Why Personalized Learning
What parents and students say about CORE?
NAME: Cynthia Hagen
GROUP: Parent (Student: Nick Hagen; Teacher: Linda Scherba)
SCHOOL: CORE
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Chico
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Butte
Personalized learning is allowing my son to learn and succeed in ways he has never done in a classroom setting.
My son has Asperger's Syndrome, a form of high-functioning autism. He is very bright, yet because of his neurological issues a full-day, regular classroom is too stimulating and demanding for him. The result is an inability to stay attentive and to keep up socially, which is obvious to others and embarrassing to him. Special education classrooms with their smaller class size and modification have not worked either, because many children read at a much lower grade level, or even worse, their attitudes and behaviors exacerbate my son's natural anxieties and make concentrating even more difficult.
My son and I have suffered through many well-meaning but inappropriate placements in the public school and classroom setting, experiencing first-hand the abysmal success rate of California Special Education, with its very low rate of high school graduates. My son needs every chance he can get to succeed in order to be a self-sufficient and independent adult. Fortunately, with a student who has Asperger’s, each little success, whether academic or social, goes a very long way. And in personalized learning, we are experiencing successes beyond my wildest dreams.
TEACHING TO STUDENTS' STRENGTHS
Children without learning disabilities may be able to perform the rote, repetitive learning required of them in a classroom,
and may have the conceptual flexibility to find interest in unfamiliar subjects. This is more difficult for a child with a
disability. It is extremely important to be able to provide subject material that excites a child who must struggle to focus
thought, to read, or to handle a pencil. Our consulting teacher suggested my son study Japanese when he became interested in
Japan and his ability with the language has become a source of pride and self-confidence. That confidence in his ability to
learn then led to a burst of growth in math, a more challenging subject.
THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF CHALLENGE
For a child with a disability, discouragement and overwhelm can be all too familiar, along with the looming anxiety about being
able to cope with life as an adult. Yet just as with other children, challenges met build confidence and self-esteem. This is
true academically and also, importantly, in physical education. Two classes a week of martial arts were all the classroom education
my son got at first. But seeing himself move up the ranks at his karate school gave him the confidence to take hockey lessons, and
then to try out for and play in the junior hockey league. Evening practices and games would not have been possible for him to manage
if he had spent all day in a classroom.
SOCIAL INTERACTION THAT WORKS
Social interactions can also be carefully chosen for success. One or two classes per week have been all he has needed, to start
with, and more added as desired. Any more would be overwhelming, like throwing a no swimmer into the deep end of the pool. My
son has social confidence because he is not being forced to handle too much social interaction. He can learn each new social
skill at a comfortable pace. By contrast, I have known several teens with Asperger's Syndrome who have continued in a public
school setting. They may have been able to keep up academically, but the constant social challenge was too much for them, so
they withdrew either literally or into coping behaviors that stigmatized them, and live a life of social isolation.
COMFORT LEADS TO EXPLORATION
When overwhelmed or discouraged, special Ed students can retreat to their own world, or become resistant, even combative. With a
school program that works for him, my son has a basic feeling of comfort, which has made ventures into unfamiliar territory possible,
even enjoyable. He grapples with new information and interacts with other people more fully than he did when constantly dealing with
too much stimulation and challenge.
With personalized learning, my son is growing at his pace, and that pace is far from slow because it now has a foundation built on respect for his abilities as well as his limitations. I have more hope for his independent future than I ever did in all those years of working so strenuously with special ed teachers, aides, psychologists and school principals to figure out how to help him within a classroom-based, public school setting. As his homeschool teacher, my time is spent more efficiently, and more pleasantly, than it was during years of advocacy, conferences, IEP meetings, and trying to figure out how to get a boy for whom a regular classroom was excruciating to feel comfortable, learn, and succeed.
The classroom system is not appropriate for learners such as my son. It is critical to bear this in mind, given the exploding numbers of students with Asperger’s Syndrome and autism that our state is currently meeting. Personalized learning works, works more efficiently and with joy! And what more could a parent or teacher want than for their student to experience the joy of learning?
NAME: Candy Roberts
GROUP: Parent
SCHOOL: CORE
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Paradise
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Butte
I have three daughters that have benefited from personalized learning. The time that I could spend with each one on areas of interest, and areas that they may have had difficulty in was beneficial. The children and I have enjoyed times together that we would not have had time for if they were in a classroom all day. The help and encouragement from the teacher make the experience all that much easier. I recommend this program to all mothers I meet that are interested in looking at other choices besides the traditional school system. I think it is wonderful.
NAME: Karen Chandler
GROUP: parent and teacher
SCHOOL: CORE
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Chico
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Butte County
As both a parent and teacher within CORE, I can attest to the incredible opportunity and environment available to us through the personalized learning model. On a personal level, my child has been able to take advantage of small group instruction in history, writing, art, and science, while maintaining the time to extend her study through literature, videos, workbooks, and activities. My 4th grader is a child needing multiple exposures to new concepts before remembering them and she has been able to do that here. She has also been able to excel in math, while failing miserably at spelling, and all without the destruction of her self-esteem when being compared to classmates. Of course, we work diligently on spelling. I don't want her to stay in the 4th percentile. But that is balanced beautifully with all the other things she does so well. Like all students, she is a mixed bag of strengths and weaknesses.
I believe that all educational environments have something to offer our students. Site based programs offer lots of practice waiting, taking turns, and cooperating with peers. These are all important skills, but do not require 6 hours daily, 5 days weekly, for 13 years to learn. My daughter has learned them and practices them in the few classes she attends. By combining site based and independent study environments into a personalized learning program, my daughter, and the other students enjoy the best of both worlds. And on top of it all, I get to be the one to teach her values and morals, not a classmate.
