Outschool Review: How To Use www.outschool.com for Homeschooling or Supplemental Learning
Because of the volume of Outschool Online courses our family has taken, we have extensive reviews of Outschool classes. Use the Table of Contents to quickly go to the section of interest to you. You can also listen to our review of Outschool on The Online School Mom Podcast.
Table of Contents
Should You Use the Outschool Online Platform?
Personally, we Love Outschool Classes…
Looking for Outschool reviews? This is an honest overview of our experience with the AMAZING www.outschool.com platform and Outschool classes for homeschoolers.
We started using the site over 5 years ago so we are fully prepared to give a comprehensive review of Outschool Online!
Back up a second….you may be wondering, What is Outschool? The easiest way for me to describe it is it’s taking top teachers from around the world and bringing them to your home (or wherever you want your child to take a class).
Initially, I discovered Outschool classes for homeschool via a Facebook post from another homeschooling mom.
Now, we use Outschool for anything and everything and our experiences just keep getting better and better.
What do we love about Outschool classes for online learning for homeschool?
Absolutely EVERYTHING! I wish I had this type of platform when I was a student 30 years ago. Since discovering Outschool, we have used it at least 750 times (I’m not even going to try to count but this gives you an idea).
Not only has it been a tool for my two children who attend some of their online classes virtually (now grades 10th and 11th), it’s been a fun supplement for my 5th grader who previously attended public school.
Outschool is for everyone- homeschoolers, online schoolers, and distance schoolers!
This post contains affiliate links. (In non-blogger language, that means I might get a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you click on some of the links below.) Thanks for supporting OnlineSchoolMom! Important note: I am not including anything on this list that I do not recommend.
Now, onto our TOP 10 reasons we recommend Outschool.com- our full Outschool review!
1. Outschool Classes are Flexible!
Ten years ago, I never dreamt a student could be engaged in a live classroom setting in the backseat of a car. Thanks to hotspots and the availability of wireless internet, participation in an online platform like www.Outschool.com is possible pretty much ANYWHERE.
My kids have participated in online Outschool classes in the car, airport, doctor’s office waiting room, car mechanic, outside on the deck, and even under the bleachers at their sibling’s gymnastic competition.
In today’s crazy world, flexibility MATTERS!
2. Outschool classes are comprised of a HUGE variety of educational topics and Outschool is for all ages 4-18.
Outschool classes for homeschool offer something for everyone ages 4-18 and it’s not just Youtube videos.
We have used it to provide support in areas of struggle (fraction review, grammar refresher), and also to expand our learnings into new things and potential passions.
In addition to loving his short term (4-week) novel Outschool classes last year, my son participated in online live labs (like a sheep’s heart dissection), and a history based on movies weekly class.
My daughter was truly engaged in a Hamilton based online history course, Visual Goal Setting for tweens, Photoshop, art classes, piano classes, and even a self-defense one-time course. Engaging, the opportunities are endless.
3. Outschool classes use simple but effective technology.
Another question I frequently hear- “Is Outschool safe”? Quick and easy answer- yes! We have used it for years with no issues.
Honestly, I don’t consider myself a technology guru. I wish I was! At 44, I try to stay up and current with the latest apps and I even am attempting to take notes with an Apple pencil, but it’s not natural to me.
The Outschool online for homeschool platform is incredibly easy to navigate. For me, I signed up and linked my account to my Facebook, but you can also just create a user name and password on the site.
I use one account to manage all three kids’ Outschool courses for simplicity sake, and can visualize the entire schedule and their transcript all with a few clicks.
The Outschool search engine has recently been updated and is much more user-friendly….I can search by day, time, subject, live or flex (we only do live classes), or just by keyword. You can even have a separate schedule for each child if you wish. New in 2021- your learner can search for classes on Outschool they are interested in and even heart them so you can find them later.
Regarding actually taking the Outschool online courses, we have primarily used our Macbook laptops, but we haven’t had any problems using an iPad or even an iPhone when necessary.
My kids tend to use headphones, but if we are in the car and I want to listen in, we haven’t had a problem just using the computer audio / built-in microphone.
Want a tutorial from a student’s point of view? Just check out this video!
Hopefully that answers the question, Outschool, how does it work?
4. The Outschool online platform can teach worldliness.
How cool is it that an 10th grader in Iowa can take an Outschool geography class online with a child in Australia? My 5rd grader who is adopted from China thought it was the best thing ever when she had another classmate this summer who actually lives in China.
Some teachers put up a map at the beginning of class and show where each student lives- it’s like an additional short geography lesson when kids actually can visualize places all around the world.
Teachers are also located all over the world- my daughter loved it when she took an Outschool science class and the teacher was live at the Pacific Ocean!
5. Outschool courses foster a sense of community.
In addition to the actual online platform, a few Facebook groups are based on teachers and parents using classes on Outschool for homeschool.
These are a great way to communicate with other parents who have kids taking Outschool classes, find out about classes you weren’t aware of, and even request topics for the future.
Keep in mind, you can read Outschool reviews on individual classes before signing up.
