lbodi's blog

Why does choice matter?

According to curriculum expert Robert Marzano “choice opens up opportunities and provides students with varied experiences.”(Marzano 2007).  I agree that choice does empower students, it creates a personal investment from their perspective.  This in turn generates a source of pride in the accomplishment of a given task.  Even Heacox states that “choice “hooks” students into learning and doing work”. (Heacox 2009)  One of my biggest challenges is to keep students on task and the choice boards or tic tac toe boards are a great means to achieve this end.  I am very excited to incorporate this methodology into my classes next year.

What research supports choice?

The option of choice gives students a greater opportunity to feel ownership for a project or topic.  Choice allows a student to follow a path closer to their interest level than a regular assignment where no choice is given.  According to Carter, Prater, and Dyches in Making Accomodations and Adaptations for Students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities, “allowing choice has been shown increase on-task e and productivity.” (Carter, Prater, Dyches, 2009).  I completely concur that choice is a valuable tool in a teachers’ repitoire towards creating excellence in an environment that can be challenging from a students’ perspective.

Give an example of how a specific student might react to it.

I can only infer how a student may react to choice.  My initial reaction is that most students will appreciate choice.  I think that higher ability students really enjoy a challenge, while lower ability students like positive feedback, and tiered assignments increase that liklihood.  The only drawback for choice occurs with flexible grouping.  While as educators, we try to prepare for every possible scenario within the dynamics of a classroom, even the best laid plans can have problems.  The social aspect of flexible gouping presents different personalities.  Despite our every effort to create a rich environment for synergy among student groups there are more dominant and passive personalities.  The personalities may clash due to outside environmental factors that we are not aware of in our classroom realm.

My DLP Template (Choice) is to create a tic-tac-toe board with the element adoption form in the middle and require that all students complete it.  Then an advanced assignment would include the create an element form.  I do have an advanced crossword puzzle available.  I have a tiered form of the element collage project.  A basic task would include making flashcards with names and symbols.  Another basic task would involve creating a visual slideshow or ppt of the hierarchy of life.  Students could also create a 1 minute video or rap about the elements.  Finally, students could complete the graphic organizer on atoms for a basic assignment.

Bibliography

Carter, Prater, Dyches. (2009).  Making Accomodations and Adaptations for Students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities.  Pearson Education, Inc.  Upper Saddle River,  NJ. 

Heacox, D. (2009).  Making Differentiation a Habit.  Free Spirit Publishing Inc.   Minneapolis, Mn. 

Marzano, R.  (2007).  The Art and Science of Teaching.  (Alexandra, Va:  Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development).

Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. (2006). Holt Science Spectrum: Physical Science.  Science Spectrum, Inc., Lubbuck, Tx.

Web sites used:

About.com Chemistry. (2011).  Printable Periodic Table.  Retrieved June 25, 2011 from

http://chemistry.about.com/od/periodictableelements/a/printperiodic.htm

 Lehrer, Tom. (2011). Element Song Lyrics.  Retrieved June 25, 2011 from

http://www.ncl.ox.ac.uk/talkweb/elements.html 

Sask School Curriculum. (2011). Gold Dust Kid worksheet.  Retrieved June 25, 2011 from

http://www.saskschools.ca/curr_content/science9/chemistry/worddocs/eletale2.PDF 

YouTube.com. (2006). Hindenburg video clip. Retreived  June 25, 2011 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F54rqDh2mWA

Annotated artifacts:

Create  an element– students create their own element using a particle accelerator.  The properties should match the rest of the periodic table.

Element adoption form– students research an element of their choice and present to class if their is time or desire.

Element collage project – students find food labels with elements and arrange on a sheet of cardboard.

Graphic organizer on atoms – the graphic organizer reinforces basic concepts of atoms.

Hierarchy of Life – a ppt that I use, however student can create their own finding visuals on the web.

Holt Physical Science pre-test assessment – Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.(2006).  Holt  Science Spectrum: Physical Science.  Science Spectrum Inc. Lubbock, Tx.

Tic-tac-toe board – Heacox recommendation from page 75.