Self-Directed Study
At Assets, all classrooms include differentiation, personalization, and some degree of individualizing by meeting students where they are. Self-Directed Study opens up 100% individualization to curricula, content, time and space.
Self-Directed Study is one of many components of our highly differentiated practices. The program was built over many hours of working with twice-exceptional (2e) students, eight years of individualized work within the content courses, plus graduation action research on the methodology.
The Self-Directed Study program finds a way to balance challenge and support for all learners to catalyze individualized learning. The program stretches traditional notions of time and space in a school setting, as some students leave campus to work on projects, meet with experts, or head to college classes a couple of days a week, using their days in the classroom to do the necessary work, plus homework as needed to stay on track.
Above: During her senior year, Sydney '23 pursued advanced art studies in the Self-Directed Study program. She earned an Honorable Mention Award from the competitive Regional Scholastic Art Exhibition for one of her oil paintings on canvas.
Students regularly meet one-on-one with the supporting teacher, reflecting upon and self-assessing their work, and are continuously reaching toward what is next in their learning. Because when students drive learning, they can do so much more.