6. Outschool offers convenient communication with teachers.
Building upon the idea of a ‘community”, as a parent, I can easily directly communicate with the teacher in Outschool. For each class, there is a ‘message the Outschool teacher’ area where you can ask direct questions.
I have had countless teachers provide me with feedback about my children- where else are you going to get that level of engagement in education today?
7. The www.outschool.com platform organization is effective.
I love the functionality that after I search for online classes on Outschool, I can tag my favorites (both teachers and classes) and keep a running list for when we have a time slot open or want to come back to a topic of interest.
I also have a list of actual teachers marked ‘favorites’ so I can open that up at any time and explore new options for my kids- even just one-time classes.
You may be wondering, “What ages is Outschool geared towards?”. Our answer is truly dependent on the child but our family has used it since our youngest was 4 years old and my oldest still takes occasional classes at age 17.
8. Outschool Online allows for personal class requests.
I can actually request a topic or a time change from an Outschool teacher – they are not always accepted, but you can do it!
I reached out to a teacher this summer about a teen class I was interested in but couldn’t do a standard weekly schedule because of my son’s Drivers Ed class.
She worked around our schedule and set something up with two weeks of morning sessions and two weeks of evening sessions. It was an amazing e-learning class!
9. We need a variety part 2 (length)- get the hint?
In the last year, we have had a variety of educational needs. Sometimes, we needed a short-term novel Outschool language arts class; other times we needed a semester long English class or a one-time fun science class.
Outschool has filled those needs and then some!
For the first time this summer, my third grader tried out the live virtual camps. She participated in an American Girl camp, Creative Kids writing club, a weekly camp based on one of the Magic Tree House books, and more.
As a working mom, these were a great way to keep her academically on track while saving me yet another trip down the highway.
10. Outschool classes are affordable.
The Outschool classes are not cheap, but as in life, you get what you pay for. I know the platform takes a percentage of what the Outschool teachers make.
In general, I feel like the classes we have taken have been worth it. You can always try a few one-time classes before signing up for a bigger commitment. There are now subscription style classes that allow you to stop if you cannot attend.
It means a lot to me to have a ‘live’ instructor who is an expert in their area and is enthusiastic about learning, especially e-learning online.
Summary:
What is Outschool? It’s an amazing way for your children to learn just about anything!
Is Outschool legit? Yes! All teachers have to undergo a challenging review process.
Is Outschool safe? Yes! It’s been a very safe and easy way for my kids to learn from home.
Keep reading for more honest Outschool parent reviews.
Unique Outschool Classes for Teens and Tweens
Now you know, my family loves Outschool Online for e-learning. Over the last few years, we have used it for countless classes for my now 15 and 117-year old teens who are online schoolers, and also for my 10-year old enrolled in public school. From novel studies to art classes, online learning via Outschool is simple, easy, and efficient. Outschool classes for teens are simply amazing!
As a working parent of 3 kids (and two dogs!), I rely on the Outschool e-learning platform to teach my kids some of the tools and skills I either don’t have time for OR I don’t know myself. I wanted to share some of the unique classes my tweens and teens have previously participated in!
What I am NOT including in this list are classes that we have taken that are considered core curriculum (grammar, writing, math, Spanish, etc). Instead, I wanted to focus on the unique options in Outschool in attempt to inspire other families to try out a class and learn a new skill. Additionally, I want to encourage the instructors to keep coming up with new and helpful content for learners.
If you see a class on our list below that isn’t currently offered, you can always message the instructor and see if they are willing to schedule a session. Want someone else’s opinion? You can see tons of actual Outschool reviews of not only the teacher you are considering, but of the actual course.
Professional Email Etiquette for Teens
Recently, I read about how college students don’t check their email and don’t know how to send a proper email. Yikes! This one-time course was a quick overview for my daughter on the importance of proper email etiquette.
Deeper Understanding of Cars and Trucks
This e-learning course has at least 2 series that I am aware of, and each series is 5 weeks. My son participated in the second series, which consisted of a once-weekly, 1-hour class on cars and trucks- topics ranged from engine mechanics, location of parts, climate control, the ins and outs of the battery, and more. He found it extremely interesting and enjoyed seeing the photos uploaded by all of his classmates on the identification of parts in different car models.
Babysitting 101: Tips and Ideas for Play, Behavior, Safety, and Clean-up!
Although local day clinics exist to certify babysitters, none of them worked in our schedule. This 4-week, once-weekly online class covered all the essentials a teen needs to know to start babysitting. My daughter appreciated learning about safety, behavior and play tips, and even the importance of clean up.
Bullet Journaling 101: Everything You Need to Know to Get Organized!
What an inspirational way to start the New Year (or kick start your tween / teen at any time of the year)! This one time e-learning goal-setting class taught my daughter the essential steps in bullet journaling and maintaining a goal calendar.
Self Defense- Introductory Session
Clearly, self-defense is a skill all of our children should attain. To begin, my daughter enrolled in this one-time trial class that just provided her a glimpse of what the full class would be like. She will be fitting in an extended course in her schedule in the future.
