Chances are, you have a variety of learners in your math classroom right now. Maybe you feel the pressure to reach all of them but don’t quite know how. Student choice in math is one way to differentiate without creating targeted lessons for every grade level that is present in your class.
Like with everything, student choice in math can be as simple or as challenging as you make it. I’ve put together a list of ways to incorporate more student choice in your math class starting with the easiest way and ending with a more challenging way (that’s still pretty easy).
1. Choice in how they work
First of all, if you aren’t evaluating an assignment, let your students choose how they want to complete it. Do they want to work alone? Would they rather work in pairs? Do they learn better talking about it with a group?
2. Show me what you know
On the last page of a test include this question:
“What else do you want to show me that you know about this topic?”
Sometimes the questions on our tests don’t get at everything our students know. Giving students the chance to show you anything else that they want will help you to see how deep a level of understanding they have about a topic and give them a feeling of agency. That choice to add more of their thinking will leave them feeling confident and seen.
3. Student choice in math using parallel tasks
Create two or three tasks at varying levels of difficulty or let students fill in the blanks with numbers that work for them.
4. Student choice in math using open tasks
Open tasks allow you to give students a question where there are a wide range of responses at different levels.
5. Math Choice Boards
Math choice boards are a great way to allow students to choose how they show their learning. This takes a bit more work because you need to create a variety of different assessment opportunities for students, however students feel empowered to choose the assessments that fit best with their learning style. You can see some examples here.
Pick one of these ideas to get started with student choice in math and then sit back and watch the change in your students.
Want to witness even more growth and change in your students? Read this post about promoting a growth mindset in your students and download the free lesson below.
I’m Lauren, from “From Math to Music” – your go-to person for all things Math and Classroom Community.
Being a middle-school teacher and a mom of 3, I know how hard it is for busy teachers to create resources that allow for deep thinking and build classroom community. That's why I love sharing tips and tricks that you can you use in your middle school classroom right this minute.
