Outschool is an amazing educational platform! Outschool is meant for students ranging from 3 years old to I think mid-teens. It is a great school alternative for homeschooled students or for students who have an interest in a certain topic not taught in school. There are multi-day classes, one-time classes, flex classes, and my personal favorite, ongoing classes. Holmes Tutoring offers similar services, however only on reading, math, and ESL.
The topics on Outschool are endless. Whether your child is interested in learning how to cook a four-course meal, interested in coding, or just wants extra help with phonics, Outschool will be your one-stop shop! Now I will describe the differences in the classes.
Multi-day classes are classes that meet more than once a week for a designated number of weeks. The teacher chooses the number of days per week students will meet as well as how many weeks the students will meet. The class sizes also depend on the teacher.
One-time classes- are classes that meet once. These classes are not in-depth classes. They are usually broad in a topic and are a great way for students to try out teachers before committing to ongoing or multi-day classes with that particular teacher.
Flex classes- are great for older students who may be more independent. These classes are not live classes, but communication is conducted on the Outschool platform every week. The teacher will post some things related to the class on the Outschool platform, and then encourage their students to have discussions during the week. Even though the class doesn't meet virtually, teachers will still be available to answer questions and check over any assignments or extra practice the students receive during the weeks.
On-going classes- are my personal favorite. These classes don't depend on prior knowledge and continue going until the teacher decides to end the class. The teacher decides how many times students will meet in a week. Students will continue to meet until the teacher cancels the class.
The classes vary in size. Some classes can have as little as two students and some classes can have several more. Parents can browse the Outschool website to find classes they may be interested in and follow teachers to get notified about upcoming classes that teachers will be teaching. Check out Outschool today leave a comment below and tell us which classes you decided to enroll your children in.
Holmes Tutoring offers several ongoing classes. They include: "All About the ABC's!", Phonological Awareness, Phonics, and Free Talk English.
All About the ABC's
Students can sign up every week for ongoing classes they want to attend. In the "All About the ABC's class, students will be introduced to alphabet letter names and sounds. Classes are $8 per 30-minute session. Students are encouraged to bring alphabet manipulatives to help reinforce letter names and sounds during class. It is a wonderful class for pre-K & K students to practice the alphabetic code and socialize with other students the same age as them. There will be songs, videos, and read-aloud during class to help keep students engaged.
Phonological Awareness
Students will be taught the basics of phonological and phonemic awareness including, but not limited to, rhyme, segmenting, blending, and manipulating spoken language. Phonological awareness deficits are the leading cause of reading problems. Students who want a strong foundation in reading should consider taking some form of phonological awareness class. Classes are $10 per 30-minute session.
Phonics
In this class, students will practice reading words in a carefully controlled sequence starting with CVC words and moving strategically towards more complex words. Students will practice decoding both nonsense and decodable words in isolation and within text. Students who can identify the letters of the alphabet and the most common sounds they make as well as students who have completed the phonological awareness classes, should be more than ready for the ongoing phonics class. Classes are $10 per 30-minute session.
Free Talk English
The last ongoing class offered is the Free Talk English class. This class is perfect for intermediate ESL/ELL students looking to practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. Students should have a foundation in the English language and know basic conversational speech. These classes are $10 per 30-minute session.
Even though Holmes Tutoring doesn't offer as many ongoing classes as Outschool does, the classes here are targeted toward strategic academic domains, especially related to reading. Students are guaranteed to have classes with a certified teacher to help foster successful learning outcomes. students will be provided with the appropriate material after classes for additional learning practice. Classes at Holmes Tutoring are reasonable as well. Outschool has amazing classes that students attend. However, if you are looking for ongoing classes that will help with speaking, listening, reading, and writing, you may want to check out Holmes Tutoring's ongoing classes. You won't be disappointed!