How does providing choice within an elementary classroom enhance a student's attitude towards learning and improve their academic development?

Seminar Title

How does providing choice within an elementary classroom enhance a student's attitude towards learning and improve their academic development?

Providing Choice in the Classroom

1st Grade

Elementary

Language Arts

All Disciplines

Educational approaches used to support and subscribe to a “one-size-fits-all” way of learning and many teachers have become stuck in this way of teaching. Through plenty of research, observations, and data, we have come to know that this isn’t the case for the best possible learning experience for our students. I have been teaching first grade in a rural Minnesota elementary school for the last three years and I noticed that I was veering away from my passion of hands-on learning. My primary students thrived and excelled when they were able to learn through doing where previously I was stuck in predictable learning routines with way too many worksheets for first grade. If you are interested in learning more about how to provide choice within a primary classroom in both reading and math, this session is for you! You will learn how I used choice in the classroom for my students to explore concepts through hands-on activities and learning modes that best fit them while developing self-management skills, intrinsic motivation and excitement to learn! My experience has been in a first grade classroom, but implementing choice can be applicable to any grade level. I look forward to hearing how you can implement and adapt my experience with choice within your classroom. I will share with you a variety of resources, digital tools and activities that benefited my students. If you are currently implementing choice in the classroom, considering implementing more differentiation or curious about what it looks like in a first grade classroom, please join me for a great and engaging discussion!