A Day in the Life
We asked one of our students to take us through a typical day of learning with Conduit Academy. Sarah is a fifth grader who is on a competitive gymnastics team and is also dyslexic.
8AM - 9AM: Prepare for the Day
This is one of the moments I really love about online school because when I went to a brick and mortar school, I was on the bus BEFORE 8AM. I always felt tired until at least 2nd period. Learning with Conduit Academy, I get the sleep my body needs. I wake up, eat breakfast with my family, and actually feel ready to learn. No rushing, no stressing about what to wear, no fighting for bathroom time. I can just be myself and get my brain ready for the day.
9AM - 9:15AM: Morning Meeting
I log on and join my squad. We start the morning off with a quick squad meeting to lay out the agenda, answer a few questions, and prepare for our rotations. My teachers check in to see how everyone’s doing—not just academically, but like, actually how we’re feeling. We look at our goals from yesterday and get pumped for the day ahead. It’s like a huddle before a game, except the game is learning and we’re all on the same team.
9:15AM - 10:45AM: Squad Rotations
I have three rotations to start my squad time off after our morning meeting. During this time I meet with my process teacher and my application teacher. My process teacher teaches me one-on-one math and reading using OG. She breaks everything down into steps I can actually follow. Then my application teacher shows me how to use what I learned in real situations like reading strategies when we analyze the novel we are reading together. Between rotations, I work independently on assignments, but my teachers are always just a click away if I get stuck.
10:45AM - 11:15AM
This is actually my favorite part of squad time: Read Aloud! Sometimes our teacher reads the book out to us, and we always have a discussion. Right now we’re reading a book set during Y2K, and we always get to learn about interesting history that goes along with the setting and time period of the novel. What’s cool is that nobody rushes me when I’m processing what we read. We can pause, ask questions, make connections, and really dig deep into the story. It’s made me actually enjoy reading, which I never thought would happen.
11:15AM - 11:45AM
Writing. Actually, I really don’t mind. We use document cameras, composition notebooks, and pencils. It seemed kinda weird at first because at my brick and mortar school Writing. Actually, I really don’t mind. We use document cameras, composition notebooks, and pencils. It seemed kinda weird at first because at my brick and mortar school we just typed everything on Chromebooks. But now I actually like it better because I can see my handwriting improve and my teacher can see exactly what I’m doing in real-time. My teacher gives me feedback right away instead of waiting days to get an assignment back.
11:45AM - 12:00PM
Closing Circle – time for us to reflect and set goals for tomorrow. We go around and everyone shares a win from the day (even tiny ones count!) and something we’re working on. It’s nice because nobody makes fun of you and the teachers actually care about what you say. Sometimes we play quick games or do shout-outs. It helps me feel like I’m part of something even though we’re all in different places.
12:00PM - 1:00PM
Lunch! Free time!!! I can eat what I want, when I want, at my own pace. No loud cafeteria, no drama, no worrying about where to sit. Sometimes I play a game in the game room at Conduit with my squad mates. I always go outside and play with my siblings and dog. We like to take the dog to the community pond in our neighborhood. I like that it’s MY time to recharge however I need to.
1:00PM - 2:00PM
Sometimes I log on for independent study hall time or for the Center for Interactive and Collaborative Learning class that happens a couple of time a week. I love the flexibility this time provides as I can use it to finish my work from the morning or can join a cool class or can just hang out with some friends in the online game room.
2:00-4:00PM
I use my afternoon time to organize myself after my classes and to prepare for my afternoon gymnastics practice. Sometimes I spend time with my cat, sometimes I play a game online with a friend, and sometimes I just chill. It is great to have time to relax and process the day.
4:00PM - 7:00PM
Competitive Gymnastics practice. This is where I push my body the way Conduit pushes my brain, with patience, practice, and people who believe in me. I work on my beam routine, vault, and conditioning. My coaches are tough but supportive, kind of like my Conduit teachers. When I fall, they help me figure out what went wrong and how to do it better next time. I used to be exhausted from school before practice even started, but now I show up with energy because I’m not drained from fighting to focus in a classroom that wasn’t built for me.
7:00PM - 9:00PM
Dinner with my family. We actually get to talk because I’m not stressed about homework or melting down from sensory overload. My parents ask about my day and I have actual things to share – cool stuff I learned, projects I’m excited about, goals I’m working toward. After dinner, I might read for fun, work on my hobbies, or just hang out. I go to bed feeling good about what I accomplished and ready for tomorrow, which is something I never had time to feel at my old school.