Self-Directed Learning: Documentation and Life Stories

What guarantees success? Four years of high school? A college degree? A 9 to 5 job? Perhaps. But many teens yearn for something more. In Self-Directed Learning: Documentation and Life Stories, Wes Beach asserts that individuals who recognize their genuine interests and talents require only their self-awareness, confidence, passion, determination, and sense of autonomy to propel them forward. Self-Directed Learning includes the stories of individuals reaching beyond traditional expectations to meet their own needs head on. Beach, an educator, advocate, speaker, and author, also provides transcripts and resources that his students used to gain admission to colleges and universities. Self-Directed Learning speaks to young people longing to pursue their passions and grow into productive and fulfilled adults.

Wes Beach worked in public schools for 31 years, mostly in high schools, and in a private school for one year. He taught science, math, and English, and directed programs for gifted and "at-risk" kids. He wised up in 1993, left the system, and has since then directed Beach High School, which consists of a home office and an attitude-the attitude expressed in this book. He is at present the Teen Adviser for both the Gifted Homeschoolers Forum (GHF) and the HomeSchool Association of California (HSC); he served on HSC's board for two years. He has spoken at many conferences (especially at HSC's each year), written a number of articles, and authored another GHF Press book, "Forging Paths: Beyond Traditional Schooling." He is an outside consultant for the Davidson Institute for Talent Development, and in 2005 received a Distinguished Service Award from the California Association for the Gifted. For more articles by Wes, please check out the Articles page at www.giftedhomeschoolers.org.