How do you include student voice and choice in your classroom?

Think also about how the learning will be relevant to their lives. How might they need to transfer this learning to another context down the track? This could shape how you craft the learning experience itself.

Voices and choices are two domains that are interlinked with each other in the context of learning. Students voices are most important in education that should be inclusive to the learning environment rather than adding it later. Every aspect of learning from classroom organization to pedagogy all should have scope of giving platform to students voices. Every step should be accompanied with freedom to express what they think about it, everywhere there should be freedom to share what they are feeling. This should feed to give respect to their choices in every sense. Achievement of learning outcomes need to be balanced with the flexibility and innovation of giving respect and scope to learners choices and voices.

Some ways I get started is - By introducing that this is an interactive based class and the first step to overcoming shyness is to raise their hand in the class - I try different activities like "Color Me Now" in which each color resembles a question they have to answer; this gives class a good boost and students get to know each other - Making them understand that nobody here is a perfectionist; everyone is unique and you will be surprised to find out how many of your classmates shares similar interests just by talking to each other

One thing I have found helpful is understanding the value behind the inclusivity that is involved with students' voice and choice. Whatever the situation, when youth are allowed to have a platform to voice their concerns and a chance to make choices or decisions, they feel more vested. They also feel more a part of the process; this increases buy-in and trust between all parties/stakeholders involved.

Involving students creates an interactive environment. As they take steps in the processes of learning they get the confidence to share and ask questions. They grasp the concepts more because they relate to the learning process unlike when they are passive participants sitting in class lest8ning to a lecture. They can participate in activitied like having discussions in small groups and then presenting their finds, carrying out interviews and making presentations or writing short notes about a concept in their own words.

This is a great way for students to “buy in” to the learning process. Having a “say” in HOW they’ll learn leads to more of an investment in their own learning. The key here however is to focus on the word “co”; there needs to be a balance within the collaboration between the teacher and his/her students.

I love facilitating “Random Dialogues” in spaces for individuals to engage in meaningful ways without an agenda. Magical things occur when we allow for kids (and adults) to come together and work things out for themselves without parents, teachers and others helicoptering over.

When a safe and respectful space is created, and students are encouraged to engage in respectful dissent, they will use critical thinking. By engaging students in inquiry that reflects students lived experiences, and is relevant, students thrive and take risks.

From my practice, I consider students get to fully develop their skills when they can include both their interests and likes and knowledge from the classroom. In this regard, I have seen how students can iterate through their projects, including their perspectives that combine general and deep knowledge. This process increases their motivation to research and apply new and varied techniques into their work. Specially, project and problem based learning get to provide marvelous tools for them to learn, apply, relearn and reflect on how they perceive their own world.

Student voices echo in inquiry and action. Empower curiosity, a spark that ignites learning. Support their questions, like fuel for discovery. Encourage research, independent as falcon wings. Guide them towards solutions, mentors on their path. Embrace their ideas, like treasures unearthed. Nurture action, from concept to reality. In this journey, student voice and choice find wings, soaring into horizons of empowerment.

Kids and teens can sniff out insincerity from a mile away. Create authentic reflections of them in your library/classroom. Purchase books that students are asking for if they fit your purchasing guidelines. Actively promote them. “Jamie, here’s that book you asked for, The Hate U Give. I got two copies so you and a friend can read at the same time.” Create an art gallery in your space and hang up student creations - art projects, doodles, sketches, quotes, anything that inspires them. Students deserve to see themselves reflected in the learning space in authentic ways.

One thing I like to do is to make my classroom or any setting that I am in inclusive. This lays a good foundation for children to express their voice and choice.

I always begin the semester by asking students to articulate what they think the subject matter is about or how they might practise the subject matter. For example, in my Business Forecasting course, I begin the first class by asking the students to forecast the AUD-USD exchange rate in one hour's time. I then give students 5-10 minutes to perform the task. After some pair-wise discussion, I invite some students to share their ideas with the class. Inavariably, students will state that they: . researched what the exchange rate was . looked up a time series chart to observe any pattern/s . extrapolated this pattern into the next hour They themselves have taught themselves the threshold concept and framework of Business Forecasting!

1. Trigger their thought process by first identifying & then bridging the gap between the actual and the required learning status, followed by giving suitable real life application. 2. Motivate the students especially through appreciation for their queries, self deductions and follow up discussions including analysis & applications of their deductions helps increase their participation. For example it is worth discussing CAGR after thorough completion of compound interest and asking them the expected returns on a one time capital investment of 100$ and systematic investment of 1$ over a period of 20 years. A list of top 10 companies or funds with highest CAGR could made as well.