Thank you so much for the opportunities to work for and educate my daughter in such a wonderful program.
NAME: Linda Kalanquin
GROUP: Parent
SCHOOL: CORE
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Paradise
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Butte County
Six years ago, in elementary school, our son was having difficulty reading. Being bright, well behaved and skilled at compensating he didn’t seem to be receiving the help he needed. Very soon after beginning homeschooling, he caught up and is now an outstanding reader. A personalized learning approach was just what he needed.
We began homeschooling to help our son catch up, but have continued because it fits our needs so well. Each of our three children has unique gifts, challenges and learning styles. With the help of our credentialed Educational Facilitator, and the resources at C.O.R.E. our children are receiving a rich and diversified education.
NAME: Laura Manuel
GROUP: Parent
SCHOOL: CORE
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Chico
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Butte County
To Whom It May Concern;
I am writing this in support of the learning program at the C.O.R.E. in Chico, California. My first grade daughter is involved in this program and it has been a delight to see her tremendous learning progress as her studies are geared to her interests and she is free to learn without distraction in her small classroom. She is enthusiastic and delighted with her teacher and loves the Chico Learning Center's Library and classrooms. This form of learning and study has been a 'window to the world' for her. We both look forward to the new school year, as this one has been wonderful! Sincerely, Laura Manuel
NAME: NJP
GROUP: Parent
SCHOOL: CORE
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Paradise
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Butte
My son has attended CORE for 4 years. It has been a lifesaver for a young man who, because of learning disabilities, was spending all of his energies just trying to give the appearance that he was like everyone else, when he was in the classroom setting. He was unable to process information at the same speed as other kids so he would pretend he was taking notes or copying from the board but was actually writing nothing, just gibberish. He was so embarrassed to have a resource teacher come in and help him or to be excused to attend a resource class that he refused to go. He began having behavior problems and saying he didn't care.
After switching to a personalized study program he is a different child. He is relaxed and confident. He is able to study math at his grade level and work with a group of students to hone skills and at the same time take science at a less demanding level where he gets the basics to pass the course without being overwhelmed.
With him studying in our home, I am able to create a quiet atmosphere with frequent breaks. If one day isn’t going well, we call it quits and do the work on another day. He is not embarrassed to ask questions and if I am unable to help him we work directly with a teacher who can. It is the best possible environment for a kid who otherwise might be the one sitting in the principle's office because the day to day stress of a campus environment is just too much.
The staff of CORE is also wonderful. Charter schools are just finding their ground and our administration and teachers are quite open to ideas and input from parents. Our parents are encouraged to attend board meetings and council meetings and when we have questions, they listen. Suggestions we have made have been implemented by the next academic year. Personalized learning is our future. Fitting the education to the child instead of forcing the child to fit in to the mold is a need that more schools need to take into account. CORE and my student are BOTH successful.
NAME: Amy Smith
GROUP: Parent
SCHOOL: CORE
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Paradise
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Butte
I like Personalized learning because you can pick out your own textbooks and you are able to work at your own pace. It's nice to have personal conversations with the teacher so often. I appreciate the staff at CORE, caring so much and spending so much one on one time with my daughter. I plan to continue with CORE.
NAME: Tom Perdue
GROUP: Parent
SCHOOL: CORE
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Chico
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Butte
I have been not merely pleased with the response of our son but amazed! Ryan has gone from being disinterested and resistant to school to being engaged and excited. All this in less than two months of being a part of the CORE charter school program. Our experience is a very positive one; from my first visit at the site with their librarian, to the interview with our program teacher, to all that has followed. This is a positive, life-changing experience for our son and for our family.
(And following the end of the school year) I wrote the initial assessment above early on in our experience. Perhaps a reasonable explanation for it was due to the "honeymoon" phase. Nevertheless, my views have only become more exact. Ryan did get excited about learning again and has continued to do so. We only regret that summer came rather too soon. Still, we are confident his performance will continue to mirror his talents. Ms. Debra Moon has been very helpful; insightful, and supportive. We are very grateful for her.
NAME: Larry and Judy Van Landayt
GROUP: Parent
SCHOOL: CORE
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Paradise
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Butte
My husband and I feel that Gina is much happier this year. She has time to develop some of her talents, because her schedule is more flexible than it would be at private or public schools--both of which she has attended. She has been able to do more with us in the evenings because she gets more done during the day leaving more free time at night for family as well as opportunities to do artwork, dance, practice her flute, read, sew, or whatever.
NAME: Susan Spann
GROUP: Parent
SCHOOL: CORE
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Chico
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Butte
CORE in Chico is a fantastic school. My son is blossoming and doing so great. The regular school environment was not good for him but this is great. He learns the way he needs tolearn. Keep open the school please.
NAME: Tammy Miller
GROUP: Parent
SCHOOL: CORE
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Grass Valley
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Nevada county
We have a 7-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter. We never thought ourselves the homeschool parents, but 2 years into it we are so sure home is where God intended our kids to be. We are able to address each issue as it comes and we have noticed a sweet difference in our kids and how they view the right/wrong in their world. Luke and Kate are very social, strong, and smart and the best part is they are with us. They are little empty pitchers and we choose what fills them-most of the time! We do community service, spent a lot of time with our grandparents and have extra time to learn household responsibilities and how our daddy's business works. We believe God created the institution of family to love, nurture and teach each other, not a place to send them away to fend for themselves and at such young ages. Good luck and God bless! Warmly The Miller Family