Science Field Trip! California Tide Pools
Taught by one of my children’s favorite online science teachers, this one time class was the next best thing to visiting the California tide pools in person. In addition to learning quite a bit in the class, my daughter was motivated to add this destination to her bucket list of places to visit.
Drugs And You: Intelligent Choices And Actionable Consequences
Think your child is homeschooled or participates in athletics or activities and has a fantastic group of friends- so drugs won’t be an issue? Think again and be proactive. This teacher created a stellar 4-week e-learning class reviewing everything from the dangers of vaping to real-world steps to manage peer pressure.
Whether you need a supplement to a high school health online course, or you just want to equip your teen with tools to fuel their body in a healthy manner, this 9-week, once-weekly class is worth taking. The instructor did an amazing job making it applicable to today’s on-the-go, fast-food oriented society.
Cyber Safety for a New Generation (Teen Class)
If you are like me, you have told your kids over and over about the dangers of social media…yet, they just don’t ‘get’ it. This one-time course was extremely helpful for my teens – taught by a true expert with examples and recommendations for keeping safe in today’s cyber world.
Ready for high school? Understanding transitions for an exciting educational journey.
I thought my son would roll his eyes over this one, but he really, really appreciated what he learned from this one-time high school prep course. He felt equipped with what he would need to proceed into online high school.
Escape Room!! The American Revolution – Sons of Liberty
This teacher offers several ‘escape room’ themed courses and my kids have enjoyed all of them. In one hour, they are given historical clues and have to work together with classmates to escape- if you can fit a few of these in your e-learning schedule, I recommend them.
Comprehensive Sex Education for Girls (FLEX)
My daughter wasn’t looking forward to taking this class, but she ended up loving it. She chose to participate in the FLEX version as she didn’t want to discuss sensitive topics with people she didn’t know. Over the 6-week period, she had reading and videos to watch, and had the opportunity to reflect on what she had learned. She felt much more comfortable than she expected and really felt empowered by the end of the online class.
Human Anatomy: Blood and Blood Types
If you are looking for a one-time, fun yet educational online class, this one is it. Instructed by another science teacher we have had great success with, this hour will provide your student with a full understanding of blood composition, blood types, and blood donation.
Chatterboxes #1: The “Um Game” and Impromptu Speaking for Teens
This teacher offers an entire series of public speaking. We have enrolled in a few of the one-time classes and they are fantastic for preparing teens to think and speak on their feet and answer impromptu in a fun, no-pressure situation.
Creative Outschool Classes
Looking for creative Outschool classes?
Classes are offered daily (even Saturdays and Sundays) and at various times- even super early morning or late evenings.
Note: one-time courses usually cost between $10-$12 for an hour, which is very reasonable when you consider the expert level of the instructor.
Here are 15 one-time, truly creative Outschool classes our family completed this semester (that we recommend!). Join our Facebook private group to get more recommendations about online school and e-learning.
Elementary One Time Creative Outschool Classes
Draw & Color Cute Cartoon Space Characters
Although many how to draw videos exist on Youtube and other platforms, nothing compares learning from an exceptional art teacher. This artist teaches an entire series of one-time drawing classes- my daughter has completed almost all of them! She often spends hours in the days following the class practicing her cartoon character skills and loves these classes!
Fun with Chinese: Colors 1 (Ages 8-10)
One of our 2020 goals was to try something new each week. This one-time online Chinese course made it easy to meet that goal, and my daughter even made flash cards after to practice her colors. One of the benefits to one-time e-learning classes is students can try out a class and see if the teacher is a good fit for them- in this case, my daughter requested taking more with this specific instructor.
Gold Rush of 1849…Will You Get Rich?
Teaching creatively online is a skill this teacher has mastered! My daughter loved the format of this course, which was like a Choose Your Own Adventure history project- super interactive and fun.
Middle School and High School One Time Creative Outschool Classes
As much as I roll my eyes over GIFs, their popularity continues to explode- this one time online course was actually really valuable! My 8th grader can now make her own simple animated GIF in the Procreate app- pretty cool.
Understanding History Through Art: World War II
Although my daughter isn’t much of a history fan, she really enjoyed this class (and others by this teacher). The level of preparation and knowledge about art history from this educator was unreal- it is a true example of the value of online education when taught by an expert.
Historic Catastrophic Weather Events
Historical storms and weather events are often just a paragraph in a textbook- this teacher brings them to life. Another top-notch teacher, this one-time class was a deep analysis of devastating weather events and really made students think.
Basic Dog Breed Identification, According to the AKC
We are a dog-loving family- my daughter LOVED this one-time class about dog breeds. Sure, you can read about it or watch a video- but this allowed her to ask questions, connect with others who have similar interests, and learn about something she enjoys.
Escape Room!! The American Revolution – Sons of Liberty
This instructor is a leader at escape room classes- my kids have done a few and he is just an expert at running them. Students don’t even realize they are learning as they work together to solve different challenges.
