Baker Web Academy is a public school choice for students living in the state of Oregon. Sometimes we are asked how we can provide our school for free...
Have you ever experienced the feeling of time standing still? I have, and it was the most terrifying moment of my life. Here’s my story.
It was a hot July day in the summer of 18. My wife, Rachel, and I were catching up on yard work in our new house. We are both teachers and so each July begins the countdown to the first day of school. We had no idea our warm relaxing work day was about to come to an end…
When you hear the words "Flash Cards," you probably groan out loud. I know I still do. That is most likely because you grew up putting all types of things on flash cards and studied them with the "drill and kill method" (emphasis on the 'kill' part)! Well, I like to use flashcards with my students in different ways…
I heard about Baker as an awkward 17-year-old in the middle of an awkward move to Oregon in the middle of my junior year. Baker gave me a path to follow—and, more importantly, breathing space where I didn’t have to panic about getting into the perfect four-year program right away…
“Why would I read a book while I have such a busy life to live? I don’t need books; my life is a living book,” said the man. I recall this conversation vividly as it initially provoked quite a reaction within me as a college student. As a student of literature, I wanted to defend the value of novels to a professional man who seemed intent on sinking the library’s fiction section into the ocean of irrelevance…
Hi, Dawn! Could you please share with our readers a little bit about yourself and about your job at BWA?
I was a lab teacher during the 2017-2018 school year along with a smaller AT caseload. I am excited to be a full-time AT [advisory teacher] next year. I can teach English, business courses, and electives…
Think right now of the word rabbit. Say it out loud- "rabbit." Now tell me does the sound the letter R says? Does it say /er/ (remember when you see // to say the SOUND of the letters inside)? No it does not…
Hi! I'm Shauna Altman! I live with my family in Pendleton, Oregon, and I'm part of the Eastern Region at Baker Web Academy. I am the writing/language arts teacher for 6th grade students that are part of our "Choice Program." That is, students and their parents choose the textbooks that are the best fit for them. I also teach elementary technology and middle school digital learning, and I plan to start teaching…
I get this A LOT from parents, and occasionally even from a few teachers. The first thing I do is some assessments (or talk to the parent) to see exactly where the problem lies, and almost every single time it is the same problem-there are pieces missing in their phonics knowledge.
Phonics is not just learning the sound that individual letters make, but also the sound made by a combination of letters….
Student: I have a question about how one should read when they are reading silently. I was recently talking to a friend who is a very good reader. He told me that when he reads, his eyes see the words and the words "click" (or rather the meaning of the words "click") in his brain and he understands them. He told me that when he sees numbers, they slow him down because he has to actually say them in his head.
EG: There are two methods of reading silently: subvocalization (saying the words inside your head), and …
My 6th-grade child piped up one day and said “I want to go to Baker,” meaning Baker Charter School that his longtime school friend enrolled in. I, as a busy working mother of two active teenagers, responded with, “No, we are not going to homeschool.” As the year passed, and another year began again, my son said, “I want to go to Baker.” And I responded again with…
From the time our son was born, he has been in learning environments, a structured home life, consistent daycare, preschool, elementary, and various sports or elective involvement. Indeed, it does take a village to raise and teach well rounded children, as the old saying goes. We were so used to just succumbing to district placement and school led courses in a cookie cutter way. Now, Baker Web Academy (BWA) is a part of our village, teaching outside the box. We feel secure in their support and educating goals. Yet, we have choice and involvement to every lesson taught with ability to customize specifically to our child…
Baker Early College was an essential step into my current path of life. Having the freedom to study at the local community college gave me the ability to pursue what was interesting and life-giving to me personally. It was also a better exercise in adulthood; without the typical schedule of "all-day every-day" of high school. No such thing as bathroom passes…
School at home does not have to be a mystery. "How does she do it?" "I could never do school at home with MY kids." "Where would I even start?" These are questions I hear all the time from friends, parents, and grandparents. My answer is simple, "If you have the desire to homeschool your child, and YOU believe it is the best environment for his/her learning, then Baker Charter School will give you all the tools you need." Seriously, it is THAT easy…