Essential Knowledge
Through my investigation about learner-centered norms and routines I have discovered the importance of choices for students. Providing choices is a risk that all teachers must take, here are some of the benefits of providing choices in a learner-centered classroom:
- Students are motivated by choices
- Choices allow instruction to be engaging for students
- Students have a feeling of control and purpose
- Keeps students more accountable
Student Choice and Engagement | |
File Size: | 1303 kb |
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The file that is attached above is an issue of Adolescent Literacy in Perspective focusing on Student Choices and Engagement. The issue includes a feature article and three classroom vignettes that I found very helpful.
Choices to Motivate Students by Kevin Perks
Choice at Finland Middle School by Paul Smathers, Debbie Camp, David Hampson, Barry Alcock, Julie Ison and Lynnette Stephens
Providing Choice- A Risk Worth Taking for Teachers and Students by Amy Bradley and Michael Alcock
When You Give Me a Choice, You Give Me a Chance by Joleata Tidwell-Howell
Choices to Motivate Students by Kevin Perks
- This article focused on using choices to foster interest and engagement. Perks provided different factors to help teachers create choices that will benefit motivation and achievement. He concludes that, choices that will promote feelings of control, purpose, and competency are likely to be more motivating. The article then continues by providing information about how much choice is appropriate and examples of different choices to offer. I believe I can follow these guidelines and use choices to motivate my own students.
Choice at Finland Middle School by Paul Smathers, Debbie Camp, David Hampson, Barry Alcock, Julie Ison and Lynnette Stephens
- This vignette provides examples of choices that teachers at Finland Middle School are providing for their students. Some examples of these choices include allowing students to choice their presentation for their project, types of statistics, location they want to study, odd or even homework problems, and discipline. The vignette provided many effective examples of providing students choices and concludes that, "Giving choice is about empowering students. It makes them feel that they are part of the process, not powerless; that's the kind of feeling that motivates everyone." This example showed me how to effectively empower students through choices, I will use these strategies as well to empower my students.
Providing Choice- A Risk Worth Taking for Teachers and Students by Amy Bradley and Michael Alcock
- This vignette explains that with any choice, there is some degree of risk that comes with it. For example, when we ask children an open-ended question, we have a direction in mind, but with a group dynamic it can quickly move to a topic that you have not prepared for. In order to allow students to take risk, I as teacher must first take the risk of providing choices.
When You Give Me a Choice, You Give Me a Chance by Joleata Tidwell-Howell
- In this vignette, Tidwell explains the use of the tic-tac-toe board as a way to provide choices. She has two variations of the board as one is a more general representation and the other is more specific to the type of learner. These tic-tac-toe boards allow students to choose the representation that works for them and in turn are a better representation of the students' understanding of the topic.