Academic Approach

KaiPod Learning’s curriculum approach begins with family choice. Everything students work on is decided on in collaboration with parents and students. We believe strongly in personalized learning paths and that the modern school must allow all students to progress through content at their own pace.

KaiPod Learning has 3-4 hours of academic time built into every day where students can work on a curriculum that they and their families believe is the best content for them to grow and thrive. Most KaiPod Learning students use a homeschooling curriculum or an online school curriculum.

How does your child learn?

Homeschool Curriculum

There is a large market of curricula designed for homeschoolers and we can work with any of them. We have children who use workbooks or textbooks as well as online content. We are able to support both religious and secular curriculums. If you have something that works well for your child, they can use it at KaiPod Learning.

If you are new to KaiPod Learning and are looking for quality options, we have a set of baseline curricula included in our price that all of our students can use during our academic blocks. We select tools that: 

  • Are research-based and have a proven track record of student academic growth and achievement. 

  • Have been used successfully by KaiPod students.

  • Allow for students to work at their own pace and in their optimal zone of learning. 

We prioritize reading, writing, and math skills as they are the most foundational skills across subject areas.  The tools listed below are suggestions — students are not required to use them. These online tools can be used as a supplement to your chosen curriculum. If you are looking for support in finding a paper-based option, social studies or science resources, or more specific suggestions when it comes to homeschool curriculum, our academic team can help!

Online Schools

Many students at KaiPod attend an online school. Online schools are comprehensive schools of record that include content for all core subject areas and electives. 

There is a wide range of both private and public (tuition-free) online schools that work well with KaiPod. Online schools usually offer one to three hours of live online classes or the option to watch a recorded version of the class asynchronously on their own time. 

In addition to class, students are also given assignments to complete independently. All online schools have a way for students to connect with a teacher when they are stuck or need help. Often, online teachers will proactively reach out to students if it’s clear that they are behind on assignments or confused about a concept. 

Teachers at most online schools grade homework/tests, offer feedback, and provide small group tutoring. Students receive progress reports, report cards, and a full transcript. You do not have to register as a homeschooler to attend an online school. Online schools have all of the services traditional schools offer (e.g., college counseling) and many can service Individual Education Plans (IEPs) should your child need that support. 

If you are looking for assistance in finding an online school, get in touch with us.

Academic Support and Assessment Approach

  • In addition to the core academic time, there are also other academic components of the day including:

    1. Independent reading time where all students read and discuss a book of their choice.

    2. Daily enrichment time that supplement academic learning. For example, all pods conduct hands-on science experiments once a week. Other enrichments may support students in developing executive functioning skills, social-emotional learning, or are simply just designed for students to have fun.

    3. KaiPod Learning Coaches actively engage students in their academics. Students who come five days a week work one on one with a Learning Coach for up to 1.5 hours per week. That time could be used working on math problems together, giving feedback on an essay, or drafting an email to their online school teacher. Like everything at KaiPod, this is done in close collaboration with the family.

  • Supporting each learner with a personalized pathway is a priority for us and we find it useful to administer the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) Growth assessment twice a year.

    MAP Growth is designed to measure student achievement and growth over time. The data helps our coaches identify appropriate support for students in math and reading at the pod. Families always have the option to opt out of the MAP Growth assessment.

We are here to help!

If you have further questions about our approach to curriculum or would like support in choosing a curriculum appropriate for your child, please get in touch by clicking the button below.