What do you mean by Traditional, Homeschool and Distributed Learning?

Homeschooling, Traditional Education and Distributed Learning all have separate meanings and parameters set by the Ministry of Education. If you are exploring the options for educating your child, a good place to start is by clicking here for the BC Ministry’s definitions.

If you are choosing a non-traditional educational path for your child(ren), you have quite a few options in British Columbia.

You can Homeschool on your own and stay connected to other Homeschool families through organizations like the South Delta Home Learners or the Greater Vancouver Home Learners. But, through this choice, you do not stay connected to the Ministry and will need to do some research if you wish to connect in later years for graduation purposes. Look at the comparison of Homeschool to DL in this chart:

If you go the Distributed Learning (DL) path, you have a variety of choices in programs and delivery methods. This website does a very good job of outlining the choices of DL programs in British Columbia.

Home Quest is one of these public programs.

When you begin researching DL programs, you will find Home Quest is unique. At Home Quest, we are focused on flexibility and blending the family’s vision of education with the Ministry guidelines.

Home Quest is a blended program, sitting in the middle of the continuum between Traditional and Homeschool and between Homeschool and Distributed Learning.

Our professional, certified teachers are experienced in the DL, Traditional and Homeschool educational models and philosophies. We are open-minded and creative in assisting a family with their journey. Home Quest does not assign a set curriculum to our community of learners, but helps to create each student’s path – one child and one family at a time, creating the ultimate in diversified learning. 

Home Quest is a blended program that can be a link for homeschooling families to the Ministry of Education or an in-person, hands-on approach to Distributed Learning. Ultimately, Home Quest takes care to build special relationships with families and students in order to build a supportive structure and a home base from which families can launch their educational adventure.

At Home Quest you will find . . .

. . . Certified B.C. teachers offering families guidance and support on navigating the BC Curriculum and developing individualized student learning plans.

. . . Students may opt to come to in-person classes and/or virtual workshops once or twice a week and/or make use of memberships to online educational programs like IXL and Mathletics.

. . . Families may choose to go on field trips and attend workshops that connect them to the curriculum, community and one another.

. . . Home Quest’s base in Annieville Elementary offers two classrooms, roomy office and meeting space, an area for parents to research, prep and plan activities and an extensive resource library.

. . . As a public education program and “school” of the Delta School District, Home Quest is free to all BC Residents and offers funding to families throughout the year.

Families who choose Home Quest need to have an adult at home full-time with their student(s). This adult becomes the Home Facilitator and is the main point of contact with Home Quest. It is
the Home Facilitator who assumes responsibility for the plans created with the Home Quest teacher, the Home Facilitator delivers the learning experiences and opportunities at home with the student. The Home Quest teacher will be responsible for tracking and assessing progress and providing feedback.

Frequent communication between the Home Facilitator and Home Quest is necessary to create a fluid support system. Teachers are here to support and guide families along this educational path and make sure that Ministry requirements are met. Home Quest offers parent workshops, frequent communication and expertise on resources to help in any area of need. Families are never alone on the journey and are encouraged to seek the teacher’s support and feedback often.

When joining Home Quest, families are committing to taking on a big role in helping to ensure their children are following an individualized educational path within the BC Ministry of Education guidelines. Families are not following a scripted curriculum assigned by Home Quest, but rather a carefully, cooperatively crafted plan. To make this work within Ministry expectations, there are essential elements that families must commit and agree to when enrolling at Home Quest (outlined below, in orientation, our program agreement form and the parent handbook).

The first step in the journey is to set up an appointment to meet with the Home Quest Coordinator. Your meeting will be a discussion of what Home Quest is like and if it feels like a good fit for your family. Once you decide to register, then you will sign a form agreeing to these things:

1. Mandatory Home Facilitator and Teacher SLP meeting to create the Student Learning Plan. (September/October)
   
2. Mandatory orientation meeting. (September)
3. Mandatory Home Facilitator, Student and Teacher Portfolio meeting at the end of each term.
4. Student participation in Home Quest baseline assessments of student reading/writing and numeracy skills.
5. Throughout the term, Home Facilitator to submit regular student work samples and subject summaries.
6. Home Facilitator to check student folder for Teacher feedback.
7. Home Facilitator must regularly check emails for Teacher and general HQ communication.
8. Home Facilitator must adhere to BC Ministry of Education Curriculum.
9. Willingness to learn and work with Google Platform Tools.
10. Adherence to spending guidelines as outlined in “Home Quest Spending Guidelines”.
    

The key to success at Home Quest is definitely communication! Teachers and Home Facilitators work closely together to create the ultimate in diversified learning for their students.