All students have the potential for success. As a parent and educator with an IEM school, I have experienced first hand the rewards of homeschooling and the role it has played in my child’s success. Our children are not “cookie-cutter kids”– a single teaching method or educational system does not work best for all students. Our children are individuals with their own strengths and weaknesses;, their own talents and dreams. At IEM Schools, with our flexible educational model, all students can #choosetosucceed.

1. Students have nothing holding them back in our model.

At IEM schools, families have the freedom to structure their curriculum and daily schedule to ensure their student is successful. Students have the opportunity to focus not only on academics but their passions in life such as dance, athletics, engineering, volunteer work, artistic pursuits or even starting their own business! My own daughter has decided that in addition to core academics, she hopes to master digital animation and so we have enrolled her in online animation course with a school vendor. At IEM Schools, our parents are empowered to design an educational program that works best for their child and our students have nothing holding them back from success.

2. They work at their own pace

A traditional school model can be a challenging environment for some students. For students that want to soar ahead, it can be frustrating to be tied to a curriculum and schedule set by the educational system. For a student that struggles, it can be a place of tears and exhaustion as they strive to keep up. At IEM Charter schools, the parent and student can set the pace for learning. If fractions cannot be mastered in a week, no problem. They can go back and try them again, perhaps choosing a different curriculum or teaching method to ensure success. Our Education Specialists are always available to come alongside our parents, offering support and resources students of all abilities. If a student masters math concepts quickly, excellent! They have the freedom to move quickly onto more challenging concepts. At IEM Schools, parent and students can set the pace for learning so that all students are successful.

3. Our students have tremendous family support to assist them in being successful.

IEM Charter Schools believe students are most successful when parents are given the freedom to personalize their children’s education and choose their curriculum. Most of our students work closely with their parents to master academic content, discover the joy of learning and pursue their passions. In addition, our students can take a learning styles survey, a tool that will help us better understand the way our students are uniquely wired to learn. Parents then have the option to tailor their child’s curriculum according to their learning style. At IEM schools, parents also have the opportunity to educate their children using the educational philosophy that they feel best fits their family. At IEM Schools the #powerofchoice is the #powertosucceed.

Written by:

Laurie Goltara

LCAP Coordinator, Education Specialist

& IEM Charter School parent

Mahatma Ghandi once said “The future depends on what you do today.” At IEM charter schools we partner with parents to educate their children knowing that every parent wants the best future possible for their child. Through our innovative approach we believe that education should empower students to choose your future (#chooseyourfuture).

Children change, so should schools

Society puts much emphasis on education, calling it a gateway to the future, but if society has changed since the 1950’s, why hasn’t the way we educate our children? Yes, standards have changed, technology is more integrated than ever before, and there is always a new teaching technique that promises to reach every student, but by and large education looks a lot like it did 75 years ago with students sitting at desks and listening to a teacher impart knowledge.

That doesn’t happen at IEM charter schools. Students enrolled with us can customize, design, and carry out an educational path that is built around a child’s interests and that takes into account his or her unique learning styles, preferences, and needs. In every one of these considerations, we are helping to build a bright future for your child. We want families to be a partner in education, after all, the student should have the ability to #chooseyourfuture through what they are doing today.

Personalized learning is the best choice

Personalized learning is limitless, and the path to the future is the result of what the #powerofchoice can do. Our students are not on a predetermined path. What interests them today may not interest them a few years from now and that is okay. It is the process of learning that is important. Our highly trained Education Specialists will partner with families to help them discover a way that their child’s interests and learning style can meet the standards.

If, as Ghandi said, the future depends on what you do today, we never know which science project or novel or math concept, or thematic unit in history will awaken the curiosity and interests of a child. Or it might not be any of those things. They might not discover their passion until they are older, but the foundation of knowing how to learn and wanting to learn are skills that will make any future path successful.

Choosing to homeschool a child through an IEM charter school is a big decision, but not the last decision. Every day will be filled with decisions on how to best help the your child learn. If you are reading this, you have the ability to give your family that choice. A child can then #chooseyourfuture and we will partner with your family to support the learning necessary to make that future a reality.

We encourage you to check out our facebook page for our schools: Sky Mountain (Southern California), Ocean Grove (Bay Area) and South Sutter (Northern California). Take a look around, post questions, or connect with a current parent. We welcome families to apply throughout the year. It’s never too soon to #chooseyourfuture by changing the way your child is educated today.