Objectives of Individual Education

The objectives of IE are: 1) to generate motivation to learn the academic curriculum and to provide alternative ways of learning these subjects; 2) to offer guidance about how to best proceed in various ways of learning the academic curriculum; 3) to provide testing of learning at frequent intervals; 4) to provide opportunities for supervised social interaction with other individuals; 5) to provide opportunities to learn a variety of non-academic subjects.

 

Academic Curriculum

The academic Curriculum in an Individual Education school includes the usual elements such as language, arts, arithmetic, science and social sciences.

 

Creative Curriculum

The creative curriculum is a special means of fostering resourcefulness by helping the child locate and develop special talents and abilities. Teachers and students are invited to submit ideas for classes of special interest. Creative courses can motivate and reinforce learning in the academic subjects; to build a tree house or bake cookies, one must be able to read and measure.

 

Socialization

The socialization process is aided in an IE school through the concept of discipline, in the homeroom, and through advisement by the teacher/advisors. Education is seen as a voluntary association with equals that creates an atmosphere of mutual respect and regard.

IE has three rules that the child must understand, and agree to follow before being admitted to an IE school. After a third violation a child attends a conference with his teacher/advisor (ТА) and the school principal; after the sixth violation the parents of the child are brought into the conference session; suspension occurs after the ninth and to the eleventh violation; and after the twelfth violation the child is considered for expulsion. Expulsion or suspension is rare at IE schools because students eventually realize that they have little need to rebel in the school.

Advising is a function of every faculty member in IE school. The child chooses his teacher/advisor by petition. The TA's role is to listen, offer help and advice, give information, and allow the child freedom to make decisions and even to make mistakes.

 

Advantages of IE

The educators list six advantages of IE schools:

1) Children learn more academically in less time.

2) Children like this kind of school.

3) Schools are orderly and disciplined.

4) Children get a better education for life.

5) Teachers prefer teaching in IE schools.

6) Parents prefer IE to traditional schools.

 

Assignments:

1. Find in the text the English for:

обязанность, любознательность, цель, руководство, социальное общение, особое средство, изобретательность (находчивость), выдвигать идеи, добровольный, взаимоуважение, нарушение, временное прекращение, исключение, выбирать кого-л. по просьбе, предоставлять свободу, принимать решения, делать ошибки.

2. Form the derivatives from:

educate, resource, curious, guide, foster, create, motivate, choice, socialize, advise, violate, admit, inform, able, decide.

3. Arrange A and В in pairs of synonyms:

A. to break the rule, to lead, to require, abilities, talent, to obtain, an objective, curriculum, to foster, to aid, advisor, respect, principal, to occur, to realize, to guide.

B. headmaster, to understand, to lead, to violate, to take place, capacities, to get, syllabus, tutor, to regard, to demand, purpose, gift, to instil, to help, to direct.

4. Arrange A and В in pairs of antonyms:

A. children, advantage, voluntary, best, various,to include, respect, admission, frequent, little.

B. compulsory, much, to exclude, adults, worst, disadvantage, disregard, rare, expulsion, identical.

5. Answer the following questions:

1) What is the basic premise of individual education?

2) How does John Holt describe IE schools?

3) What are the objectives of IE?

4) What academic subjects are included in the curriculum of an Individual Education school?

5) In what way can the creative abilities of students be developed?

6) How is the socialization process aided in an IE school?

7) IE creates an atmosphere of mutual regard and respect, doesn't it? In what way?

8) Are there any punishments for violation in an IE school? What are they?

9) Why do you think that expulsion and suspensionare rare in such schools?

10) How do children choose their teachers?

11) What is the teacher's role in an IE school?

12) What are the six advantages of IE schools?

13) Do you think that children enjoy studying at such schools and why?

6. Find the terms that correspond to the following definitions:

1)A school in which each child can satisfy curiosity/develop abilities and talents.

2) The aims which an IE school pursue.

3)To advise about how to best proceed in various ways of learning the academic curriculum.

4) Children's communication (contacts) with other individuals.

5) When people respect each other.

6) The process of breaking rules.

7) The head of the school.

8) The strong points of IE.

7. Suppose you are the principal of an IE school. Speakabout yourschool, its aims, your students.

8. You are choosing a school for your child. Speak about the advantages of a IE school, and try to persuade other parents to send their children to this type of school.

9. Would you teach in a IE school? Explain why.

 

GRADE 3-4

(by {Carolina Bodner)

 

I listen and I hear,

I look and I see,

I do and I understand.

 

Our classroom environment and curriculum are organized to give children the opportunity to learn as much as possible through direct experience while reinforcing academic skills and concepts. The activity areas are designed to stimulate an awareness of the exciting world around them and to integrate their learning of writing, reading, math, social studies, art and environmental science. We believe this learning atmosphere naturally encourages and promotes a curiosity for learning, self-discovery, and individual expression of ideas.

The writing process is used in daily work, through journals, reports, and all forms of creative writing including poetry, story-telling and fiction. Each child publishes a number of original manuscripts each year.

The Laidlaw reading series* is the foundation of our language arts program. We also use Curriculum Associates spelling language activities, including SRA individual reading cards, and read individually chosen books during Quiet Reading** each week. Children are encouraged to bring in books from home or the library to read at this time.

We use the Scott Foresman Math program supplemented with "hands on" activities and games as much as possible to assure the understanding of concepts such as fractions, graphing, measuring and metrics.

Children are encouraged to feel a sense of pride in their family heritage, their city, state and country and to develop a sense of responsibility to each other and their community. Through our study of Somersworth and New Hampshire*** history and present day government, we hope they will develop a beginning understanding of our participatory democracy. At home this is a good age to follow daily news and begin to read the newspaper. Discussing relevant issues, locating places on maps, and using encyclopaedias can be a great family activity, while reinforcing important research and study skills.

Assignments:

1. Look through the text and say what level of education is described in the article.

2. Speak on the main way of teaching children in this school.

3. Find the paragraph where children are taught patriotism and translate it into Russian.

4. Say what the author advises to do in families while children are out of school.

________________________

 

* Laidlaw reading series – пособие для обучения чтению

** Quiet Reading– уроки, посвященные чтению про себя

*** New Hampshire– штат в США