We just love the Common Core tips from the Work Wives!  To check out their bio click here!

Student Choice

Are you looking for a way to engage your students along with allowing them to take ownership of their learning?  Student choice is an excellent way to involve your students while motivating them to be active partners in their education.  Students welcome the opportunity to make decisions in the classroom.

In our experience, students have a drive and a real sense of responsibility when they are allowed to select the activity they will be working on each day.  During the Common Core Four portion of our Math Block, students are allowed to choose from four independent activities – Mathematical Practice, Math Facts, Math Games, and Technology.  While rules are in place, such as students can only do the choice once per day, and the teacher may guide the student towards an activity that the particular student needs to work on, the students feel autonomous and truly enjoy the opportunity to be a shared decision maker.

We have found the students are responsible with their decisions and hold themselves accountable.  Students feel a sense of pride in the work they are doing which creates a wonderful academic environment in which true learning is occurring.

For more information on the importance of student choice visit the following websites.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101206111508.htm

http://www.edweek.org/ew/section/blogs/index.htmlmay_spur_student.html

Teaching with the Common Core in Mind ~ The Work Wives