ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Are your kids homeschooled? Or are you looking for educational tools and lessons outside of the classroom? Well, look no further than your local library.
Class is in session for dozens of students at the Alafaya Branch of the Orange County Library System. It’s National Aviation Week, so this particular lesson is about all things aircraft. The class is led by one of the librarians sharing knowledge about the first pilots, airplanes and how planes fly.
Many of the students in the class are homeschooled, with ages ranging from 5 to 12. Their parents are incorporating classes offered by the OCLS into their daily learning.
“It really fills in the spots we’re missing at home. There’s coding classes here. They can do so many enrichment classes,” Kristi Malone said. “Incorporating it with what we’re doing at home is so vital to expanding their learning where it’s not just at home in textbooks, they can come here and it can be hands-on with new friends and just getting to experience all that the library has to offer.”
Malone said classes are offered at different OCLS branches, catering to all ages from toddlers to adults. Her kids Cannon and Eden enjoy the cooking classes and robot classes.
“All the teachers are really nice and the classes are amazing,” 8-year-old Ainsley Beattie said. “We really like coding.”
Ainsley and her sister, Talia, said they visit the Alafaya branch almost every day with their mom, Lorna.
“I was previously a teacher and I just wanted to be a part of their learning journey and see them have those ‘ah-ha’ moments,” Lorna said. “I was so surprised by the variety that they [OCLS] have, so every couple months I pull up the calendar and just mass enroll them in as much as we can.”
Whether it’s learning a different language, computer programming, science, math or demonstrating how planes fly, the Orange County Library System has the tools to keep education in flight for both kids and adults. Some classes are offered in person, while others are virtual. There’s also online lessons, tutors and science resources. All free with your library card. Click HERE for online OCLS homeschool resources.
Click HERE for a list of classes and events at OCLS branches.
Oh, and the library has books too.
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