Do you like being told what to do? Truly? Of course not! Nobody does. Do you think students like being told what to do ALL DAY LONG? Nope! Then let’s give them a choice. I learned that the power of choice increases engagement exponentially.
Let me take you back to my first few years of teaching. I can recall my first graders not enjoying writing. I can also recall trying to figure out how to teach writing as a brand new teacher. The manual we were given to teach writing could have basically been written in Chinese. It was so hard to follow and the lessons were WAY too long for the stamina of a first graders. As you could imagine the level of engagement of students was low! It wasn’t until I switched districts and began working with Annie Palmer and Matt Glover that I learned the power of choice!
Built into the beginning of the year is a launching unit. In this unit students are learning the routines and procedures of writer’s workshop and the teacher is getting to know their writers. One of my first lessons is to give students pre-stapled blank “books.” These “books” are just 3-4 pieces of paper stapled together.
While I am handing them these “books” I say to them, “Write whatever you want.”
Their faces and responses are usually in shock or disbelief. “Mrs. Johnson, you want us to write whatever we want?”
“Yes!” I replied.
Even some of my less engaged students will turn it around in a few days. The ones who say “I can’t write” or “I don’t like to write” realize that I truly mean write whatever you want. Then that’s when the magic happens. They come up with graphic novels, fanfiction books, stories recalling their favorite memories, or fantasy books about their stuffed animals. Student made books start filling up their yellow writing folders.
It does not have to stop there. Even if you are teaching the types of writing (narratives, opinion or informational writing) students can still have a choice. They can have a choice of topic. They can have a choice of genre. For example, giving them an option of creating literary nonfiction or a how to book, both are informational. Giving them an option of creating their narrative as an essay or a picture book. Another option is to give students a choice of paper. Blank pages, lined pages, picture boxes with lines, colored pages, horizontal pages, vertical pages. My students in second grade have a variety of paper options in our writing station and learn how to put together their own “books”.
The contrast from my first few years of teaching is alarming. The first year, I would require students to fill out a graphic organizer on a topic of my choice, copy that graphic organizer onto a piece of paper of my choice. Then rewrite it neatly after revising/editing based on my suggestions.
Now, the engagement level in my classroom during writing is through the roof. During Daily 5 most of them ask to complete their writing first. Some students ask to stay in from recess to write. When I tell the students it’s time to clean up writing I am met with an “AHHHH! I want to write more.”
Choice has a profound impact on their love for writing!
