Why Personalized LearningWhat Is Personalized Learning?Personalized Learning is a unique, blended classroom and non-classroom based public educational model that is tailored to the needs and interests of each individual student. Personalized Learning is a 21st century, "on the leading edge" approach to public education that honors and recognizes the unique gifts, skills, passions, and attributes of each child. Personalized Learning is dedicated to developing individualized learning programs for each child. The intent is to engage each child in the learning process making it productive, relevant and meaningful. The goal is to optimize the student’s learning potential and success. The key attributes that comprise the Personalized Learning model are based upon a solid foundation of the latest educational research findings as to how students learn most successfully. These attributes include the following:
Why is the Personalized Learning model advantageous?Education research confirms that not all students are able to learn successfully at the same pace, with the same approach, in the same environment, on the same path, and in the same style and manner. Furthermore, every individual assimilates information according to his or her own unique learning style, need, and interest. Learning styles vary. Some people are visual learners, others learn by auditory means, others kinesthetic. Some people learn at a faster pace, others need more time. Some students feel distracted, intimidated or unsafe in a large classroom environment. Motivation to learn varies significantly from student to student. Interests and passions vary. Key Components of Forest’s Personalized Learning Program:The Personalized Learning model embodies flexibility, inclusion, collaboration and innovation. Forest recognizes the value of parent involvement and participation in their children's education and learning process. We support a collaborative relationship between parent, student, teacher, and school in creating an optimal learning process. Forest recognizes a variety of learning choices and opportunities, both within and beyond the classroom, to address each student's individual learning needs and optimize each student's learning potential. • Forest provides a wide variety of curriculum choices, attention to individual learning styles, technology learning access, and a variety of learning environments and opportunities both within and beyond the classroom so that learning programs may be tailored according to the individual needs and preferences of each student. How it works?After the enrollment interview and the completion of all enrollment paperwork, a credentialed education specialist (ES) is assigned to the student. At this point, the collaboration begins with ES, student and parent creating the dynamic educational team. After discussing the student's educational goals, curriculum options and methods for delivery are addressed, including computer-based or more traditional methods. Graduation requirements and college or vocational goals are reviewed. A plan is then established that integrates California State content standards with the desired methods and approaches to learning. Resources are either ordered by the ES or checked out from the FCS Resource Library by the family and must be returned at the end of each school year. Individual student instructional budgets are managed by the ES to provide instruction through FCS block classes or from local community vendor instructors. Vendors include FCS approved instructors that provide tutoring, music lessons, physical education opportunities and more. All instructional vendors are required to go through the process of fingerprinting as required by the State of California and have completed the essential paperwork to be a provider. Role of the FCS Education SpecialistFollowing enrollment, the ES will meet regularly to assign and evaluate student work, monitor attendance and document student progress toward course completion. Samples in each of the core subjects of student work are submitted to the charter school each assignment period. Student work samples might include written work, video taped performances, photo journals, etc. Progress is also recorded by semester report cards, required from grades 8 to 12. Profile of an Independent Study Student
Profile of an Independent Study Parent
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