How might choice impact student achievement in a 6th-grade reading class?

Seminar Title

How might choice impact student achievement in a 6th-grade reading class?

choice; engagement

6th Grade

Elementary

Reading

All Disciplines

Can I go to the bathroom, my locker, get a drink, get my snack, etc.? How often during independent reading time do we hear students looking for ways out of reading? Too often this is the case. I have found a way to limit these disruptions through my research! The students are engaged and in fact, ask for additional reading time throughout the day thanks to my new friend "choice with parameters!" The research shows giving choice gives them power over their learning. If you are looking for ways to engage your students and to have a discussion about giving choice to your students this is the session for you!

The question guiding my research is: How might choice impact student achievement in a sixth-grade classroom? As the literature was reviewed many ideas on how to motivate students surfaced. The literature suggested different ways the brain works for students. Once you see how the brain works, digging into Multiple Intelligences is helpful to gain ideas in what motivates students to work harder. A major indicator of student achievement was giving students choice in how they learn and at what level they are performing at. It is essential to know what the readiness level of your students are, where their interests lie, and what their learning profile says about how they learn best. Through my research, I found choice does not always have to be huge to be beneficial. I have found some different ways to give students choice during reading. I first found what level students were reading at. I then found their interests so I could offer choices that met their learning styles and topics of engagement for them. I can not change the curriculum, but I can find ways to enhance it through choice. As a result of my interest in motivating students, I am going to implement many more ways to give students choice in how and what they are learning in reading.