Independent Study That Works: Designing a Successful Program
Description
Independent study programs aren’t for the “best” students; they are populated by students at their best.
Student disengagement from school is a trending concern, and many schools have turned their attention to independent study programs as a way to nurture student motivation and creativity. But where to begin?
Geraldine Woods offers a practical, step-by-step guide based on her experience designing and directing the much-admired independent study program at the Horace Mann School. Under the supervision of teachers, students embark on a remarkable variety of projects and become teachers themselves, conducting seminars with their peers along the way to preparing their final product—which could as easily be an interactive website or musical composition as a research paper. Woods’ book details the nuts and bolts of the approach and shows how to customize it for a variety of age groups, budgets, and curricular requirements. It is a gift to all educators—including homeschooling parents—who want to give students the freedom to pursue their interests.
Praise for Independent Study That Works: Designing a Successful Program
Even decades later, I still think about my experience in Ms. Woods’s Independent Study class. It was an extraordinary invitation to a lifetime of creative exploration. I love that this wonderful book will help extend that invitation to many more students for generations to come.
— Jordan Roth, president of Jujamcyn Theaters and former student at the Horace Mann School
Homeschoolers can use this book to guide them as they launch independent studies with a small family, multi-family co-op, or even a solo student. The book’s warm style invites you to become part of an educational adventure. You can do this, and your students will benefit.
— Jennifer Kaufeld, author,Homeschooling For Dummies 2nd Edition
Geraldine Woods deftly makes the case for creating an independent study and provides all the direction you might need. She has condensed decades of experience into an accessible and beneficial package.
— Bob Matthews, English Teacher and Director of Independent Study, Episcopal High School, Bellaire, Texas
