The Power of Academic Choice

Learning through Academic Choice is a powerful classroom tool. Academic Choice allows students to become invested in their learning through a wide range of skill levels, interests, and strengths. Think about yourself as a student. The thought of getting a task without choice leads to anxiety for many. Anxious students react with, “I can’t do that!” What do I have to do?” “I’m not doing this!” They often shut down and procrastinate. On the other hand, if you provide students with choice,  you’ll notice less frustration. Offering a menu of choices is good for the brain. Choice stimulates the brain. Students thrive on choice that appeals to different learning styles and interests. When students feel in control of their learning they are apt to produce better work rather than stumble through a random assignment with frustration and little meaning.

Here’s how Academic Choice works in a Responsive Classroom:

Academic Choice in a Responsive Classroom provides two kinds of choices, what to learn (content) and/or how to learn (process). Academic Choice always has three phases: Planning, working and reflecting. During Planning, children decide what they are going to do and plan how they’ll do it. During the working phase, they complete their chosen task. And during the reflecting phase, they reflect on the work they’ve done and the learning that has occurred. (Learning Through Academic Choice, p. 3)

I try to incorporate Academic Choice in all subject areas for students to demonstrate their learning. For example, if I teach a science unit on life cycles, students may demonstrate their learning in the following ways:

• Give a written or oral summary

• Create a picture book or timeline

• Write a song or poem

• Create a model

Academic Choice menus usually have 4-6 choices that draw on different strengths and abilities. Students get excited when offered choice. It helps teachers differentiate for students and incorporate multiple intelligence and learning styles. This allows teachers to meet a wide range of learning styles and needs.

For more ideas and plans for Academic Choice, check out this book, Learning Through Academic Choice. It’s a must-have resource!

Academic Learning Centers + Choice

After seeing how well my students were motivated by choice, I implemented Academic Choice during Learning Center time in my classroom. I created and posted these editable Academic Learning Task Posters in each center. The posters are visible in each center and are at eye level for students to read. Each poster has a menu of choice for different interests and abilities and offers a variety of engaging and enriching activities. Students begin their 3 phrase process when they get to each center:

• Planning– Choose ONE task and plan how you’ll do it.

• Working– Students work on their task until they hear the chime that indicates the end of the learning center time.

• Reflect– students return to their seats for a reflection and quick share. Students record their reflections and may record some of their learning in the Academic Center Learning journal. After reflecting, students may need to revisit the center to continue their work or make a different choice if they did not work productively.

Organizing and Managing Academic Learning Centers with Academic Choice Task Posters has led to productive, engaging, and effective work. My students look forward to going to centers to make their academic learning choice. Plus I can change, modify and accommodate the learning center activities to meet the needs of all learners. Want these Academic Learning Center Task Cards? Get them here. Let the power of choice unfold in your classroom while fostering independence simultaneously.

If you need help organizing and managing learning centers in your classroom, check out my recent post, The Ultimate Guide To Organizing and Managing Academic Learning Centers. For Academic Choice to be effective, some things need to be taught and modeled first, like how to make good choices, work independently or collaboratively productively. So be sure to use this Modeling Script for teaching and modeling Academic Learning Centers before you allow students to begin Academic Choice in each center or you can get both modeling script and task posters here.

Have ideas about learning center activities or the organization and management of it all?

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