Why provide a choice in the classroom?
Let’s face it, no one likes to be told what to do all the time or to be micromanaged…not me, not you and certainly not our teenage students. So why do we continue to teach this way? For years I taught this way because I didn’t realize I was doing it. I taught like I was taught. That might have worked 20 years ago but that model of teaching does not fit this generation of students. So let’s talk choice in the classroom.
Giving a Choice
As humans, we all need to have a choice and some power in our lives. Offering students some freedoms will help to reduce boredom and often increases learning that takes place in the classroom. In our quest to offer more choice in the classroom, we must keep in mind a few details:
We still need…
- Structure
- To provide meaningful learning opportunities
- To explain expectations
So in order to engage students in learning, offer choices that engage them and allow them to have a voice in the classroom. Students who are set up for success, enjoy learning more and learn faster.
Here are 5 opportunities to give students a voice and a choice.
- Seating – I always move seats around and no one ever sits by the same person two days in a row. However, I am the one picking seats. Occasionally, I allow students to choose who they sit with.
- Workspace – During independent work, partner activities and small group discussions I allow students to work where they want as long as they are on task and being productive. If a student wants to work on the floor lying down…go for it! If they complete work sitting on top of the desk, I say good job! Kids are stuck in a hard desk all day long. Give them some flexibility to sit where they are comfortable.
- Partners – I sometimes allow students to choose their own partners. I almost always do this if work has to be completed outside of class. They know better who they can arrange to work with after school hours. I also let this happen on longer multi-day assignments and sometimes just because. I like to use the element of surprise and see them get so excited I didn’t tell them who to work with #bestteacherever. Also, you can let them pick a puzzle piece and choose who will be partners.
- Tasks – I sometimes assign a series of tasks and allow students to finish them in any order they want. I set these up similar to a station activity but without the specific rotation.
- Homework – For each unit I teach, I always give a series of homework choices for what to complete. This allows students to have the opportunity to select work that entices them. I usually choose assignments that review or practice vocabulary and skills and try to find something for all the modalities/intelligences like art, interpersonal, kinesthetic, intrapersonal and so on. Everyone can find something they like. Homework goes from “Will I do this?” to “Which do I want to do?”
- Lessons – Thematic units allow students to learn communication that is of interest to them. Giving options on theme choice will give students more buy-in to what they are learning.
In conclusion
If you are just starting out with voice and choice, try implementing 1 – 2 ideas in your routines. Think about yourself as a student and decide which options you would like best. Even better, ask the students which options they would like to implement. Most importantly, remember that a student that is engaged, is a student who is learning.
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