Independent Study That Works: Designing a Successful Program

Independent study programs aren’t for the “best” students; they are populated by students at their best.

Student disengagement from school is a trending concern, and many schools have turned their attention to independent study programs as a way to nurture student motivation and creativity. But where to begin?


Geraldine Woods offers a practical, step-by-step guide based on her experience designing and directing the much-admired independent study program at the Horace Mann School. Under the supervision of teachers, students embark on a remarkable variety of projects and become teachers themselves, conducting seminars with their peers along the way to preparing their final product—which could as easily be an interactive website or musical composition as a research paper. Woods’ book details the nuts and bolts of the approach and shows how to customize it for a variety of age groups, budgets, and curricular requirements. It is a gift to all educators—including homeschooling parents—who want to give students the freedom to pursue their interests.