BookShark Virtual Review

BookShark Virtual is a brand new supplemental tool available for users of the BookShark literature-based curriculum programs. This new online platform adds a technology element to the already amazing BookShark curriculum, giving parents and students tons of additional features.

After switching our homeschool science, history, and language arts curriculum to BookShark this year, we had a lot of new things to get used to. We had never used a literature-based curriculum and switching from a 5-day homeschool schedule to a 4-day homeschool took some adjusting.

While we love the reading-intensive new curriculum, adding in the BookShark Virtual component took our lessons to the next level without additional prep work on my part.

We were given access to BookShark Virtual in exchange for our honest review. All the opinions and thoughts in this review are my own and were no way influenced. I only share and recommend products and services that my family uses and/or loves. This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosures for more info.

What is BookShark Virtual?

BookShark Virtual is a new online tool that allows students to view their reading assignments, interact with story maps, submit assignments and correspond with their parent or teacher. This online program creates accountability with the students and adds an element of responsibility to their studies.

The platform is housed on Canvas, a popular learning management system. Canvas is easily accessible on most devices, making it portable and convenient for families who homeschool on the go.

BookShark Virtual is designed for those families who are already using BookShark history, language arts, science, or math curriculum. You cannot use BookShark Virtual as a stand-alone tool.

While the Virtual component adds many features to the already robust BookShark programs, it doesn’t replace any of the reading or literature. BookShark will always remain a literature-based program that prides itself on getting amazing books into the hands of young minds.

BookShark Virtual is available for all BookShark history, science, and language arts levels A through H. Math-U-See is also completely integrated into the BookShark Virtual platform. Students can access the lessons and videos.  If you utilize Singapore, Saxon, or RightStart you can also use the Virtual platform to access proposed schedules and upload completed assignments. 

Navigating BookShark Virtual

BookShark Virtual is an extremely easy-to-use tool. There are plenty of videos and instruction manuals available to guide you through setting up your account, navigating the platform, and taking advantage of its many features.

Features of BookShark Virtual

As a parent or teacher, you get lots of amazing features when you use BookShark Virtual alongside your BookShark curriculum. The platform includes:

• premade lesson plans (the lesson plans from the IG in digital format)
• automatic or manual grading options
• the ability to provide feedback directly to your students
• accessibility from PC, tablets or other devices via the website or mobile app

Students using BookShark Virtual are able to:

• view daily assignments
• take assessments
• view their grades
• communicate with their parent or teacher
• view images, videos, and maps that correspond to the lessons

Scheduling and manipulating the suggested schedule is so easy in the online platform. You can simply add or remove assignments for the students. The option to publish all assignments or only specific weeks at a time is also available.

You can even add in additional assignments, assessments, or activities. The flexibility and personalization options are endless. You can also just follow the suggested schedule and assignments without having to do any additional adjusting.

Using BookShark Virtual to Encourage Independence

While we homeschool because I love being hands-on and very involved in my girls’ schoolwork, there is a time when I need them to work independently and take ownership of their assignments.  The virtual platform is just the right balance of independent study and parent-led instructor.

BookShark Virtual has been instrumental in teaching them how to work independently. They’ve learned how to follow a schedule and an assignment list. They’ve also learned how important it is to review their work before submitting it to me through the BookShark Virtual platform. 

As a parent or teacher, you can still read and progress through the lessons with your child. Then, your child can log into the program to do their assessments on their own.

We have found that the girls like to read together or to themselves first. Then as a family, we discuss the reading and do any additional research that might have been sparked from the reading. We tend to go down a lot of rabbit holes with our studies so we might end up doing a few additional activities, watching a YouTube video, or doing a craft before heading to the virtual platform.

After we are all finished with our lessons and additional activities, the girls log in individually to BookShark Virtual and complete their mapping activities and assessments for the day.

Screen time is always a concern for our family. So moving to a program that involved being on the iPad each day was a bit concerning. However, the girls are only on their devices for 20-30 minutes tops each day to complete all of their subjects. (We don’t use the online platform for math.)

I really love that the girls have a time period where they are on their own and working independently in the virtual program. This has been a huge step for us as we have never had any type of accountability or individual work that they were responsible for without my guidance.

This has really built up their confidence in navigating an online platform, completing writing assignments and comprehension questions, and submitting work in a timely manner.

My Thoughts on BookShark Virtual 

BookShark offers a 3-week preview of BookShark Virtual (just like the 3-week previews of the Instructor’s Guides). I highly encourage you to enroll in a sample course to test drive the virtual platform and see how you like it.

I didn’t consider adding a virtual or online component to our BookShark curriculum when I first made the switch. Now that we have used the platform alongside the print curriculum, I can’t imagine not having the online portion.

I’m thrilled that I can easily log in and print grades and assignments for our year-end records and assessments. I also know that I have our weekly schedule with me all the time via my phone which has been so convenient when we travel.

Overall, if you’re committing to a BookShark curriculum package, I would invest in the virtual seat also. I think the added convenience of having everything available online and accessible from any device is a huge plus. I also love the independence and responsibility that my girls have shown while working on the platform. It’s definitely a beneficial add-on to an already amazing program!