What makes Forest Trail Academy different from other online school?

At Forest Trail Academy, we believe in committing to the educational growth of your child. That’s why we provide you with the unique opportunity of helping your child choose a path best suited for him or her. Our programs are specially structured to help individual students learn at their own pace. We also offer you the choice between online programs and home schooling via correspondence. Keeping in mind the different backgrounds our children come from, we have structured our courses in a manner that will cause minimal financial strain. After all, the key focus of our efforts is Academic Excellence!

Our Teachers

Not only are our teachers well qualified, but they are also involved in every aspect of your child’s educational progress. We understand that every child is unique and must be given an opportunity to develop his or her own potential. Moreover, we go beyond the everyday educator and offer you an environment that encourages communication between teacher, child and parent. Yes, we involve you every step of the way. Our teachers will be available to you via live chats, our very own message center, scheduled chat-room conferences, phone calls as well as via email.

Our Staff

Our Academic Counselors are available to address every challenge a student faces. They work together with child and parent in addressing those needs while acknowledging the fact that every child has a different learning quotient. It’s not just about solving problems; it’s about nurturing and fostering a sense of confidence that will allow your child to compete in the world out there.

Our Guidance Counselors offer you the encouragement and guidance in choosing the right career path for your child. They are the ones who will guide you through the maze of career options to decide what’s best for you.

A New Beginning

The most rewarding experience a parent can have is watching their child build character with quality education. We understand that need and want to help you achieve that goal. Testimonials and gratitude evidenced by our students are proof enough of the educational milestones we have helped them achieve.

Today, we take the opportunity to reach out to you. We want to help you and your child realize your goals. Remember, the path to a great journey begins with that first step.

So, what are you waiting for? Come be a part of our wonderful family at Forest Trail Academy.

Read more on k-12 online school courses.



Know More About Accredited K-12 Courses:
 Online Elementary School Courses
Online Middle School Courses
Online Diploma Courses
Online High School Courses

Gateway to your Online Middle School in USA

Online middle schools in Mississippi and other parts of the country also cater to the surrounding needs of students by providing them with access to elementary as well as high school education. Forest Trail Academy itself offers students a host of courses ranging from kindergarten through to high school. We’ve even got elective courses as well as Advanced Placement Programs for those who wish to enroll for these. The quality of education offered by online schools in the United States is absolutely on par with that of traditional schools, with the added advantage of the flexibility offered by a web-based environment. We follow a curriculum that has been aligned and articulated to both, the Common Core State Standards and the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards.

Student-teacher Interaction in an online environment is a lot more beneficial than in a conventional setting. Students are allowed to interact with their teachers in real-time as well as via email to enable more frequent exchanges of information, thereby enabling teachers to track students’ progress in a much more progressive manner. Also, since the interaction online can also be in an asynchronous manner, both, students and teachers are allowed the freedom to schedule information transmission accordingly. The best online middle schools in Oregon and other states offer students flexible online learning environments that are customized to get the best out of online learning.

At Forest Trail Academy, we take pride in the state-of-the-art online platform we’ve had developed based on years of experience. It is one of the important characteristics that set us apart from most online middle schools in Kentucky and other states. Our students are provided with a completely secure online social network that not only helps them with their interaction with their teachers but also helps them foster friendships in the online world. For parents who may not be familiar with how an online social network works in an online school, it is very similar to Facebook with the added facilities of progress monitoring and secure information exchange between peers.

Last but not the least, the costs involved are a major factor helping parents tilt toward adopting online learning as a preferred option. With federal budgets being slashed and the economy showing sluggish signs of recovery, traditional schools are seemingly becoming more of a burden to families, and given the fact that online middle schools in Mississippi and elsewhere are leveraging technology to the hilt to bring down costs, it is only natural for parents to explore such options in an attempt to provide the best for their families. Being a fully accredited online school in the United States makes Forest Trail Academy one of the best options one could ask for when seeking an alternative to conventional education.

If you’re looking to go the online way, then www.foresttrailacademy.com is your gateway to online middle schools in Kentucky and the rest of the country as well.

Know More About Accredited K-12 Courses:
 Online Elementary School Courses
Online Middle School Courses
Online Diploma Courses
Online High School Courses

What’s the real deal about Online Homeschooling?

Conventional schooling systems are slowly becoming obsolete and it is about time we took notice. In fact, they are being replaced by more sophisticated online homeschooling platforms that provide students with access to their entire course material from virtually any place. All they need is access to the internet. Yes, that’s true. Students no longer require a computer either. With technological advances taking the field of education by storm, children these days are able to browse through their entire course material on portable tablets and in some cases even their smartphones. Online K-12 courses aren’t limited to desktop computers and laptops anymore. The world as we know it is rapidly changing and we need to be prepared. More than us, it is our children who need to be equipped for what lies ahead.

