GRADES 5-6

Research shows some early adolescents experience a decline in grades as they move from elementary to middle school. In light of this research PA Virtual developed the Intermediate Program to support those students and help them remain successful. The PA Virtual Intermediate School program supports fifth and sixth grade students and families as they transition to a more independent and student-driven daily schedule found in middle school and high school. PA Virtual also offers non-academic support as students experience personal and social changes associated with early adolescence.

Curriculum

With the K¹² Inc curriculum at the core of our educational experience, Intermediate students are also exposed to educational videos, games, stories, virtual tours, songs and much more, to reinforce, remediate, and enrich skills. With easy to follow daily plans, students complete engaging lessons in math, language skills, history, science, art and music.

Non-Academic Support

Students also receive non-academic support from the PA Virtual Family Support Department through their Family Support Coordinator and programs led by our highly qualified Guidance Counselors. Guidance support comes not only in the traditional sense, but through visits to the virtual classrooms to discuss study skills and career choices with the students.

Learning Coach

The Learning Coach also experiences a transition in his or her role as students develop independence and confidence by completing assignments and school work on their own. The Learning Coach is key in ensuring that daily instruction occurs and that the student remains on task throughout the day.

As students follow their educational program, study skills become a crucial aspect of success. In the Intermediate Program, students and parents learn proper and effective study habits. Students enhance their skills with teacher-led Blackboard Collaborate sessions, and parent support. Learning Coaches are trained to help increase and support their student’s study habits.

Instructional Models

PA Virtual Intermediate program utilizes the following instructional models to foster academic achievement:

Asynchronous Instruction

Students access the Online School (OLS) for daily and weekly lesson plans. Detailed lesson plans are provided for each subject lesson to guide the academic coach and student through the learning process.

Students move through the curriculum at a pace conducive to their individual learning needs with the expectation that the student completes lessons daily and makes consistent progress in the curriculum.

Synchronous Instruction

PA Virtual Intermediate program provides limited synchronous opportunities for students who benefit from direct teacher-provided instruction.  Synchronous opportunities in selected reading and math courses will meet regularly with a teacher in a virtual classroom.  Students participating in this synchronous option will be placed according to their course level, ability, and academic need.  Intermediate students also have the option of participating in co-curricular synchronous instruction to enhance the composition and novels lessons from the curriculum.

Teacher conferences

Intermediate students meet individually with teachers monthly via the teacher’s virtual classroom. At these conferences, teachers ensure mastery of concepts, provide support and academic strategies to help with any area that may impact the student’s overall achievement, provide enrichment opportunities, and identify potential issues that may hinder successful course completion.

To facilitate student-to-student interactions, Intermediate teachers offer virtual sessions once a week in reading and math. Lessons using web-based inquiry, Microsoft PowerPoint, video presentations, and podcasts address the varied learning styles and modalities of students.

Conferencing

To enhance our prescriptive approach to your child’s education, the Intermediate School program offers conferencing opportunities for parents to remain involved and informed in their child’s education.

Portfolio Assignments

Portfolios assignments selected from the core curriculum are used to measure individual student growth and development throughout the year. Submitting portfolio assignments is an integral part of the dialogue practice between teacher and student.