The concept of personalization in learning appeals to many K-12 teachers and students weary of regimented, one-size-fits-all instruction. The in-vogue term personalization is used to refer to many different learning strategies and structures--from personal learning plans to greater student voice. Differentiation expert Carol Ann Tomlinson is…

To create a clear picture of a personalized learning environment, this article walks us through a day at the Waukesha STEM Academy, a Wisconsin charter school serving about 300 students in grades 6-8. The article follows Cal, a student making the transition from his former traditional school (where every week looked about the same) to a school…

With the push toward personalized learning, many districts are finding that teachers are unprepared for a completely new method of teaching. In this article, the authors describe a professional development program from Ottawa Area Intermediate School District in western Michigan called FuturePREP'd. In the program, teachers experience personalized…

The authors, pioneers in detracking and in shrinking achievement gaps, pose a question: Is it possible to have all students in a large high school successfully complete a challenging curriculum that gives them practice in the habits and skills necessary for success in college? The answer, they say, "is a resounding yes." This article…

The underlying premise of Response to Intervention (RTI) is that schools should not wait until students fall far enough behind to qualify for special education to provide them with the help they need. Instead, schools should provide targeted and systematic interventions to all students as soon as students demonstrate the need. However, schools…

Describes the basic components of the Individually Guided Education (IGE) system of individualized instruction, and reviews some evaluation studies that show IGE to be a success. (JG)

Describes the Arizona Consortium for Individualized Learning (ACIL) program, which has been implemented in 52 Arizona schools in grades K-6. (JG)

Describes the Personalized Education Program" established by the Portland (Oregon) Public Schools which tries to design opportunities for an educational experience for each student that will take into account his or her needs, interests, and potential. (Author/DR)

The reading workshop is not based on ability groups, but provides a venue to focus on each student's strengths and needs. Components include a teacher-sharing time, focus lesson, state-of-the-class conference, self-selected reading and responding time, and student-sharing time. (MLH)

Research evidence shows that mastery learning is much more effective than conventional methods; however, it is not yet known whether it works equally well for all kinds of learning and for all kinds of students. (Author/JM)

With typical funding, Rhode Island's Met School takes the personalized-instruction philosophy to new heights. Using mentors, parents, customized learning plans, journal writing, computer projects, and real-world settings, this school allows high-school students to develop their passions and interests instead of competing for grades. (MLH)

Describes research evaluating the success of the Pontiac I.I.P. in changing student behavior and in improving academic achievement of potential drop-outs. (AN)

Two recent studies have concluded that integrated learning systems have enormous potential but are seldom fully implemented. ILSs can transform classrooms if accompanied by increased time-on-task, computerized learning resources, effective assessment and reporting, guaranteed individualized instruction, and facilitative teachers. Sound…

The Central Valley (California) Educational Research Consortium asked 118 area principals what they were doing to improve their lowest achieving students' education. Respondents are focusing on individualizing instruction, aligning curricula to standards, advocating teaching to standards and tests, promoting new curriculum methodologies, and…

Describes a graduate program which the Department of Educational Media at Auburn University is developing for the preparation of library media specialists which allows students to formulate their own objectives and to use the state as their learning laboratory. (Author/DR)