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Independent Study

Turning To Online Learning? Look For These 5 Elements To Spot A Good Program

on October 20, 2021 | By Dr. Jessica Spallino
More Families Are Turning To Online Learning Though online learning has been around for decades, it has recently become a more preferred learning modality than ever before. Whether part or full-time, online learning can fill a temporary or permanent need for remote learning for students anywhere. Increasingly, students are turning to online programs at school districts, charter schools and private schools for the following reasons:
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Independent Study

Things To Consider When Making The Move To K-12 Independent Study

on August 5, 2021 | By Jana Sosnowski
If you’ve been considering your district’s independent study option for the 2021-2022 school year, you may have a lot of questions about what independent study is and how you can tell if your child is receiving a high-quality independent study experience. One thing to keep in mind is that independent study and distance learning share a lot in common, but there are some key differences. You’ll want to ensure that your child’s experience is a high-quality independent study experience and not simply “school online.” As long-time members of the independent study space, Method Schools has spent years refining the key elements of a quality independent study program.
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Summer School

Enrollment Cap and Statement on Short-Term Enrollments

on December 11, 2020 | By Mark Holley
Background: Short-term Enrollment at Method Schools As a non-classroom based California public charter school, Method often enrolls students for durations shorter than an entire school year. The nature of independent study is flexible and often asynchronous. Some students, due to illness, sports, family situations, etc. often enroll at our school for a few weeks or months, rather than an entire year or more. Our school is optimized to accommodate students who need a non-traditional school experience such as this. It's one reason Method was so prepared to handle an influx of students as schools began to close due to covid-19.
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Independent Study

Independent Study is Built For Independent Thinkers

on January 27, 2020 | By Dr. Jessica Spallino
With the several hits legitimate charter schools have recently taken due to unethical players and an increased competition for student enrollments, school choice has been negatively impacted. Though there has been an impact, there is still an ongoing need for school choice due to a diverse population of students with an even more diverse set of needs. Independent study or homeschooling remains a preferred option for many students and their families with unique needs or interests.
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Independent Study

Four Smart Solutions to Ensure Success in an Independent Study Program

on December 11, 2019 | By Dr. Jessica Spallino
Independent study in K-12 schools can be a challenging and isolating experience if not delivered with ample support and accountability. Throughout my years working within independent study, the need for personalized tools and instruction is as critical as ever. Expecting students, parents and teachers to be successful within an independent study modality is unrealistic without a variety of instructional practices and effective tools.
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Independent Study

5 Tips for Successful Independent Study

on March 19, 2019 | By Method Schools
5 Tips for Successful Independent Study  When you join the wondrous world of a quality virtual charter school, you have plenty to gain; a better education as well as the flexibility to have fun and be successful. You will find it engaging for your child, the one who get easily bored at school. For gifted learners, they will be better challenged; with those who struggle, they can move at their own pace. The “wondrous” part is that you gain flexibility and better student engagement. As with any great undertaking, there are tips that will make your child’s academic life more manageable and even easier. Here are our top five:
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Charter Schools

5 Steps to Selecting a School for Your Child

on October 17, 2018 | By Amy Pinter
5 Steps to Selecting a School for Your Child Google “How to Find a Good School for Your Child” Look through the long list including the snippet telling you how to Google “4 steps to Selecting a School for Your Child.” Rub temples; headache is fast approaching Check Great Schools and get “GreatSchools: School ratings and Reviews” Try again after taking something for the fast approaching headache  There is nothing simple about selecting a school for your child.  Normally, we are not given a choice which school our child will attend.  We went to the school that was closest to our home and our friends attended the same school and each year we crossed our fingers and hoped our BFF was in the same class and our nemesis was not.
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Charter Schools

We Scrapped Our School Model. Here's Why.

on September 12, 2018 | By Mark Holley
Imagine for a moment a small mom and team that wants to open up a bike shop. They have a great idea, a product that stands out, and they're hungry. They see a need in their community for a more personal bike shop that sells high quality bikes and parts while providing topflight service. They know their business will benefit not just the riders in their area, but also the community at large. They need a business license, so they start by visiting their city hall to fill out an application and get started on the process. 
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Online Learning

Balancing "On and Off Screen Time" In An Independent Study Charter School

on September 14, 2016 | By Dr. Jessica Spallino
At Method Schools we aim to educate the whole student by integrating a variety of modalities into our program. As an independent charter school, we have been afforded the creative space to combine adaptive and personalized online learning with small group instruction along with collaborative and content driven projects. Through this implementation, we have quickly discovered that even while building a program that includes diversified educational activities, most content is delivered through a singular screened device and this requires ample time in front of a screen.
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Online Curriculum

What Is Independent Study?

on April 2, 2016 | By Dr. Jessica Spallino
Although relatively new to the long-term educational landscape, Independent Study is becoming more widely used in a variety of settings and implementations. In most cases in independent study models, students work primarily from home in curriculum that often delivers the same rigor and bears the same credit as curriculum in a traditional, seat-based model. The student is usually equipped with a detailed guide on how to navigate through the curriculum on their own, with the help of a designated support person, who is often a parent. In addition to the assigned person at home, the independent study student works closely with Highly Qualified Teachers to provide instructional support when needed. How this looks depends largely on how the model has been implemented. Today, many independent study models include time on site that can include instructional sessions, tutoring, labs, collaborative projects and a variety of elective offerings for students.
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© 2022 Method Schools  | Privacy Policy

 

All Rights Reserved. The school name “Method” includes two California K-12 charter schools: Method LA, authorized by Acton Agua Dulce Unified School District, and Method Schools, authorized by Dehesa Elementary School District. Method is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in education and in employment and does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived ancestry, age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, immigration status, race, or ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, parental/marital or family status, primary language, medical condition, genetic information, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. The Method Schools Board of Directors prohibits all unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying of any student based on the protected characteristics named above. For more information, please contact Title IX Coordinator Tracy Robertson at trobertson@methodschools.org or Jade Fernandez at jfernandez@methodschools.org. 

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