Titan II the Largest U.S. Nuclear Missile
My 9th grade son picked this class out to take and he was impressed by the caliber of information provided. Given that we are living in 2020 and a time of e-learning and self-directed learning, being able to take a short, intensive class like this is the education of the future.
Perfect to get the kids off electronics and outside in nature, this one-time course provided tips on setting up habitats for birds, insects, and more- truly inspiring and fun. E-learning does NOT have to be boring!
Tarantulas- with Live Spiders (ages 13-17)
Ok, this class was super cool- the teacher literally had tarantulas from all over the world and used them to teach all about tarantula habitats and behavior- my 15 year old raved about it. A one-time online class is also offered for younger kids.
Sound Interesting On Camera: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, + in School (Age 9-14)
The title says it all for this one- what teen isn’t interested in being on YouTube or TikTok? This course was actually really valuable- it taught concrete strategies on being more comfortable and interesting behind the camera.
Cite It!: MLA In-Text Citations and Works Cited Pages (Writer’s Workshop)
Not always the topic kids are jumping up and down to take, I had both my teens take this one-time class on proper citations. Knowing it was one-time and that it was a skill they needed to master, they didn’t mind it a bit and saved their notes to use in high school writing.
Let’s Make a Deal #1: Wilderness Survival Negotiation
Another fun, group one-time class that proves online learning doesn’t have to boring..this one allowed class members to interact and figure out how to survive in the wild. Students were practicing negotiation skills without even knowing it.
IMovie Tips and Tricks: How to Make an At Home Movie or Sport Highlight Video
My kids have had iMovie for awhile and use it to make simple video compilations, but this one-time course gave my daughter more insight into using the various features. We don’t always have time for in-depth mastery of all the different technology, so one-time courses are a great way to learn basic skills (and also determine what is of most interest and value to expand on in the future).
Crash Course: Mean, Median, and Mode (Central Tendencies)
Middle-school math concepts can be easily forgotten! This teacher offers tons of really helpful math courses, including some reviews and refreshers. These are great supplements or even something to do over the summer.
Interactive Outschool Classes
Looking for interactive Outschool courses or unique Outschool class ideas?
Have kids stuck at home wanting to talk with peers and connect socially in a virtual environment? Us too. I can honestly say my 9 year old just wants SOMEONE to talk to outside of our family!
Listen to our podcast episode regarding Outschool interactive classes HERE.
These are ALL classes my family has personally taken and loved. If a class is not offered anymore, use the Outschool search and input keywords similar to the course and I’ll bet you will find a new one with a similar topic. New classes with unique and creative content pop up every day. Your kids will love these classes!
Outschool Escape Room Classes
Truly, these are brilliant! As I scroll through the different Outschool options, the escape room classes sometimes seem expensive and I pass by them. However, EVERY time we have done one, it’s a full hour of complete engagement from my kids.
Think of the traditional, in-person escape room transferred to a virtual environment. Clues and puzzles are academic in nature and range from math problems, various history trivia questions, and more. Kids work a lot faster on their math problems when they are playing an interactive game!
Can You Get Out of School (Math)
Digital Break Out Box: Locked In School (Math)
Escape Room: The American Revolution
Tik Tok Escape the Room (quite creative incorporating language arts terms with Tik Tok fun)
Outschool Games
It may seem silly or frivolous to pay for your child to play games– but remember, games can be incredibly educational. Kids learn the value of taking turns, winning and losing, and some games are naturally educational.
Recently, my daughter LOVED a class based on Scattergories and it kept her busy for an hour of a 2 hour road trip- she didn’t even look up once! She was giggling and talking out loud and adamantly said she would do another class like that anytime!
Virtual Game Time- Scattergories
Let’s Learn and Play: USA Bingo
Gold Rush of 1849: Will You Get Rich or Can You Survive the Oregon Trail (these classes are similar to a Choose Your Own Adventure)
Chatterboxes – Impromptu Games (there are several versions of these by the same excellent teacher and classes are divided by age group- they will ALL get your child talking and help improve their public speaking skills!)
We have noticed a large increase in the number of classes with games- some even allow for weekly subscriptions so kids can play with the same peers week after week!
Outschool Science Labs
STEM Island Survival (incredibly creative class idea in which learners build a structure to withstand environmental forces- this was super challenging and fun to watch my daughter with a hair dryer testing her creation!)
Delicious Science: States of Matter Root Beer Experiment (ice cream is involved!)
Human Anatomy: Blood and Blood Types (lots of games and interaction)
STEM Lab: DNA (includes an experiment with saliva)
The Science of Chocolate (still my daughter’s favorite all-time class- cooking and science mixed)
Biology Lab and Lesson: Extracting DNA From Fruit Lab (we used strawberries and it really worked)
Circulatory System with Live Dissection (exactly what the title suggests)
Curious Kids: S’More Heat Energy Science (very creative with a treat at the end of the experiment)
Outschool Computer Courses or Other Hands-On Activities
Beginner Scratch – Let’s Tell a Joke (This course was two weeks in duration and really hands-on with teacher guidance the entire time)
Summer Word Art (using a website, students complete a ‘word art’ document for a holiday, sport, or other topic)
Learn to Use Sketch-Up (a free Google program your learners probably don’t know how to use but is a great learning activity)
Get Creative With Graphic Design to Make Your Social Media Look Great (basically an intro to the free version of Canva- well worth the hour investment)
You Decide: Act as a Juror for a Civil Case (very fun way to learn about law)
Photoshop for Beginners: Learn to use Photomix
Editing With iMovie (if this isn’t a life skill right now, I don’t know what is!)