Several parents have been aggressively pulling their children out of traditional schooling environments because of the several advantages online learning systems offer them. Recent studies show a rapidly rising enrollment rate for online K-12 courses all across the United States. In fact, online schools are slowly proving to be the future of our entire education system.They are economically very viable and are suited to educate virtually anyone who’s willing to learn. There are courses available for all kinds of students including special and gifted children. Working professionals too can take their pick of courses without really worrying too much about scheduling their classes. The only minor hurdle most people face currently is in making the transition. Online homeschooling is a whole different ballgame than what most of us have grown up with. Moving away from a system that has worked for us for decades and adopting something entirely new will certainly throw up some apprehensions.

The best way out of this however, is to spend a little time learning more about online learning platforms. Several parents over the recent past have raised reasonable concerns about the effectiveness of online K-12 courses. Like every concerned parent out there, teachers and educators too, share the same concerns. While critics will always exist, there are some strong points working for online schools in the country. Graduation rates in the country have been improving. The dropout rates too, have been on the decline. Students seem to be showing renewed interest in their education and several of them have been exploring options to make up for lost credits. Amidst all this encouraging information, the only concern that seems to stand out is that of the long-term effectiveness of such learning avenues. Are they really as good as they claim to be when stacked up against brick-and-mortar schools?

Online homeschooling works fundamentally on the principle of independent learning. Students are encouraged to take on the personal responsibility of their own education. In fact, online homeschool courses allow students complete flexibility to schedule their study time as well as the pace at which they would like to complete the learning of their course material. At Forest Trail Academy, we have always believed in and continue to encourage the attitude of lifelong learning. In truth, no one’s learning process ever stops. It is up to us to choose whether we want to continue the learning process we started as children or limit the potential of our minds by giving up on the learning process after a certain age.

Tips to Help Freshmen Start Online High School Strong

All’s well that ends well! However, in the case of online courses, all’s well that starts well! You need to be prepared well before starting with your online course. This is mainly because your online high school learning environment is pretty different from that of a traditional learning environment. Thus, if you are making a switch from a traditional school to an online high school, you need to train yourself well before you take a leap!

Get youreslf a nice work space
You need to get a proper work space. This will keep you focused and determined, right from the beginning. In fact, getting one is not enough; you need to maintain the work space. There is no point in decluttering your work space.

Try to get rid of any trash or old scape paper that you no longer require.  In case, you do not have a designated workspace, go for space you can make your own. You should be able to keep your laptop or computer charged. You should have good light. It should be airy as well. Also, it should have minimum distractions. In short, it should be a quiet and safe place. And, it need not be fancy! You must get this place organized well as well.

Get your supplies
At the time of setting up your workspace, you must replenish your supplies. Many extra supplies might be needed. These mainly include pens, pencils, a highlighter, scratch paper etc. You must keep these supplies carefully. Keep the place organized. This will lessen the chances of losing your crucial items!

Build a schedule
In order to start your new class on the right note, you must come up with a good learning schedule.You must create a schedule with all of your class times. You can actually take help from your online teachers.After all, your teacher is a professional who will know how to build a smart learning schedule that will be result-centric and success-driven!

You must include a lunch break and other short breaks as well. Make it feasible for yourself. Too much load will take the fun out of online learning. Keep and maintain the balance! Try to lessen the screen time. Set your personal deadlines and maintain reminders for the same. Keep the learning schedule flexible, in case you might have to change it at a later stage.

Connect with your online teachers right from the start
Your online teachers are always there to help you. So, you must avail this incredible human resource provided to you by top online schools, such as Forest Trail Academy online high school. You must reach out to your teachers unhesitantly. Focus on communicating with them right from the start. This will help you to create a healthy rapport with your online teachers. Unless you put your voice forward, your teacher will not be able to get an idea of your common academic concerns, if you have any. After all, there is no face-to-face interaction here. So, your teachers will not get any cur here!

You must ask for advice on what you could do differently to better your performance. They will tell you about the exact strategies to help you succeed.

Write down your goals
It is imperative to set semester goals. These goals might be short-term or long-term. Most importantly, you must pen these down. There is no point in keeping these in mind! In order to keep yourself driven to reach your goals, you should be clear as to what the goals are. In order to gain clarity, just write these down! This is a crucial step. It will help you strategize well and do your tasks right on time. Procrastination is an enemy for any online student. Thus, right goal-setting can help you to do away with this common habit.


Get into the habit of working independently
You need to be an independent learner in order to be a successful online learner. However, most of you might get worried since you are usually not programmed to learn independently. The truth is that even if you are not born as an independent learner, practice makes you be one. And, in fact, you can reach greater heights when you are an independent learner. This is because while doing so, you will be aware of your weak points and strong points as well. And when you are well aware of yourself, you can just make the right decisions, when it comes to your career or learning!

