Choice is a powerful tool for the classroom.
Students feel empowered when we offer choices for their learning. Providing students who finish their work early with options that require higher order thinking is meaningful and motivating. This year, I am giving my fourth and fifth grade students monthly Choice Boards. The tasks utilize creative options from the top two levels of Bloom's Taxonomy (create and evaluate) and from the SCAMPER mnemonic, developed by Bob Eberle (substitute, combine, add something, magnify/minify, put to other uses, eliminate, and rearrange).
Simple pocket folders decorated by the students hold the choice boards and "projects in process." Students choose activities from the board that reflect their strengths, interests, or new areas they would like to try.
*We also talk about other options that are always great choices when they have free time ~ the perennial favorites of reading and writing stories, poetry, and research.
The tasks for August focus on timely "back to school" topics!
Teachers: Click through the link of your choice above to find the free August Choice Board and try it with your students. You will find a color version and a black line version. Enjoy!