Teach Me How to Google (various age ranges available)
How to Create Animated GIFs (pretty fun for tweens and teens!)
Clips Creation: Making a Fun, Interactive Video With Apple Clips (I didn’t even know this app existed on our phones and now we can make fun animated cards for friends and family)
Outschool Novel Studies
Outschool novel studies will have a lasting positive impact on your child.
Are you like most parents and recognize the importance of reading, but just lack the time to enforce it?
Are you looking for a way to make sure your kids are reading enough AND are comprehending what they are reading?
Do you need some accountability for you AND your child? Personally, I love reading to and with my kids. That said, I’m a busy, working mom and sometimes, reading is just too easy to put it off until later.
Outschool book clubs are perfect supplements for kids in ANY school setting- public or private school, homeschool, online school, distance learning- get the point?
The key is to get AND keep kids reading.
On our wall, I have the quote from Dr. Seuss: “The more you read, the more you know. The more you know, the more places you’ll go”.
Because I want THIS for my kids, I frequently use Outschool book club classes and highly recommend them.
So what the heck am I talking about when I say
“Outschool novel study class”?
Novel study classes are what they sound like- they are offered for almost ANY age (K-12) and reading ability.
Typically, students will be asked to read a certain amount of a book each week and attend a live, online session for a discussion with their teacher and peers.
Think of Outschool novel study classes to be a teacher-directed book club for your learner- the options are endless.
Now, why exactly do I feel so strongly about the importance of Outschool novel study classes?
Reason #1: Accountability
The pressure on parents, especially moms, to do “all the things”, is IMMENSE. We know the importance of reading to our children, or having them read to themselves, but sometimes it gets moved to the bottom of the to-do list. Make sure it stays at the top where it should be with accountability!
In an Outschool book club, your child will be assigned specific reading and it will make you and your kiddo keep up.
Too busy to read and have a younger learner? You can always use Audible or Epic to have the book read to your little one.
Reason #2: Ensure Comprehension
You think your child read for their mandatory 30 minutes, but how do you know they really did?? How can you make sure that they are comprehending their reading?
A weekly discussion session in an Outschool novel class will provide your child with the ability to share what they have learned and make sure they are grasping the major concepts.
In many classes, questions are sent out for the child to answer before class to ensure they are prepared to engage and discuss.
Reason #3: Encouragement
Got a reluctant reader or a child who would prefer to play video games? Having a weekly live session gives them the opportunity to receive encouragement from an outsider.
Reason #4: Introduction or review of literary devices
What? You don’t remember all the literary devices, parts of speech, or what the rising action is? Don’t worry! This is an area you can leave to the experts.
Kids can learn about these important concepts while reading a book of interest to them.
Reason #5: Outschool Novel Study is FUN
If you are like me, you remember being forced to read certain books in school that you had NO interest in.
Outschool novel classes offer the unique opportunity for your kids to pick books of interest to them for discussion- even graphic novels!
Book clubs my children have enjoyed on Outschool include (warning- the list is LONG):
- Esperanza Rising
- Mulan: Before the Sword
- Babysitters Club Graphic Novels
- The Lemonade King
- Chocolate Fever
- American Girl Historical Books
- The Maze Runner
- Fever 1793
- Wish Tree
- Ranger’s Apprentice
- 21 Laws of Leadership
- Magic Tree House Series
- Beverly Cleary Books
- A Series of Unfortunate Events
- Professional Development Book Club
- A Long Walk to Water
- Fahrenheit 451
- The Journal of James Edmond Pease
- Jump Into the Sky
- A Wrinkle in Time
- Wonder
- War Horse
- Pendragon
- Flat Stanley
Reason #6: Socialization
Want some monitored online socialization for your children? These lively discussions will be attended by children from around the world and provide a supervised, safe environment.
These are also amazing options for teens who want to discuss their fave books with skilled teachers and peers.
Reason #7: Public Speaking
Most kids are scared of public speaking at first. These discussion sessions provide an easy, introductory way for kids to speak online. No grading is involved so it’s a low stress way to learn to communicate and learn from others.
Reason #8: Variety
I love the huge variety of class options on Outschool, especially related to novel studies. Whether you want your child to read the historical classics, the Magic Treehouse series, current best sellers, the Percy Jackson or Harry Potter series, or whatever you have in mind, I think you can find it on Outschool.
Some teachers offer a short term course (often 4-6 weeks) to dive into a specific book, whereas others offer a long term course covering several books.
Reason #9: Convenient times
Classes are available at times that will work for just about anyone. Whether you need a class that’s during regular school hours, early morning, late nights, and even weekends, you can find it.
