Live Animals In The Virtual Classroom
To celebrate Earth Day, Proximity Learning partnered with Austin Parks and Recreation to teach a special lesson to Ms. Hamlin’s virtual 5th-grade science class from Academy of Dallas. Elizabeth Funk brought her special animals to show the class as she discussed the food web. Ms. Elizabeth showed the class a decomposer, the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach, […]
Building A Virtual School
Why do you want to build a virtual school? What is your why? What is your purpose? Your goal? What opportunity or problem are you trying to solve? There is no right or wrong answer, however, you do need to understand what your why is because it will drive how your program operates which will […]
March Featured Virtual Teachers Share Helpful Online Tools
March featured virtual teachers discuss integrating their favorite online tools into their lessons to help students learn. By building relationships and differentiating lessons, students succeed and teachers feel rewarded. Learn more about our excellent virtual teachers to see why student success means everything to them. Charla Maynard Virtual ASL teacher Charla Maynard joyfully describes her […]
Filling Illinois Teacher Vacancies Year-After-Year
Illinois had 4,120 unfilled positions in 2021. Teacher shortages in Illinois are not new, and they are not going away. The Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents says, “86% of superintendents surveyed said they thought teacher shortages will remain a problem into the 2022-2023 school year. Districts are struggling to fill vacancies. The study indicates the […]
Top 10 Virtual Science Experiments To Celebrate Earth Day
If you are a virtual teacher looking for an innovative way to engage students on Earth Day, look no further. Start by sharing a video about the first Earth Day. The Environmental Movement and the First Earth Day will warm up your class for the holiday. Then, lead the class in a fun and interactive […]
How to Engage Students in Online Discussion Boards
Written: March 2022 Updated: February 2026 Are you struggling with how to engage students in online discussions authentically while still building a strong sense of class community? Our virtual school expert, Kip Pygman, shares best practices, thought-provoking ideas, and practical strategies to help students stop, pause, and reflect. This webinar focuses on best practices in after […]
Everything You Need To Know About Teaching Remotely
This month’s Proximity Learning webinar features host Dr. April Willis; Senior Manager of HR, John Rollack; Talent Acquisition Specialist, Samantha White; and two virtual teachers, April Vazquez and Haley Slivka. The panel discusses how to transition to a remote teaching job. Read more to get all the answers on what it is like to teach […]
Virtual Teacher Uses Innovative Approach to Highlight Student Art
Angeline Pittenger, Proximity Learning art teacher, wanted to help 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students at Lake Ridge Middle School highlight their art in an innovative way. Ms. Pittenger is a veteran online english teacher, but this is her first year teaching art virtually so she turned to technology to support with showcasing their work. How […]
9 Ways to Avoid Teacher Burnout
Written: March 2022 Updated: January 2026 Teachers enter the profession motivated by purpose—often eager to inspire, support, and build meaningful relationships with students. But the reality of the modern classroom brings growing pressures: heavier workloads, evolving student needs, and rising expectations that make maintaining balance increasingly difficult. It’s no surprise that teacher burnout remains a […]
How Women Have Changed The Educational Landscape
“No country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half of its citizens.”- Michelle Obama Women have always been integral to developing educated generations. From serving as the first teachers to establishing educational theory to advocating for growth, women have made their mark […]
