What is it like to be a Lotus & Ivy Grown-Up?

What is the role Lotus & Ivy Grown-Up?

Since our students are registered homeschoolers with their county or state, the grown-up is ultimately responsible for the child’s education. That said, Lotus & Ivy teachers provide all you need to cover the content for the class(es) your child is enrolled in. You will not need to research, read textbooks, or make lesson plans, and you can simply follow the teachers lesson plans provided to you weekly. If you have questions along the way, our teachers are an email away and there are times during the year for 1:1 and whole class parent meetings.

That said, it is crucial that the grown-up partner with the teacher to ensure the required homework is completed and that the child is set up properly for class each day. We are here to help make your homeschooling journey simple and harmonious.

Am I required to be with my child during class?

If your student needs support logging in to class at first, please be there to help them. Once they know what to do, you do not need to be there. There may be a time, especially in the early grades, when the teacher asks you ahead of time to be present for part of the lesson, for example, when the students learn to cast on for the first time (knitting). Ms. Smith, our Kindergarten, Hand Sewing, and Woodworking teacher requests parents be nearby if a child gets stuck “to be her hands” and offer assistance. Dr. Lee, our science teacher, will give you a heads up when strong chemicals will be used during science labs so you can supervise.

As part of our Zoom Agreements, parents are not allowed to be on-screen during class time or participate in the class. You are welcome to be in the room, off-screen, however.

Do I teach my child outside of Lotus & Ivy class time?

Of course, as grown-ups, we are teaching our children all of the time! In terms of Lotus & Ivy, the main teaching comes from the Lotus & Ivy teacher. Our teachers have a curriculum they work from, and they provide all you need each week to wrap up the lessons or practice skills at home. You do not have to research or read a textbook. Everything you need to complete the lesson is provided for you.

How do I communicate with the teacher?

Lotus & Ivy teachers will provide you with their contact information at the beginning of the term. You are welcome to contact them at any time. The best way to contact them is through email or Google Classroom. Lotus & Ivy has a faculty made up of International teachers so please allow a reasonable response time. There will also be times during the year for 1:1 parent-teacher conferences with the main lesson teacher and whole-class parent meetings.

How often do I meet with the teacher?

We provide several parent check-points with the teacher through the year. The week before school starts in August is the first parent meeting. It is very important for all grown-ups to attend this meeting. During each semester, the parents will have an opportunity for a 1:1 conference with the main lesson teacher. The main lesson teachers will also host whole-class parent meetings throughout the year. If you need to meet with the teacher for something that is better not discussed via email, you are welcome to request a Zoom time with the teacher. Otherwise, email communication is always open.

How much homework is assigned outside of class?

The amount of homework assigned outside of class is dependent on the age of the child. Our early grades students can expect anywhere from 1 hour to 3 hours each week of homework. In later years, homework increases to 3-5 hours a week. Everything you need to help your child complete the homework assignments is provided to you each week by the teacher.

How do I know what the homework is?

At the beginning of every week, you will receive communication from your child’s teacher via email or Google Classroom to give you an overview of the week ahead and provide any lesson plans or homework assignments needed for that week. Teachers also remind students at the end of class which assignments are coming due soon.

What technical equipment is needed?

Each child needs their own screen. It can be a desktop computer, tablet, or laptop. Phones are discouraged. The device provided must have a camera and quality speakers so the student can communicate with the class and teacher. We use Zoom for our classes, so the device must be able to run Zoom properly. It may also be helpful for your child to have wireless headphones which connect to the device via Bluetooth. In many cases, this helps students to stay focused in their space and blocks out extraneous noises that could be distracting.

Does my child need a desk?

The student needs a workspace with plenty of room for drawing, painting, science experiments, space to move around, etc. Some families use a desk and others use the kitchen table. The child needs a chair that allows their feet to touch the ground, ideally.

What supplies do I need to provide for my child?

During the summer, we will send supply lists to all families based on the classes in which you are enrolled. You can expect to spend about $100 - $150 in supplies for the whole year. The bulk of the supply cost is art supplies and science supplies for middle and high school.

What if my child is behind, or ahead, academically?

If you feel your child is behind or ahead academically, it is important for you to communicate this with our administration and with your child’s teacher. Our teachers know how to differentiate instruction to meet a range of learners and will want to know ahead of time about your child. We will approach each child on a case-by-case basis.

One of the beauties of the Waldorf curriculum is that it meets the child where they are developmentally. We recommend placing children based on their age because the rich story and lesson content speaks to the developmental age of the student and prevents children who are ahead academically from feeling bored. The teacher knows many ways to help them go deeper into a topic of interest if needed. Students who have special needs or are behind academically find a happy place with their chronological peers because the curriculum speaks to them at their developmental age. Lotus & Ivy teachers suggest accommodations for students so that the unique needs of each student are met.

What if my child has special needs or an IEP?

Our administrators and teachers are trained to provide accommodations for a range of special needs. While we may not have the resources to support all needs, we will work to meet all needs we can. It is necessary to let us know upfront what your child’s needs are so we can carefully assess whether Lotus & Ivy is a good fit for your student.