Independent form of learning will teach you how to manage your time effectively. It will help you to stay ahead of your task. You will be bound to take the ownership of your career. Thus, you will be get transformed into a responsible individual!

Get into the habit of socializing virtually
Many claims that online learning is making students socially awkward. The truth is that online high schools provide ample ways to socialize. The only thing is that the approach is different from those provided by traditional high schools.

In an online environment, you can interact via various virtual platforms, such as discussion forums, collaborative online projects, communicating online via some communicator etc. Thus, you need to get into the habit of socializing online. And the good thing is that you can meet up with your newly found online friends as well! The good thing here is that you can actually choose your friends.

You need to learn how to communicate effectively in an online environment. You will never feel isolated when you connect with your online learning community.

Gather basic technological skills
In order for you to avail the benefits of online resources and tools, you need to know how the technology works! And you do not need to know the intricate details. But, you certainly need to know the basics well. This is important, today, not only for an online learner but any individual who wants to flourish!

How Online Home Schooling can help you chart your child’s future

Reflecting upon times in the past when your child depended on you for practically everything is not uncommon among parents once they grow up to be independent. But no matter how you slice it, your responsibility toward your child as a parent never ends. Every parent is responsible for ensuring their child receives the right kind of education and has access to the maximum number of opportunities once they’re done with their education. While most parents find this to be uncharted territory, online schools in the United States are here to help you navigate your way through this trying phase of your life. Helping your child get his or her high school diploma is just the first step. That’s only going to get them through the door. As a parent, it is up to you to decide on what’s right for them and help them secure opportunities that will help them succeed in the future. Online education and distance learning are just tools to help you get there.

Online learning environments have proven to be very viable alternatives to traditional schooling methods especially in terms of costs involved and given the current economic crisis we've just managed to get ourselves out of, such platforms are proof of efficient solutions that will help put our children back on the right path to success. Earning a high school diploma isn't just about getting a degree; it’s about securing and attaining the required knowledge that will help your children chart a successful career path for themselves. Employers these days are looking for more than just a degree. They want to know what else it is that a person can bring to the table. If you’re thinking about equipping your child to be one of those students who makes it in the real world then you have got to consider the use of distance learning options.

In addition to being great for students and delivering the goods, online learning platforms offer parents and teachers versatile options to interact with students and monitor their progress on a consistent basis. Since physical presence is not required, parent-teacher meetings can be conducted online at the convenience of both, parent and teacher, and the modes of communication that can be employed too, offer you a number of choices. At the end of the day, you need to make sure your child is registered and enrolled with an accredited online school in the country since credentials play a very important role when it comes to college acceptance and job applications. Forest Trail Academy understands just how important these factors are to a child’s future, which is why our online school is fully accredited and registered with the Florida Department of Education.

If you’d like to know more about us, we’re just a click away. Log on to Forest Trail Academy today!

Know More About Accredited K-12 Courses:
 Online Elementary School Courses
Online Middle School Courses
Online Diploma Courses
Online High School Courses

Accredited Online High School for Your Child

Forest Trail Academy is one of the leading online high schools in USA. We offer online school courses in various subjects for students from Kindergarten through 12^th grade. At Forest Trail Academy, we pride ourselves in the knowledge we impart to our students and the methodology used in imparting that knowledge.

 
Online education is fast gaining ground as the preferred mode of learning. The number of high schools offering online school courses has soared in the past few years. Why? Clearly because of all the advantages an online learning environment offers over traditional schooling methods. No more crowded classrooms, no more boring lectures, a much better teacher-to-student ratio and the flexibility to learn at your own pace.

At Forest Trail Academy, we offer accredited online k-12 courses for all grades - Kindergarten through High School. Our teaching methods offer you everything a traditional school does – teachers, projects, homework, class discussions as well as tests to evaluate and monitor your child’s progress. We offer your child an encouraging environment to learn and develop skills that will be vital in school as well as at the workplace.

Homeschooling v/s Classroom Teaching

It’s no secret that students often find it hard to concentrate in a classroom based environment. Distractions are a common occurrence. Even parents complain about the low teacher-to-student ratio. This is where online homeschooling scores over the classroom. Students are free to apply for a varied number of courses as per their preference, and can study the subject material at their own pace.

It encourages a wholesome understanding of the subject and encourages children to focus on learning rather than just grades. Also, Tour teachers offer your child the dedicated attention that is needed, which can only be achieved through online learning. Our teachers are well qualified and are always available to help students overcome challenges they face.

