Alternative high schools provide students with a unique learning environment that can help them develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Unlike traditional high schools, alternative schools often offer smaller class sizes, flexible scheduling, and personalized learning plans that cater to the individual needs and strengths of each student. In this blog, we’ll take a look at the top five ways alternative high schools can help students develop important skills.
1. Personalized Learning
Many alternative high schools offer personalized learning plans that allow students to work at their own pace and focus on their areas of interest. This helps students to identify their own learning needs and develop strategies for solving problems.
2. Project-Based Learning
Alternative schools often emphasize project-based learning, which encourages students to work collaboratively on real-world projects that require critical thinking. This approach can help students develop the ability to analyze information, make decisions, and solve complex problems.
3. Small Class Sizes
With smaller class sizes, alternative schools provide students with more individual attention and support. This helps lead to increased engagement, participation, and academic achievement as they receive personalized feedback and guidance from their teachers.
4. Experiential Learning
Experiential learning opportunities include internships, job shadowing, community service projects, and even some college credit courses. These experiences can help students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills as they apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-world situations.
5. Technology Integration
Alternative schools often integrate technology into the learning experience, providing students with opportunities to develop digital literacy skills and problem-solving abilities through the use of technology.
At the Rose Academies, we aim to provide students with a unique and supportive learning environment that helps them develop skills that will carry them into the world beyond graduation. By focusing on personalized learning, Rose Academy alternative high schools can help students develop the skills they need to succeed in college, career, and life. To learn more about what makes a Rose education different, we encourage you to continue exploring our website.
Preparing for standardized tests can be both overwhelming and stressful, but the Rose Academies are here to shed some light on the best preparation practices. Proper preparation can make a significant difference in your performance on these tests and the success of your college applications, so here are some top tips to help you get ready.
1. Start Early
One of the best ways to prepare for standardized tests is to start early. The earlier you begin, the more time you have to prepare, and the less stressed you will be. Set a schedule for studying and do your best to stick to it. This will help you build a solid foundation of knowledge and give you time to review material that you may have forgotten or never fully grasped initially.
2. Take Practice Tests
Practice tests are an excellent way to prepare for standardized tests. They help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and give you a feel for the types of questions that will be on the actual test. You can find practice tests online for free or through a test prep company.
3. Study Strategically
When studying for standardized tests, it’s important to study strategically. Find and focus on the areas where you know you need the most improvement and spend more time on those topics. Create study guides, flashcards, and other tools to help you remember important concepts and formulas, and stick to a realistic schedule as noted in tip #1.
4. Stay Organized
Use some type of calendar to keep track of deadlines, requirements, and other important information related to your upcoming testing. Make a checklist of everything you need to do, and avoid becoming overwhelmed by taking it one step at a time.
5. Take Care of Yourself
Finally, it’s important to take care of yourself during this stressful time. Eat healthy, exercise, and make time for activities that you enjoy. Taking care of yourself is necessary to help you stay focused and motivated during the often stressful test prep and college application process.
At the Rose Academies, we understand that standardized tests can be daunting, but we’re here to help. With a curriculum and educational atmosphere designed around each individual student and their goals, the Rose Academies go above and beyond to help students achieve. To learn more, we invite you to continue exploring our website.
While “Home Economics” classes may be a thing of the past, high school teaches many important life skills to help students function and excel in the real world beyond graduation.
Here, we outline the many benefits of teaching life skills for high school students. From effective time management to social and emotional learning and common sense, high school equips young people with essential attributes, ensuring a seamless transition into employment or higher education.
Rose Academies charter schools offer flexible learning options, equipping students for future success while accommodating diverse schedules. Visit our website to learn more about how our basic life skills curriculum can prepare your child for a bright future.
Time Management
By encouraging students to prioritize assignments and make decisions based on the importance of each task, high school teaches crucial time management skills. Learning to prioritize tasks, manage distractions, and take breaks when needed can help students to manage their time better and become healthier, more efficient workers in the future.
Communication
High school teaches invaluable communication skills through everyday activities and interactions. Classroom learning encourages students to voice their opinions and collaborate with peers, while emailing teachers and fellow students bolsters written communication skills.
In-person interactions within the classroom also equip students to listen attentively, express themselves, and resolve conflicts, all of which prepare them for post-graduation success.
Collaboration & Teamwork
Through high school group projects and team-based extracurriculars, students learn how to effectively communicate, delegate tasks, and support their peers. This environment allows them to develop respect for different perspectives and teaches them to compromise.
These skills are essential for success in future workplaces, preparing students to become cooperative, productive members of society.
