Student Choice

The idea of allowing students to make choices in the classroom has always been interesting to me.  After 22 years of teaching, I have finally adopted student choice as a main component in our classroom.  Early results are so encouraging.

Relevance of material contained in curriculum is vital for students to comprehend and maintain knowledge.  How do I make content relevant?

I have debated the appropriate balance between content knowledge and skill knowledge for a long time.  How do I teach what I need to teach while making my students better thinkers?

The answers for me are found by using our states Historical Literacy standards in connection with state content standards.  Identifying the power content standards first and then using the literacy standards to implement and compliment.

OK.... that was great teacher speak.  That's the textbook answer.  I actually do all of the above; however, that is not the key to our classroom.

The key.....student choice.

Allowing freedom in the classroom is both enjoying and troubling.  Joy in watching our students work hard, create and learn.  Troubling in the fact that I as teacher have to monitor and record progress of many different tasks all at one time.  The joy far outweighs the troubling aspects of student choice.

Here are a couple of examples of student choice.

1.  Weekly Vocab:  Students choose the words and how they will demonstrate they learned said words.  The creativity I am seeing for a 10 point assignment is amazing

2.  Blogging:  Each student spent time creating their own personal Blog.  Time spent designing and formatting blogs has been eye opening.  I have learned about embedding video from one of my students.  The creative names and the pride they are taking has been great to witness.

3.  Notebook choice:  Students can keep a notebook on Google Docs, Evernote or LiveBinders.  They choose.  Discussions with students so far has been great and I am learning so much about online binders.

4.  Committees and Departments:  We are creating a year long US History Museum that will house examples of what we have learned, what we believe is important and what we have created.  Students can apply for these positions and will work together in creating this museum.  Leadership opportunities exist for this student driven activity.

I know it is early in the school year and understand that there may be bumps in the road.  However, the hard work, the focus and the excitement I have seen with our students so far is simply AMAZING!


IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LEARNING