Choice in the classroom

It is easy for me to support student choice when students demonstrate their learning.  I have been giving choice in the way students acquire new learning without much thought.  WHY haven't I dedicated as much time to creating student choice at the beginning of a lesson??  As I evolve as a teacher, I see the student role with choice as such a crucial piece.  I have to be deliberate and purposeful in every piece of a lesson so that my students can perform at their highest level. 

I surveyed students to find out what they wanted to learn more about and many chose our city's government.  The students are just beginning a project to find out what goes on in the inner working of Houston's government departments.  I did my research and found 8 proposals that are on current city agendas.  I gave students the choice to investigate on of the proposals that I found or find one of their own. 

Hurricane Harvey hit our population especially hard.  Many students want to be a part of the effort to make drainage better.  A few have chosen to create a way to deliver grant information to homeowners.  Other students want to pursue their interest in Houston's cultural affairs department.  The kids even found the plans for a SBISD school to be torn down on the Planning Committee's February agenda.  They are pumped to design a new school for that location. 

I love the energy in the classroom right now.  The students know their work is relevant and I often overhear discussions of how they plan to present this information so that it can be sent to city leaders.  We've heard back from several department heads.  They have answered student questions, sent video links and encouraged their learning.

Now is such a fun time to be a teacher!  I love the freedom and innovation that teachers are given.  It allows REAL LEARNING to happen in classrooms.  It energizes me to learn more and do more.  #knowbetterdobetter