First thing in the morning, I check my email.  This morning the computers were pretty busy. 

I had several emails stating that I hadn’t had work from students.  That means sending an email to the parents asking if I can help.  One student is stuck, but I knew that I’ve been sending her consistently more helpful hints.  Another one was sick.  Yes, I usually get responses back pretty quickly.

I also had several emails with progress reports.  I sent them on to the parents with personal comments.

I have a new student starting on Wednesday, so I sent that student a welcome letter.  Those are pre-written but do have to be tweaked before they are sent out.

Through out the day I’ll get emails.  Some telling me that I have something to grade, some return from the above emails, and some asking me for help.  When I’m out and about, I try to have a device with me that will allow me to answer all of those emails, at the very least, a note that says I’ll get back to them by the end of the day.

Doesn’t take long to fill up my 4 hours a day.  Yes, I’m restricted to 28 hours a week, so I typically budget 4 hours a day, if I go over, I save those hours for a light day, or a day off.

If students need more help then an email, I usually set up a time I can be in my office to work with them, so I’m on a wired network.  I have a virtual white board, and can either phone or Skype them.  It has always worked well. 

So if you are thinking of having a student take a course at Johns Hopkins, you can see I give personal attention.

It's funny.  When people ask me where I work these days I don't always remember that I do.

Partly because it's limited to 28 hours, and I work from home, I don't think it's a job.

One of the reasons I'm posting about it today, is that I'm finding it's a great place for students to come for extra.  Extra technology if it isn't offered at their school, but technology isn't the only subject.   They offer just about every subject your student would want.

They have a great summer program.  One of them is on a college campus -- I'm not involved with it.  They also have an online program.

Here's why it's great for your kid.  There are instructors for each course who are assigned a small group of students.  We contact the parents on a regular basis.  The computer spits out a progress report and we send it out.  We also get a no-contact email, so I immediately contact the parent and let them know that the student hasn't done work.

I almost always get assignments right away -- Johns  Hopkins CTY isn't cheap.

The great part is that we offer an AP program both summer and throughout the school year, so your student can take and pass an AP course.

Check it out.  http://cty.jhu.edu/

Best yet -- I'm getting to write courses with them.