exciting challenges together like building a hotel or a boat to escape a deserted island. Sometimes the play spills over to video game matches outside of school.
A Day in the Life of Heather
Heather balances Connor’s school hours with her work schedule to create an ideal fit for their family. She receives support from the K12 community to help empower her son in his learning.
TIME COMMITMENT
Champion Your Child’s Success
Learning Coaches typically spend between one to three hours each day overseeing the education of middle school students like Connor.
Heather provides direction while giving Connor space to grow into an independent learner. She answers questions that arise and encourages him to take breaks when he needs to reset.
Brandi divides much of her day between supervising Cash’s learning and leading her own classes. She works close by her youngest son to help whenever he has questions and remind him to take breaks if he needs to reset.
FAMILY SCHEDULE
A Day That Works for Everyone
Heather and Connor start the day with breakfast and a schedule check to set him up for success. Throughout his school day, Heather is there to answer questions and guide Connor’s progress.
Connor’s parents both work full time, but have opposite shifts. Heather supports her son’s learning during the day, and Matt reviews lessons with Connor once Heather is at work. Online school’s flexibility means Connor can join his parents at work if necessary and still complete his assignments.
The same goes for Brandi’s fourth grade students. She assigns creative projects — like researching and writing about strange animals — that encourage meaningful learning opportunities. Brandi works hard to create a cohesive, inclusive classroom that makes each student feel valued and inspired.
TEACHER SUPPORT & COMMUNICATION
Heather’s Copilots
Whenever Heather needs extra support, she turns to the K12 community of principals, teachers, counselors, and Learning Coaches. Connor’s teachers are responsive and flexible in helping her find solutions that work best for her son.
Heather likes to chat with her fellow Learning Coaches on the K12 group app to get an idea of their different routines, what works for their families, and how they inspire their kids to live out their potential each day.
Like Brandi, these educators are committed to offering students and families personalized support, which can include additional tutoring, specialized services, and countless K12-powered online resources.
schedule
Rock Your Own Routine
Connor spends a few hours each day in live classes learning core subjects like English, math, science, and social studies. The rest of the time he’s working independently on assignments, taking interesting electives like art, having fun in LEGO® club, and experiencing science in action at his mom’s workplace.
With dance and skateboarding breaks built into his schedule, Connor has time to unwind and recharge between lessons. And if he needs a quick pause mid-assignment, he can stand and stretch without distracting anyone.
schedule
Rock Your Own Routine
Connor spends a few hours each day in live classes learning core subjects like English, math, science, and social studies. The rest of the time he’s working independently on assignments, taking interesting electives like art, having fun in LEGO® club, and experiencing science in action at his mom’s workplace.
With dance and skateboarding breaks built into his schedule, Connor has time to unwind and recharge between lessons. And if he needs a quick pause mid-assignment, he can stand and stretch without distracting anyone.
CURRICULUM
Discover Layers of Learning
Sixth graders like Connor usually take between five and six subjects each semester, with two to four of those requiring scheduled, live classes. Connor completes his other subjects via self-guided assignments and skills labs in the K12 interactive online learning system.
Along with core academic subjects, K12-powered schools offer many electives, including career exploration in some middle schools. Connor especially loves his science class, where he’s working with hands-on materials like a mineral kit full of geodes — and even a brachiopod fossil.
Check Out Connors’s Workspace
You can see his desk and all his fidgets that help when he gets anxious. With online school, he can stand up at his desk or take quick dance breaks whenever he needs to move around.
Family Q&A
Connor left an unsupportive school environment for one that accommodates his individual learning style.
Other Stories You Might Find Helpful
8th Grade
Sabrina
Sabrina excels academically with a supportive class structure and Spanish-speaking staff who helped her settle in at school.
8th Grade
Josh
Josh’s advanced school schedule makes time for live history and science classes, science experiments, and basketball.
Learning With K12
From kindergarten to high school, K12 provides tuition-free online education that empowers students to learn in ways that work for them. Browse options in your state to find the perfect fit for your family.
These are the stories of real students attending K12-powered schools and their families. Content is a combination of direct quotes and summaries from interviews. Their stories each reflect their experiences at their respective schools. Actual experiences can vary by student and school. These pages are designed to reflect a typical day in the life of a student attending an online K12-powered school. Individual class schedules and requirements will vary by state, school, and the individual needs of each student. Course materials vary, and certain schools may not provide computers or may have specific requirements for providing equipment.