3. Let them Pick their Problems

I am a big believer in giving students choices in the classroom.  In an environment that dictates most of their actions throughout the day, having a choice in school is a novelty for students that they very much appreciate and enjoy.  After all, they have more choices than any other generation before them whether it be how, when, and where they are entertained, selection of interactive video games, access to news sources, etc…

Let’s not have school be the only place in which they have no choices.

On homework or classwork, let students pick a certain number of questions out of the total questions in the assignment (10 out of 20 questions, for example).  On quizzes or tests, allow students to pick 2 out of 4 of the free response questions to complete or let them eliminate one multiple choice question.  It can be informative to analyze which questions they chose to do (and not do) when deciding what to review or reteach.  You could even approach students to ask them why they chose those questions to gain insight into their decision-making process. If students are studying for an Advanced Placement test with a time limit, they need to learn how to select questions judiciously so that they earn the most points in the allotted time.  This philosophy of student choice can be extended to project topics as well.

Students will appreciate having a say in completing their work which will make them more likely to do it.  When I did this in my class, I was surprised at how many students did ALL the questions even when I gave them the choice to skip questions.

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Previous posts about Ways to Promote Student Autonomy:

Let Them Help – Ways to Promote Student Autonomy – 1 of 11
Let them Choose their Seats – Ways to Promote Student Autonomy – 2 of 11