Your Teachers and Counselor will most likely make initial contact with you via your @mysaddleback email address and the primary email listed for parent/guardian. It is imperative that you check your email twice a day: every morning and evening to ensure you are not missing out on important notes, meeting invites, and/or feedback from instructors and your support team.

Understand that online courses are not an easier way to learn, but rather a more convenient one. To successfully learn online, you need to dedicate a significant amount of your time, consistently attend the program, be concentrated while studying, and fully commit to your learning process, just as you would do for a regular course.

• For SVUSD Virtual Academy, the expectation is that students spend approximately one hour per class each day/5 days a week. For most, this equates to 25-30 hours a week of uninterrupted and focused work time.

At a brick and mortar school, your teachers help you with your schedule. As a distance learner, your teacher will provide you with learning activities and it's up to you when you complete this work. Create a schedule for each day of the week that works for you and stick with it! Remember, distance learning requires an increased level of organization and time management for maximum success.

• Plan Ahead: Never wait until the day before an assignment due date to start working on it. It will stress you out and slow you down! Furthermore, knowing when all of your assignments are due until the end of the eLearning course will facilitate your time management; for instance, if you are going on vacation in the middle of the eLearning course, you can study ahead.

• Have a Calendar System: Online learning needs structure; create a study calendar that will help you remember all important dates, like exams, or deadlines for submitting your assignments. You can save your calendar in your computer or in your mobile device, or you can even create a wall planner, which you can mark up and check every time you study.

• Create To-Do Lists: At the start of each week, make a to-do list of the tasks you need to complete by the end of the week. This is an excellent way to prioritize your study plan and stay on track with your studying.

• Stay on Schedule: Stick to your study plan. Procrastination is the worst enemy of online learners, so make sure that you stay organized and you are not falling behind in your online class. If you are having difficulties submitting your assignments on time, contact your online course instructor and let them know, so that they can help you create a consistent study routine.

Find an area in your house to organize and dedicate to your studies and you'll be much more productive. If possible, avoid work spaces such as your bed or the living room couch. Consider using a desk, office space, or dining table if available.