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Giving Choice to Students in The ELA Classroom

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Giving Choice to Students in The ELA Classroom

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Students are far more likely to engage with material that they choose- which can get them to purposefully participate in class, and takeaway what they're taught... rather than in one ear, out the other!

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What Happens When Young People Actually Read “Disturbing” Books by: Gay Ivey & Peter Johnston

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What Happens When Young People Actually Read “Disturbing” Books by: Gay Ivey & Peter Johnston

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An article about student choice in their reading materials

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Spoken word poetry raises student voice, literacy and confidence by: By Lauren Barack

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Spoken word poetry raises student voice, literacy and confidence by: By Lauren Barack

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An article about student choice having to do with what they write.

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"The students, most of whom reported previously reading little or nothing, started reading like crazy—in and out of school—and their reading achievement improved."

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"The students, most of whom reported previously reading little or nothing, started reading like crazy—in and out of school—and their reading achievement improved."

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MY THOUGHT: When students were given the opportunity to select their own reading materials v.s. one book assigned to the entire class, they were far more likely to actually WANT to read it. They read more, had better scores, and actually cared about what they were reading. This shows proof that choice in reading really does matter. Not everyone wants to read The Great Gatsby or Shakespeare (no offense)!

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"When you can bring something like that, and align with Common Core, it’s a good way to hook the kids”

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"When you can bring something like that, and align with Common Core, it’s a good way to hook the kids”

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You CAN make learning entertaining, you just have to teach from the perspective of trying to make education fun and fun educational. For example with this- students could write a poem on any topic, issue, time, etc. It could be personal or made up, but at the end of the day it was the students choice (makes them more willing to participate, write, and engage)!

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"Reading engaging narratives about characters with complicated lives, they reported, helped them become more empathetic, less judgmental, more likely to seek multiple viewpoints, morally stronger, and happier." 

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"Reading engaging narratives about characters with complicated lives, they reported, helped them become more empathetic, less judgmental, more likely to seek multiple viewpoints, morally stronger, and happier." 

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AN EXAMPLE: In one of my old field classrooms, the teacher let the students choose whatever book they wanted to read. It was a 'special' reading class, and the students needed as bit more help, so she found this [choice] to be a good tool. It did work, and often we had to tell students during SILENT reading time to stop talking to each other- but they would be talking about their book. They would get excited about what they were reading and immediately want to share! THIS DOES WORK!!!

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"...creation of a safe space for poetry recitation, confidence and trust develop..."                            "The goal is not to intimidate them, but to expose them to what it takes to create and express an idea and thought..."

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"...creation of a safe space for poetry recitation, confidence and trust develop..."                            "The goal is not to intimidate them, but to expose them to what it takes to create and express an idea and thought..."

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AN EXAMPLE: This is 100% true! I love writing, but never in a million years would I share my work UNTIL I took a poetry class here at Mizzou. The teacher created a safe and supportive space (like mentioned in the article). We all got to know each other, and then we moved on to reading each other's work and talking about it (socratic style review). She always would have us read the poems out loud then everyone would talk about our poem. We didn't do spoken word until the end of the class (last unit), but by then we were all comfortable with each other, and with sharing! I really do agree that creating a safe, supportive, positive atmosphere makes the biggest difference. Me in the beginning of that course v.s. the end did a complete 360!

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"spoken word’s ability to touch on modern, real-world issues — things young people are familiar with, rather than events that occurred hundreds of years ago — can also help students connect with the genre."

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"spoken word’s ability to touch on modern, real-world issues — things young people are familiar with, rather than events that occurred hundreds of years ago — can also help students connect with the genre."

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TAKEAWAY:

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"they all brought different experiences and purposes to their reading, the conversations were constantly lively, meaningful, even philosophical, and relationship-building."

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"they all brought different experiences and purposes to their reading, the conversations were constantly lively, meaningful, even philosophical, and relationship-building."

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TAKEAWAY:

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My takeaway about choice (coming from reading both articles):

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My takeaway about choice (coming from reading both articles):

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In conclusion, I really think that choice is essential in any classroom, but most importantly, the ELA classroom! It doesn't matter if students are reading or writing, but when you provide choice (maybe a little guidance or some options is okay too), the students are for more likely to enjoy what they're learning, and actually get something out of it. I speak from my experience both being a student, and observing in the field, but both ways I have seen that choice is ESSENTIAL! It gives freedom in the classroom, which builds on trust, community, and so much more- eventually just making the learning experience 10000% better!!