You may be wondering...

What is microschooling or hybrid homeschooling?

The National Microschooling Center describes microschools as "small, multifamily learning environments." They’ve also been called modern one-room schoolhouses.

This educational approach can take many forms depending on family needs. Some microschooling programs, like Zoe Learning House, provide a hybrid homeschool structure for families, with a combination of community learning days and home learning days. The microschooling model emphasizes nurturing each child's individuality through flexible, creative approaches rooted in close relationships between the multi-family group. To learn more, here is a helpful article from School Choice Week.

ABOUT US

At Zoe Learning House, we are a new option for families seeking educational flexibility in New Orleans, launching our Hybrid Academy in fall of 2024.

We offer a creative Hybrid Academy for K-3rd grade, which includes 2 community learning days at Zoe, and 3 home learning days each week. For home-learning days, families receive guided plans for reading and math, and optional plans for the other subjects, so they can customize to fit their family's learning needs. Each family in our hybrid program registers as a homeschool family in Louisiana, and we are happy to support you in this process. We focus on honoring childhood and sparking a lifelong love of learning through a holistic education where each student has the opportunity to thrive.

Our programs are designed around hands-on, creative, and inspiring learning in a collaborative and supportive community.

Welcome to family-driven, joyful education.

Each family in the hybrid program at Zoe Learning House registers as a homeschool in Louisiana, and Zoe functions as a tutor to enrich their child's education. Homeschool law in Louisiana allows for families to have tutors for their children, and this can occur in a group context. Our program includes 2 community learning days at Zoe, and 3 home learning days each week.

How it works at our Hybrid Academy

While becoming a homeschool family means you are becoming responsible for your child's education, this does not mean you have to do it alone. At Zoe, we are happy to support you through the registration, curriculum, and reporting process.

Zoe Learning House provides a guided curriculum plan from a certified teacher in reading and math, and optional guided plans for all other subjects, so you can customize to fit your family's needs. Our at-Zoe learning days also include creative arts integrations and collaborative projects, which you can choose to extend at home as well.

Our student portfolios, co-created by Zoe staff, students, and parents using Seesaw, provide a holistic picture of each child's progress throughout the year, as do our personalized progress reports that are based on skills rather than letter grades. At Zoe, we also offer optional annual testing services or letter-writing services from a certified teacher, depending on your choice of reporting.

Because homeschooling is even better together.

What if we made learning feel more like home?

At Zoe Learning House, we desire to serve and empower families as they navigate the education of their children. Our founder and lead teacher, Emily Barnitz, has trained teachers and parents in topics such as child development, the power of play, and building a learning community. A Teacher of the Year finalist from the New Orleans Mom and UNO Outstanding Woman Alumni recipient, Mrs. Barnitz finds great joy in supporting fellow teachers and parents in their own journey. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Education, including a master's in Educational Leadership from Teachers College Columbia University.

Growing up K-12 as a homeschooler, and with 15 years as an educator in public, international, and museum settings, Mrs. Barnitz truly understands both the non-traditional and traditional sides of the education spectrum. She deeply believes that the natural curiosity and joy children have in discovering the world should be the springboard to authentic learning, and considers it a true honor to partner with families to help each child thrive as who they were created to be.

Our North Stars

• Children should be able to thrive. With the right environment and supports, each child can be happy, healthy, and whole.

• Brain-based learning. Research on how children learn best informs our hands-on, creative, and inspiring approach.

• Character counts. We seek to model and point children to integrity, empathy, and courage in a Christian environment.

• Wonder is welcome. Education should embrace rather than stifle imagination, play, and time outside.

• Parents are each child’s first teacher. And we are here to support your family’s learning journey.

Our Instagram

Admissions and Enrollment

• Tell us a little about your child/children and family.

• We will follow up with a quick call and email to answer questions and schedule a tour.

1. Submit Interest Form

2. Tour Our Space & Child Visit Day

• Signed handbook and forms

• Registration Fees (varies per program) - See "Getting Started & Cost Summary" at the end of the Program Overview Document:

  • LINK: 3-Day and 2-Day Program Overview + Getting Started and Cost Summary

  • LINK: 1-Day Program Overview + Getting Started and Cost Summary

• Upon enrollment, 2-Day and 3-Day Learners will also receive Curriculum Guides.

3. Complete Registration (if accepted)

• Come tour our learning space and meet our director and lead teacher, Mrs. Emily Barnitz.

• Your child will be invited to then come for a Child Visit Day. This is a 2.5 hour visit for us to get to meet and work with your child. ($35)

• 3-Day and 2-Day applicants will also have a welcoming Personal Evaluation following their Child Visit Day in literacy and math, to customize your curriculum guide.

We have a simple three-step process

to get started with Zoe Learning House:

All Inquiries: 3-Day, 2-Day, and 1-Day

Get started:

To learn more: Submit Interest Form if you're ready to take the next step with a phone call and schedule a visit!

Non-Discrimination Statement

Zoe Learning House welcomes families from all backgrounds who share our mission and values. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, socioeconomic status, or any other characteristic protected under federal or Louisiana state law in the administration of our educational policies, admissions processes, or other programs. As a Christ-centered program, we honor the uniqueness of each child as made in the image of God and strive to create a supportive and loving learning environment for all of our learners.

We are happy to answer any questions you may have about our programs!

Phone (text or call):

Email:

504-517-2321

info@zoelearninghouse.com