The 411 on Bridgeway’s Self-Paced Classes

If you’re a frequent reader of this blog (thank you!), you’re well aware of our opinion that one of the major selling points and benefits of homeschooling is the flexibility it provides. Nowhere is that more evident than with Bridgeway Academy’s Self-Paced Classes. Whether you’re new to homeschooling or a seasoned pro, we’ll show you how our Self-Paced Classes are perfect for the independent homeschooler.

What Are Self-Paced Classes?

Just as the name implies, Self-Paced Classes are courses that students can take at their own…you guessed it!…pace. Available to students from grades 1 through 12, these classes can be taken individually or with as many others as you’d like to create a full course schedule.

With Self-Paced Classes comes the freedom to make your own schedule. Not everyone is able to conduct a school day during the “typical” hours of 8 to 3. Many parents work full-time jobs, some families are constantly on the road, and others may simply prefer having school in the afternoon or evening. Self-Paced Classes offer the flexibility to have school whenever it’s convenient for you and your family, and it’s difficult to put a price on that.

Choose Your Format

Some students love online learning, and many are actually accustomed to this type of schooling now since the COVID-19 pandemic struck last March. Others prefer the feel of a textbook in their hands and learn more effectively with physical materials on their desk. At Bridgeway, we have it all covered! Our Self-Paced Classes can be taken in both an online or a textbook format.

And we’re not talking just a few classes here and there from which to choose–our catalog offers a wide variety of textbook courses, with some of the best titles and publishers…plus instructor guides so you can easily grade your child’s work. Our Self-Paced online courses provide access to pre-recorded videos, student engagement, and even built-in pacing to help keep your student on track.

Effective Learning for All Ages

For elementary schoolers, Bridgeway offers Self-Paced Classes only in textbook format. After all, don’t kids already get way too much time in front of a screen? Our textbook learning allows children in grades 1 through 5 to start building a love of learning from the get-go.

As students progress, it’s reasonable for them to be held more accountable for their studies–grades 6 through 8 are also a time when kids start craving more independence. Well, Self-Paced Classes certainly require more autonomy and responsibility, so middle school is the perfect time for students to begin some work on their own. With more responsibility and independence, they’re more prepared for online learning and are ready for our Self-Paced online courses. These are an excellent option because your student gets valuable experience learning more on his or her own; but the responsibility isn’t entirely on their shoulders, as teachers grade your child’s work and provide feedback. Consider it the best of both worlds–independent learning for your student, with the oversight and guidance of an expert. If textbooks are still the preferred method of learning for your middle schooler, those courses are still available for this age group.

High school is all about freedom, right? Well, to a certain extent. Bridgeway certainly offers plenty of academic freedom to high schoolers who enroll in our Self-Paced courses. Students in grades 9 through 12 can choose from more than 200 classes to suit their academic ambitions. Say your child has already completed her core courses and wants to focus on college prep classes? With Self-Paced, she can! Or perhaps your student is eyeing more of a vocational career–we make those classes available as well. The idea is, we want our students to graduate ready to take on life after high school by preparing them for the future.

As with middle school, our high school Self-Paced Classes can be taken online, with textbooks, or some of each. And, you don’t have to worry about providing feedback or grading assignments and exams for classes you don’t quite grasp (it’s okay to admit it…I love my kids, but I would never offer feedback on anything related high school math because I am absolutely clueless when it comes to algebra, trigonometry, calculus, and on and on). Our experienced teachers deliver live feedback and grading for online courses so you don’t have to!

Accreditation and Support

Accreditation is important. If you’re not sure why, read this article–it offers all the information you need about accreditation. But, the short answer is that accreditation is a method of differentiating schools that uphold consistent academic standards from those who do not. And this is important because, with an accredited homeschool program, you know that your student’s hard work is recognized. Accreditation demonstrates that homeschool academies care about the quality of the education they provide by having their enrollment methods, staff qualifications, materials, resource allocation, program effectiveness, and much more assessed on a yearly basis. It shows that an institution is always seeking to improve its standards, quality, and systems and that they have a history of reliability and trustworthiness.

What’s important to note here is that Bridgeway’s Self-Paced courses are not accredited. The good news, however, is that with the purchase of our Records and Support package, you’re covered. Not only do you receive accreditation for classes, but you can also take advantage of all record-keeping (grades, transcripts, etc.) and year-round support from our amazing academic advisors.