Putting personalizing into practice

Abstract

The Concord High School Language Arts Department has personalized its instructional program in two ways. First, classes are grouped according to demonstrated achievement and academic need rather than grade levels. These groups are called Phases. Thus students are placed in a class, not because of the number of years in attendance, but because of instructional needs. Second, within the classroom, they pursue an individualized instructional program at their own pace. In addition, the student is given a choice of reading material. Thus the individual is considered on the basis of not only academic achievement, but also personal interests and motivation. On varying occasions the student will work as a separate person, a participant in a small group of approximately four or five, as a member of a medium-sized class of twenty-five, or sometimes a part of a large group of seventyfive to one hundred.