It’s a great way to supplement any school or homeschool schedule.
Reason #10: An Outschool Novel Study Gives Parents a Much-Needed Break
Honestly, give yourself an hour a week that you know your child is learning, engaged, and having fun. Give yourself a break.
How to Find an Outschool Book Club
Trying to find an Outschool novel studies class? Try searching for novel study, novel studies, literature circle, literature discussion, book club, or just a specific book in the Outschool.com search function.
Outschool Art Classes
Want to add some creativity to your distance learning or homeschooling curriculum with Outschool art classes, but not sure where to start?
Outschool art classes provide a wide array of options!
Whether you are looking for a traditional art class for your child, digital art, graphic design, or even something as unique as nail art creation (seriously), Outschool most likely has a course for your learner.
Personally, I am one of those people who struggle with drawing stick figures and I remember struggling with art classes in school.
Art is not a subject I have any interest in teaching or overseeing, but I love to watch my kids in action.
Specific classes our family has benefited from (a LOT) and highly recommend are listed below. The exact class may not be available as the instructors frequently change their offerings to best serve families, but most likely, you can find something very similar.
The Outschool search function is extremely user-friendly – you can find just about anything with the keyword search tool. Regarding the format, we prefer ‘live’ classes, meaning that the instructor is teaching live. Other families appreciate the ‘flex’ classes as they are exactly what they say they are- flexible and students can take them at the time that works for them.
Digital Art
The term, ‘digital art’ encompasses a vast array of ‘art’- I’m adding graphic design into this bucket. In the current age of digital everything, being tech savvy enough to create a logo or lively videos is such a useful skill.
Example Outschool art classes include:
- Create Simple Night Landscapes on Procreate
- I’ve Got My Head in the Word Clouds: Create a Personalized Word Collage
- Summer Fun “Sports Edition” Word Art, a Unique Decoration
- Learn to Use Sketchup= A Free 3D Modeling Program
- Clips Creations: Making a Fun, Interactive Video with Apple Clips App
- IMovie Tips and Tricks: How to Make an At Home Movie or Sport Highlight Video
- How to Create Animated GIFs
Traditional Art
Considering more ‘traditional’ art, excellent teachers await on Outschool to help your learner with basics all the way to advanced painting and sketching.
Sample classes we have enjoyed include:
- Art-Swishy Jelly Fish
- Nailed It! (Art Edition)
- Faux Calligraphy for Beginners
- Draw and Color Cute Cartoon Characters
- Draw and Color Cute Emoji Symbols
- How to Draw Basics: Still Life Camp
- Understanding History Through Art: World War II
Specific crafty Outschool art classes we have participated in include:
- Wonderful Wizard Wands! Craft a Marvelous Harry Potter Wand to Grant Wishes!
- Creative Journal using a Recycled Cereal Box
- Self-Love Valentine Craft Project and Chat
- Nature Journal Drop-In: Mixed Media Art
- STEAM Challenge: Pocket Full of Colors
- Create Origami Turtles: The Japanese Art of Paper Folding
Fashion Design
Fashion design is certainly art, and Outschool teachers offer some amazingly unique options.
My family has enjoyed the following courses:
- A Taste of Fashion Design-Sketch and Design
- Fashion and Makeup of the Ancient World
- Nailed It! Learning Simple Nail Art and the History of Nail Polish
- Fashion Design Sketch Class: T-Shirt Challenge
- Winter Fashion Coloring 101
- Tie Dye Mania: Sharpie Edition
Outschool Holiday Classes
Outschool holiday classes make learning fun and help develop life-long learners. Kids of all ages (yes, even teens) will enjoy taking a one-time or short term class with a holiday theme. Parents will welcome the break AND the change in routine.
Not really sure what exactly an Outschool holiday class includes or why you would want to enroll your child in an online class? Are you thinking they can just watch a holiday movie or YouTube tutorial and get the same benefit? Nope! Think again!
We have used Outschool holiday courses for Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and more as part of our homeschool and as an addition to public school. You can literally sign your child up for just one class, or find a few that may be of interest. If you haven’t used Outschool, you can read the ten reasons we love it here.
Now, let’s get to the reasons why you gotta give Outschool holiday classes a try.
1: Answer to all the WHYs…
Why do we trick or treat?
Why do we eat turkey on Thanksgiving?
Why do we let fireworks off on the 4th of July?
Why do we celebrate April Fools Day?
Sure, it would be wonderful to stop and look up all the answers to the questions your child asks during each holiday. Fact is, we don’t always have the time. Teachers on Outschool offer classes on the history of Halloween, fun facts about Independence Day, the science of fireworks, and traditions about Thanksgiving (this is a very short list of ALL the options).
Using the Outschool ‘search’ function, you can put in your child’s age, the days and times you are available, and add a keyword (I suggest the name of the holiday).
2: Keep Kids Learning on Breaks
Holiday breaks are amazing… until they are not. You start the holiday with the goal that each child will read a certain amount each day, you will play family games, it will be a wonderful celebration- and then a few days later, you are all staring mindlessly at screens.
