PA Virtual believes that Co-Curricular learning and promoting student interests are vital to a comprehensive education. The Co-Curricular and Collaborative Learning (CCL) program supports the PA Virtual community by developing activities that enhance and enrich all students’ educational experiences and further develop academics, creativity, and social skills through an atmosphere of fun and learning.

Here is a brief description of some of our offerings:

• Novel Discussions: The novel discussions enhance the PA Virtual curriculum by allowing the children to do four things in a group setting: read aloud, participate in a shared inquiry, build vocabulary, and write. Although children are given these opportunities individually within our program, experiencing them in a group setting brings a new and creative dimension to their learning.
• Creative Compositions: The Creative Compositions allow PA Virtual students to enhance their writing skills in a small group setting through teacher-led activities. Students learn that writing is a process of continued, frequent interaction rather than a task to be completed in one setting. The writing process is broken down into manageable chunks. Students interact with their own writing while engaging in peer review activities to develop a critical eye for grammar usage and mechanics as well as to refine word choices and stretch their writing skills. The end product is often celebrated through a demonstration of student work.
• Story Time with the CEO: Story Time with the CEO provides an opportunity for students in Grades K-2 to interact with PA Virtual Chief Executive Officer Dr. Joanne A. Jones Barnett. Dr. Barnett reads a story once a month via Blackboard Collaborate™ and then answers questions about that story. Often the CEO prepares a follow-up activity in which students may choose to participate.
• Literature Experience Days: Theses events are offered as a partnership between our Co-Curricular and Collaborative Learning Program and our Family Support Coordinators. These interactive, face-to-face events are an opportunity for students to gather together and participate in collaborative activities based around a novel. For instance, after reading To Kill a Mockingbird, a Literature Experience Day may take place at a courthouse. Students may play a game that is mentioned in the story, or create an artifact that reminds them of the theme and content. Our Literature Experience Days make literature come alive for our students!