Child-Centered Charter Schools Prepare Children For A Lifetime Of Learning

9 November 2015
 Categories: , Blog

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The primary goal of a child-centered charter school is personal growth through personalized learning. Each child is allowed to learn and grow at their own pace, and their drive to learn is self-motivated. The result of this kind of learning is that each child naturally wants to learn more. Some of the methods and practices of a child-centered charter school are as follows: 

  • Learning Is Personalized - Each child is allowed to choose what they want to learn and when they want to learn. The lessons taught are tailored to each individual child. 
  • Learning Is Based on Competency - A child can take as much time as necessary to learn a subject. If a child needs more time to learn a subject that the other students have already mastered, the teacher will allow that child more time. Children do not learn a new subject until the current subject is mastered. 
  • Shared Learning - Children learn their lessons together and are allowed to discuss their lessons with each other. Children learn by listening to the teacher and each other. This makes for a very active classroom. 
  • Seating Arrangements - No seats are assigned. Children choose where they want to sit in the classroom.
  • Lessons - Children learn their lessons from ongoing projects that are continually taught until all children can demonstrate that they have mastered the subject. 
  • Technology - Children have access to computers and cell phones in the classroom and are directed to tools and websites on the internet to help them know more about the subjects being taught. 
  • Student/Teacher Relationship - Children are in continual dialogue with their teacher to discuss their lessons and the subjects being taught. If a child has not mastered a lesson, that child is given continuing assignments on the subject until they can demonstrate mastery. This method builds trust between the child and teacher and helps the child to become a critic of their own work. 
  • Children's School Work - Each child has some of their school work posted on the walls of their classroom that is visible to all the other students. All students have some of their work displayed. 
  • Homework - There is no homework in a child-centered charter school. All learning is completed in the classroom together with a teacher and other students. 

Children who attend child-centered charter schools (for more information on these schools, go to sites like this) learn their lessons because they want to learn. Children with this kind of personal motivation complete their college preparatory courses satisfactorily and qualify to attend college. Most children who graduate from child-centered charter schools continue on to attend college. Personalized learning has proven to be very successful in preparing children for a lifetime of learning.