Outschool holiday classes can keep kids learning and engaged during school breaks. Kids won’t complain or argue (they won’t even realize it’s ‘learning’ when it’s an enjoyable online experience. What can your child learn? For most ‘holidays’ or seasons, options are endless- some examples:
- How-to classes on cooking or baking special meals
- Courses about the history behind specific traditions
- Lessons about holidays around the world
- Teacher-directed Arts and Crafts with a holiday theme
- Novel studies based on a holiday book
- Action classes with singing, drama, or other music with a holiday twist
3: FUN
Honestly, this is number 3 on this list, but it’s really NUMBER 1. Learning should be fun, and Outschool holiday classes are a ton of fun! Kids will love doing art that is holiday-themed- creating stars and stripe drawings, following along to draw a fall hedgehog, make a Christmas craft- the opportunities are endless.
You may even end up with some creative gifts to give family members during the holidays or decorations for the house.
4: Building Lifelong Learners
Isn’t this what we all want for our children- to be continual learners?
Taking an Outschool Halloween, Outschool Christmas, or Outschool Thanksgiving class sets up the expectation that all experiences are learning experiences. We want to raise and encourage curious minds…after your kiddo takes their holiday-themed class, they may be more self-directed and even look up additional information on their own.
5: Mix It Up
Workbooks, reading, math facts, worksheets, science labs- no matter what you do, weeks DO tend to get a bit monotonous.
Adding a one-time holiday arts and crafts or story time class can really do wonders for the soul!
Even older kids will enjoy a holiday cooking online class or possibly singing in a Christmas carols or drama class!
6: Educational Screen Time
What will your children be doing in the car on way to Thanksgiving or another holiday?
What if they could enroll in a class and learn about the history of the holiday while in the car? Hotspots and the availability of the Internet has opened a whole new world!
7: Socialization With Others
Our world continues to get smaller. Let your child learn to learn with peers on a global level through online classes– this is a trend that isn’t going away. Your kids can learn about traditions with kids in another continent.
Outschool For Working Moms
Outschool For Public School Kids
This post was written pre-COVID when my daughter was still in public school!
Surprisingly, my 8 year old very social daughter loves learning in online classes via www.outschool.com. Because she attends full-time public school, I use this tool in 5 main ways. Working mom and Outschool seriously go hand in hand!
In-Service Days Off
Ever get that sinking feeling when you read the email from the teacher and realize you forgot about an upcoming no-school day? The once-monthly day off or early-outs for teacher in-service don’t always correlate with a working mom’s scheduled time off. In fact, it seems like these days always coincide with a work travel trip for me and we rely on grandparents for child care. Working mom and Outschool to the rescue!
Thankfully, www.outschool.com provides a unique learning opportunity on these days (and you can get $20 off for your first classes!). I typically do a search for live, one-time classes on that specific day (I search in advance but I have been known to search the night before or the morning of)…and poof- she is enrolled and engaged for an hour (or three, depending on the day). She still has plenty of time to play and enjoy her day off. Just a few of the topics she has enjoyed include:
- Art classes – drawing, painting, cartooning
- Classes about specific countries- she loved the one about China!
- Hands-on science classes like the science behind Smores
- Active classes like “Would You Survive the Oregon Trail”
Holiday Breaks
I love Outschool for the holidays! Last year, my youngest enjoyed a class in the car traveling for Thanksgiving on the history of the pilgrims. It was engaging and fun. During the Christmas break, she loved a writing class called Toasty Tales and Hot Cocoa- she thought it was awesome to sip hot cocoa and tell stories! Other holiday hits have included classes on the history behind Valentine’s, April Fools, and even Pi Day! My daughter’s all time favorite class was one on Chinese New Year.
Summer
Typically, Maggie attends several different summer camps as my husband and I work full-time. This summer, we had some gap days when she needed some extra activities. It was www.outschool.com to the rescue! A new search feature was available for summer camps and I used it with success! Examples include:
Ramona the Quimby novel study – daily reading assignments throughout the week, with crafts and extra activities assigned; she would join each morning for a live 1-hour session to discuss and review what she had completed
American Girl camp- I was so surprised by her level of engagement with this! Each morning, she set her dolls up ready for camp by the computer. They completed crafts, shared stories, and communicated virtually while I got my work done!
Math Facts camp- this kept us so accountable this summer! They were short bursts of 20 minute live sessions that kept her sharp on math.
Long Trips
We don’t always travel with our lap top, but when we do, I try to search Outschool and see if there is something unique to learn about. Maggie was able to take a class on google, another on dolphins, and one on spelling during different long-trips last winter.
Passion or Areas of Interest
Last but not least, I love using www.outschool.com to see if a passion is truly a passion. Maggie expressed interest in taking piano, but with two other busy kids and working full-time, I wanted to make sure this was something she would truly commit to. She was able to take a weekly piano class, 1:1, with assignments and a teacher carefully following her progress. It was a great way to try something without yet another commute- knowing she could switch to live classes if she wanted to pursue it further.