Forest Trail Academy also offers you the freedom to express your opinion freely without the possibility of being ridiculed openly. This encourages individual thought and does not force children to conform to just one line of thinking. At Forest Trail Academy, we encourage our students to think independently and foster a sense of confidence that enforces lifelong learning.

Know More About Accredited K-12 Courses: 

• Online Elementary School Courses

• Online Middle School Courses

• Online High School Courses

Why Parents Shouldn't Be Afraid of Virtual Online High School for Their Kids?

There might be a handful of reasons why you might be skeptical of a virtual school for your child.However, on the contrary it has been seen that a virtual high school is a pretty good idea after all.

Here are some very common myths related to a virtual high school and which need to be debunked:

·         Online schools are easier than traditional schooling

Most of the instructors come up with highly-engaging ways to present the study material. Thus, it gets easier for students to hone their learning skills, gaining considerable self-discipline in course of time.This certainly does not imply that an online course is easier! It is just that online students get the chance and drive to channelize their focus entirely on their studies. Thus, online schooling is no easy on its own. It gets easy when you are diligent and serious enough!

·         Online courses are not accredited

Many parents have a misconception that online courses are anything but accredited! This is simply untrue. Just like traditional schools, there are some online schools too that are not accredited. Online high school courses need to meet the same high standards as on-ground courses in order to be certified. Almost all of the topmost online high schools are nationally and regionally accredited. You just need to be cautious at the time of making the selection for your online school.

·         A high school diploma is seldom recognized by colleges and employers

Many think that a high school diploma is never accepted by the top universities and employers. This is false. When an online diploma is accredited, it is always well-regarded. There might be some employers who need to be educated about online schools. However, there are many who instantly recognize that the skills students gain through virtual learning, such as time-management, are top-level in the workplace. In fact, in today’s times, an online degree can give you an edge. Almost all the colleges accept diplomas from accredited online high schools.

·         Online schools make children socially awkward

Well, this is nothing but a myth! Students get to talk to their online teachers via email, Skype, or chat. Most of the virtual high school courses include group projects.  It works wonders for all the shy introverts. These are the ones who feel shy about speaking up in a traditional classroom setting. They may have an easier time participating in online discussions.

Most of the accredited online schools make sure to provide a strong sense of community through active online community. They incorporate extracurricular activities that are fun yet educative.

In a genuine online school, students regularly socialize and interact with peers. The patterns of socialization for virtual learners are not so different from those students in a traditional school. Virtual students even are given the chance to go on field trips, and also socialize with adults in their schools, at home, and in the community.

The flexibility allowed by the virtual schools allows students to socialize outside. They actually get a good deal of free time to do so. After all, most of the online students get to finish their online work fast when compared to the traditional schools.

·         Online students spend all of their time in front of a computer

In case of any online school, the computer is a tool for teachers and parents. It is required to manage and track assignments, communicate, and deliver interactive curricular materials. However, it is a fact that students complete many assignments offline. They often spend time reading textbooks, using workbooks, reading library books, and doing hands-on science experiments in their down time period. This is just like they would in a traditional school.

·         Cheating is likely to occur at a Virtual High School

It is a fact that cheating can happen anywhere. However, certified teachers know how to keep two steps ahead of students who try to violate the honor system. This includes software programs that help recognize plagiarism.

·         Online learning is not led by teachers

The accredited online high school courses are usually led by certified teachers.In fact, parental involvement is not even required in most of the cases. Thus, online teachers are heavily involved in online courses. 

However, many report that they know their students better online than in a traditional classroom setting. Accredited online schools make sure to employ highly-qualified teachers. They are provided with special training as to how to deal with handling of a virtual classroom. They are trained to pay special heed to tailoring instruction to match students’ needs and learning styles.

In case of home-based virtual learning, students are mostly under the guidance of a certified teacher. A parent or other trusted adult has the opportunity to serve as a Learning Coach as well. They might decide to assist the child with day-to-day learning activities as needed.

Many online schools strive to provide a peaceful and nurturing environment where the teacher works directly with both the student and Learning Coach to develop an individual learning plan for the child.

·         An online student needs to be technically efficient

Well, it is true that an online student needs to be aware of the various online tools and resources in order to gain knowledge and work smoothly on their courses. But, just knowing the basics is all it needs. And the child need not be a pro right from the day one. Online schooling gives a good deal of time to every student to cope up and then take up speed.

Most importantly, most of the reputable virtual schools also take the curriculum and instruction very seriously for students, apart from the technology!

At the time of choosing a virtual school, look for a virtual school with a track record of delivering student academic achievement and high levels of parent and student satisfaction. Of course look for the accreditation from AdvancED, the faculty background, state-of-the-art technology resources and community activities, extracurricular activities, curriculum designs, customizability etc.