The Ability to Learn
By encouraging students to explore their interests and develop critical thinking skills, high schools teach the most valuable lesson of all: How to learn. Unlike committing study materials to short-term memory, teaching students how to properly learn allows them to retain information over extended periods of time.
High schools allow students to develop their abilities by actively engaging with the world around them, instilling a lifelong love of learning.
Social & Emotional Learning
By engaging in classroom discussions, school activities, and community service, students learn to understand and regulate their feelings. This aspect of education equips students with resilience and empathy, allowing them to manage their emotions and establish positive relationships with others.
Problem Solving & Critical Thinking
High school challenges students with complex problems that require critical thinking and innovative solutions. In subjects like math, science, and technology, students are taught to analyze information and make informed decisions. Critical thinking techniques equip students to approach problems methodically and think independently, preparing them for higher education and professional careers.
Other Life Skills High School Should Teach Students
In order to ensure future success for young adults, high schools should equip students with practical life skills. From money management to community engagement, teaching life skills prepares students to become functional adults after graduation.
Financial Literacy & Money Management
Teaching financial literacy in high school equips students to effectively budget, save money, and understand credit. By familiarizing students with scenarios like managing a checking account or planning for college expenses, they can make informed decisions about real-world spending and investing.
Household & Automotive Skills
By teaching students basic household and automotive maintenance skills, high schools empower them to address everyday problems, preventing costly issues down the line. Learning to perform simple household repairs or routine car maintenance equips students to be proactive problem-solvers.
Employment & Career Skills
Integrating employment and career skills into the high school curriculum prepares students for the workforce. By teaching resume writing, interview preparation, and professional communication skills, high schools give students a head start in their job searches and ensure future success.
Self-Care, Medical, & Wellness Skills
By covering topics like nutrition, exercise, mental health, and first aid, high schools should teach students about self-care and basic medical knowledge. Equipping students with these skills promotes a lifelong commitment to well-being, encouraging them to lead healthier lives.
Self-Assessment & Reflection
High school is an opportunity to teach students how to assess their own strengths and weaknesses and reflect on their personal growth. These skills help young adults set realistic goals and understand the steps needed to achieve them, encouraging self-awareness and continuous improvement.
Digital Literacy
As technology continues to advance, high schools should teach students how to safely and effectively use technology, from conducting research online to understanding digital etiquette and security. Digital literacy skills allow students to seamlessly transition into employment or higher education after high school.
Civic Engagement
Teaching students the value of civic engagement encourages responsibility and community involvement. High school curricula teach students about governmental processes, the importance of voting, and how to participate in community service. With this knowledge, students are encouraged to remain involved and make a lasting impact on their communities.
Environmental Awareness
Lessons on recycling, conservation practices, and climate change can inspire students to adopt more sustainable lifestyles. With environmental education, high schools can encourage students to consider environmental impacts in their future decisions, contributing to a greener future.
Why Life Skills Courses Are Essential in High Schools
Life skills courses in high schools prepare students for the real-world challenges they will face after graduation. These courses teach practical skills such as financial management, interpersonal communication, and critical thinking, which are crucial for personal and professional success.
Beyond academics, life skills equip students to handle social pressures and make informed decisions, fostering independence and self-confidence. With life skills courses, high schools encourage students to excel academically and thrive as self-reliant adults.
How to Teach Life Skills to High School Students
In order to create a more engaging learning experience, teachers should demonstrate life skills in the classroom. Incorporating external resources and inviting guest speakers to contribute to curricula allows students to more effectively understand abstract life skills.
Modeling Life Skills
Teachers should model critical skills within the classroom in order to set a positive example for students. Educators should demonstrate problem-solving, conflict resolution, and teamwork, providing students with applicable examples of life skills in everyday situations. This direct demonstration provides practical applications of abstract concepts, encouraging students to adopt positive behaviors.
Using Outside Curriculum & Experts
Incorporating external resources and inviting experts to contribute to curricula can make life skills courses more impactful for students. Guest speakers, interactive workshops, and specialized online courses provide students with diverse perspectives and experiences. External resources can bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application for a more engaging learning experience.
Conclusion
By teaching students essential life skills, high schools prepare them for the complexities of adult life. With effective collaboration, problem-solving, and social skills, students are equipped to succeed in their future career paths.
This year, the Rose Academies are excited to announce the introduction of an esports league at the Desert Rose and Mountain Rose Campuses. Esports, short for electronic sports, are video games played competitively, often for spectators. With over 95% of American teens playing video games, esports is a great opportunity to tap into students’ interests, find more engaging ways for them to learn, and even develop in-demand skills for the modern job market.
The High School Esports League (HSEL) is the largest league for high school esports and has a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) accreditation from STEM. HSEL aims to connect educators and students through video games to introduce STEM skills, team building, and cooperation through play.