Interestingly, Maggie was in a play this summer and her animal role was a pangolin. None of us knew exactly what that was, but I found a class on www.outschool.com that focused just on that!
Supplement With Outschool
Trust me- you need Outschool online classes for your family!
Feeling stressed over full-time distance learning, e-learning, online school, homeschooling….about to pull your hair out?
Are you envisioning your child glued to a computer screen but not really paying attention in his or her crowded Zoom classroom?
It doesn’t have to be that way!
Using Outschool.com is a dream come true for working families!
Just a few highlights….
- NO subscription necessary
- Pay for just 1 class or as many as you want
- Live education via web-cam by real teachers
Whether your family is making the switch to homeschool, using the school’s distance learning program, or giving online school full-time a try, supplementing with Outschool online classes is essential and FUN.
Our family loves Outschool– you can read all about the reasons why here. Outschool is an online platform of certified teachers for K-12. The awesome thing about Outschool is that not only do teachers need to be approved, all course content requires approval before classes can be offered.
This means you are getting the best of the best online instruction.
Now, what exactly can Outschool offer that your other online curriculum or homeschooling plan can’t? TONS….but I’ll narrow it down to 8 specific reasons.
8 Ways Outschool Can Help With Distance Learning, Remote Learning, or Homeschooling
1. Growth Mindset and Personal Development
HUGE opportunity awaits here! You can’t get this kind of instruction in a brick and mortar school or with a traditional homeschool curriculum.
Take the extra time your kids have and use it for personal development classes on Outschool. You can enroll your child in a 1-time class (literally 1-hour) OR a short-term (usually 2-8 weeks) or weekly subscription course.
The options are amazing- your kids can learn to create a vision board, be taught goal setting by experts, read personal development books and discuss them with peers, and discover the power of bullet-journaling. All online…..
2. Obscure or Unique Interests
Every single one of us – no matter how old we are – has certain things that fascinate us.
Outschool online classes provide the opportunity to match those interests to learning. Got a little one obsessed with dinosaurs, tea parties, or super heroes? There’s an Outschool class for them. Got an older child intrigued by history or biology? There’s a weekly biology or history club for them and COUNTLESS one-time classes on unique topics.
Kids can learn about interior design, AKC dog breeds, various countries, fashion- you get the idea? Honestly, there is even a class (my daughter took it) on the history of nail polish!
THIS is learning in 2021.
3. Safe Connection with Peers Across the Globe
Sick of constantly worrying about Internet safety and social media? Outschool online classes provide a method for your children to connect with peers around the world with similar interests in a safe manner.
Got a child obsessed with Harry Potter, The Office, Stranger Things, Hamilton, Roblox, or similar topics? You guessed it! There are Outschool online classes for them (trivia, discussion, history).
4. Exploration of the Arts
No doubt- in times of stress, art and music can help.
Outschool online classes offer all sorts of different options for art- anything from standard drawing instruction, to “Nailed It” fun classes, sculpting, painting, hand-lettering, and unique craft creation.
Can you believe you can find online instruction for your kids related to music? It’s crazy, but true. Your children can take online voice lessons, piano, ukelele, guitar, and other musical courses from experts- all from their computer or device.
What a fun (and educational) way to break up the monotony of 2020. Kids can even explore musical theatre and various types of dance.
These are a great way to keep your kids off their screens without hearing moaning and groaning.
5. Entertainment While Parents are Working or Busy
This is huge! You know when you have a work conference call or project and you just CANNOT be bothered? Outschool to the rescue- you can find a class for that time and your kiddo is entertained (and educated) at the same time- it’s an amazing option for working parents.
5. Play Games
Got a kid who wants to interact with others and misses his or her friends? You can find a one-time (or ongoing) Outschool online class for your child to play trivia, Bingo, chess, and various board games with kids of similar age.
6. Learn Life Skills
You know all the things you want to teach your kids but don’t have the time for? Now you can outsource that and let your kids learn from Outschool teachers online.
Options are endless, but some examples include basics of cars and trucks, nutrition, babysitting, cooking, finance, sewing, and even athletic training.
7. Learn Technological Skills
Here’s a way to make technology time actually productive time. Let your kid (no matter the age, there is an option) learn a new skill. Options range from graphic design, coding, and video editing to app creation, photography, and use of specific apps like Procreate.
8. Enhance Overall Academic Performance
Got a reluctant writer? Find a class in a topic that they actually enjoy and you may be shocked with their writing improvement. Short-term math classes on fractions, counting money, Roman numerals, await to sharpen skills or just reteach what may have been lost. Keep them reading and accountable with a book club via Outschool. Older kids can even take SAT and ACT prep classes online.
Convinced? Just a few things to know….
That’s it for our Outschool Reviews!
Outschool uses Zoom for technology, and you will quickly find that the Outschool teachers are experts in digital instruction and using Zoom to its fullest capabilities. Classes are typically about $10 per hour and fortunately, class sizes are small- almost all have less than 10 students and most have less than 5 kids from around the globe.
Join our private Facebook group for all things related to online school to connect with other families.
