independent study
Independent Studies can take many forms. Like Curriculum Compacting, these opportunities are usually reserved for students who have mastered grade level material and need some challenge and enrichment.
After the teacher has done a pre-assessment of grade level material to ensure the student understands the necessary standards, the student can then engage in an autonomous project guided by his or her interests. Younger students will need to be taught research and organizational skills before embarking on an independent study. Younger students may also need choices and more structured tasks.
Independent studies are very open-ended. They can be as long or short as you need them to be. They can be about any subject matter or topic. The product that results from an independent study can be almost anything. Independent studies are extremely easy to use in a regular classroom.
After the teacher has done a pre-assessment of grade level material to ensure the student understands the necessary standards, the student can then engage in an autonomous project guided by his or her interests. Younger students will need to be taught research and organizational skills before embarking on an independent study. Younger students may also need choices and more structured tasks.
Independent studies are very open-ended. They can be as long or short as you need them to be. They can be about any subject matter or topic. The product that results from an independent study can be almost anything. Independent studies are extremely easy to use in a regular classroom.
SAMPLE LESSON
It's difficult to show a true sample lesson for an independent study since each one will be unique, but below is an example of the pupil agreement conceived by one school. This outlines the expectations and timeline of an independent study appropriate for the elementary school classroom.
resources
A Guide to In School Independent Study Programs for Elementary Schools
Independent Studies for Children
Article about Independent Studies
Independent Studies for Children
Article about Independent Studies
references
Bromley, M. (n.d.). Independent Learning Cycle. In Bishop Luffa School Library. Retrieved April 12, 2013 from http://library.bishopluffa.org.uk/HTML_FILES/ilc.html.
Brown, D., Morris, J. Emerick, R., and Miller, E. (n.d.). Guide to In School Independent Study Program
For Elementary Schools. In Pupil Services and Attendance. Retrieved April 15, 2013 from http://usmayors.org/workforce/documents/2010-6-29AINDEPENDENTSTUDYGUIDEELEM_3_.pdf.
Brown, D., Morris, J. Emerick, R., and Miller, E. (n.d.). Guide to In School Independent Study Program
For Elementary Schools. In Pupil Services and Attendance. Retrieved April 15, 2013 from http://usmayors.org/workforce/documents/2010-6-29AINDEPENDENTSTUDYGUIDEELEM_3_.pdf.