The Rose Academies are currently developing a gaming fundamentals concept curriculum to accompany the esports league, which will earn students elective credit. Learning about team building, computer programming basics, gaming careers, and a healthy lifestyle allow students to become competitive in growing tech markets, such as software engineering, web, and graphic design, and game development.
Each year, HSEL hosts regional, state, and national competitions, beginning with the Spring Major in January. The Rose Academies esports league will be participating in this year’s Spring Major, and students who make it to nationals are in the running to win a $100,000 scholarship.
At Rose, we’re excited to offer our students a unique way of learning and the opportunity to get involved in a field that interests them. With flexible scheduling and personalized curriculums, the Rose Academies are looking to level up high school education while students graduate. To learn more and enroll today, please continue exploring our website.
Part of what makes the Rose Academies’ high schools unique is the accessibility they provide to in-person students. Those searching for an alternative to a traditional high school education may think of online schooling as the only option. Still, at the Rose Academies, we provide an online, in-person curriculum that is self-paced but never self-taught.
With five high schools across Tucson, the Rose Academies have a location for everyone. Our most historic location, Mountain Rose Academy, is located on the northwest side of Tucson at 3686 W. Orange Grove Rd. at the intersection of Orange Grove and Thornydale. Pima Rose Academy, near South Tucson, is located at 1690 W. Irvington, near the intersection of Irvington and Midvale Road. Desert Rose Academy is our central Tucson location at 326 W. Fort Lowell Rd. near Fort Lowell and Oracle. Canyon Rose Academy is on the southwest side of Tucson at 2401 S. Wilmot Rd at the intersection of Golflinks and Wilmot, and our most recent location is Canyon Rose Academy East, located on the northwest side of Tucson at 8981 E. Tanque Verde Rd. at the intersection of Tanque Verde and Bear Canyon Road.
With various locations spread across Tucson, the Rose Academies help ensure that every student has access to the Rose quality of education. The Rose Academies are fully accredited charter schools offering credit recovery, flexible scheduling, smaller class sizes, one-on-one instruction, and more. Students choose from three session times throughout the day and attend class from their computer workstation with in-person instructors who are always present and ready to help.
We invite you to continue exploring our website for more information on the five Rose Academies locations across Tucson. A Rose Academy education is free, and we are always enrolling.
Students were uniquely impacted by the pandemic, with many still facing challenges related to the pandemic’s ongoing health, economic, and social consequences. For high school students, the pandemic meant a disruption of day-to-day life, a potential gap in their education, a delay in receiving their diplomas, and the stunting of their future career and collegiate prospects.
Luckily, these days most students are back to school as usual and enjoying the increased security, safety, and resources that come along with that. However, some students still need to make up for the lost time. Whether online schooling left them behind in subject matter or unable to attend and pass their classes at all, the Rose Academies are here to offer back-to-school solutions.
At Rose, we offer credit recovery and flexible scheduling options to help students accurately pick up where they left off, with less detriment to their graduation timeline. For students and families facing economic hardship, Rose Academies offers an alternative high school education free of charge and is willing to work with students to address their individual needs, such as working towards their diploma while maintaining a job or taking care of a family.
With all the difficulties brought on by the pandemic, the Rose Academies are here to help ease the back-to-school transition for high school students and provide the resources needed for academic success. We invite you to learn more and enroll today with a visit to our website.
There are many factors that determine the quality of education a student will receive from their school. One factor that remains undisputed is the Student-to-Teacher Ratio. Generally speaking, smaller classes facilitate better learning environments, so much so that many states have legislation in place to limit the number of students assigned to each teacher.
Here are a few of the reasons why smaller class sizes are so important.
It can be a struggle to get through high-school: you may find yourself a few credits behind, feel discouraged by the social environment of a traditional high-school, or have other challenges outside of school with work or family; but there are options for graduating, even if you’ve gotten off-track!
Earning your diploma can turn your life around, making a huge impact on your future, for generations to come.
The Rose Academies would like to congratulate all of our graduating seniors for making it to this crowning academic achievement. The class of 2022 faced challenges unlike ever before and persevered, arriving at this moment. We are proud to have you all as part of the Rose Academy legacy and to have facilitated an environment where you were able to thrive.
Many of our students worked one or more jobs while keeping up with their studies. Some chose to graduate early and get a head start on their collegiate goals; others came to Rose thinking they wouldn’t be able to graduate on time, but instead chose to dedicate themselves to earning their diploma. They have now all walked across that stage and into a new, exciting chapter of their lives.
Congratulations to the Rose Academies’ class of 2022, you did it!
