Student Agency
Giving students a choice is a wonderful way to encourage them to take responsibility for their learning and their choices. This can significantly improve their sense of self and independence.
Fund Raising
2018/19
ISNS does a fund raising activity in which each class can choose a way in which to raise funds to support the Sunshine Academy. Only grades 2-5 are required to participate, while grade 1 classes were participating in teacher directed coin drives. However, when I mentioned the fund-raiser activity to my students they were so excited to get involved and do something to raise money. So they came up with an idea to sell juice during recess time to raise money. The students asked their parents to donate juice, created advertising posters, and donated their recess time on two days to sell their juice. They raised over 800 RMB to donate to the Sunshine Academy.
Bringing Choice to Literacy Centers
The implementation of a choice system to literacy centers was a bit scary for me to consider, since I enjoy maintaining order in the classroom. I have noticed that the system I have been using has left my students feeling unmotivated during center time. In response to this I have created a new system that will hopefully breathe life into my literacy centers once again.
I have created a menu that includes 3 activities that must be completed (main course activities), and a series of others, that the students may complete. They can choose the order in which they complete the “main courses”, then once complete, they can move onto the other activities “desserts”. In order to keep the students accountable for doing their best in their centers, we will circulate and sign the “teacher check” column beside the activity they are working on.
The program has just started, so requires a bit more direction right now, however, as the students learn the routine, I am sure that they will be more independent.
I have created a menu that includes 3 activities that must be completed (main course activities), and a series of others, that the students may complete. They can choose the order in which they complete the “main courses”, then once complete, they can move onto the other activities “desserts”. In order to keep the students accountable for doing their best in their centers, we will circulate and sign the “teacher check” column beside the activity they are working on.
The program has just started, so requires a bit more direction right now, however, as the students learn the routine, I am sure that they will be more independent.
