Give Them A Choice

Students love having independence and I love fostering that. There are very few times in a day when a teacher can let a child choose what they want to do because of certain standards and curriculum we need to follow. Math is one area where I struggled to incorporate choice into until I came across choice boards.

What Are Choice Boards?

            A choice board is a graphic organizer that allows students to choose different ways to learn about a concept. Many boards have 15 different activities that cover three days. Each day, students choose a new activity. It can be done with any grade level.

There are tons of free choice boards available for teachers created by teachers. My favorite comes from Laura Rogers, TPS Elementary Instructional Math Coach.

             Here is an example of a kindergarten board made by Laura Rogers and the linkto her other boards. She has one for kindergarten through fifth grade.

 

How Do I Use Choice Boards?

        Choice boards are student led and are designed for each child’s individual learning needs. Everyday students choose one choice from the board to do. They do this every week. There are a variety of games that teach the concepts we need students to understand. The games are inexpensive and use manipulatives that students already own.

Why Use Choice Boards?

  • Foster’s independence
  • Based on student’s interest
  • More likely to be engaged
  • Content is being taught and understood
  • Variety of activities
  • Differentiated for all students to meet their individual needs
  • Students set the pace

Kinder Math Choice Board 2020 (1)Students learn better when they decide what they want to learn about. Choice boards are a  great way to give students options in their learning and allow teachers to still get through the materials they need to.