Thursday, Aug 01, 2013 at 18:56
Hi 'Tribe-of-5'
Great advice from everyone. I work in Dist Ed in QLD. Depending on when your child turned 4, they also deliver a kindergarten program that is based on the Queensland Kindy curriculum. The Prep-onwards program is based on the new Australian Curriculum. The teachers K-12 are all qualified and have professional development to help ensure they deliver quality programs.
The children do 'web sessions' using a platform called 'Elluminate'. They can see and hear their classmates (webcam), share documents, complete interactive activities using 'whiteboard' screens (images, text, drawings etc can be added by children and teachers), even work in different 'virtual rooms' online in 'groups' on tasks. (Younger ones do more 'active learning' with materials and music. movement etc). Classes also have an online 'blackboard classroom' where they can access materials and complete tasks together anytime, anywhere! Some reading lessons and other support is provided via teleconference/phone support.
The schools can provide IT help/support if there are any problems and will mail out 'library books'/resources etc if you have 'Mailing' addresses en route.
The Unit materials can be provided on a USB (which saves storing lots of bulky paper documents - which is hard when travelling). As
well as the web sessions, children complete the unit activities from the guide/workbooks and send in their work. This allows the teachers to assess learning and adjust unit work etc. They also provide help to you/the tutor. Access to email at least once a week would be really useful.
The Learning/teaching Guides are written to support parents to deliver the K-3 program. From Yr 4, the guides are written more for the child and gradually the child can take over and manage most of the work independently if they have a good routine and work ethic.
The travel itinerary helps with communication and planning. You can update/change plans.
Communication between families and teachers makes an enormous difference to the quality of learning and child's success.
Being available for web sessions at scheduled times is something you would have to consider, especially with 3 children, having lessons at various times. This might be something to discuss, if you contact a school of Dist ed. You may be able to organise 'travel days' and 'school days' so you can be available for online lessons when you have an internet connection.
These are the links to the
Brisbane school. There are other Dist ed schools - in
Cairns, Capricornia Rocky and
Emerald),
Charleville, Charters Towers,
Longreach Mt Isa. They all use the same curriculum materials for K-12.
There are fees for some categories of enrolment
http://brisbanesde.eq.edu.au/wcms/index.php/enrolments/categories-of-enrolment
There is lots of info re: any other chargers, special needs support, enrichment etc
Info on the kindy program is on a different tab. There are no fees for travellers doing eKindy.
http://brisbanesde.eq.edu.au/wcms/index.php/ekindy
Hope that helps
AnswerID:
515726