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Identify one or two ways you can, as Dr. Black says, “build a structure [in your classroom] that also has a level of flexibility.”
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A couple of ways that I can “build structure that also has a level of flexibility” in it are: giving students freedom to choose from stations once their structured work is done, and secondly I give structure to projects my students work on but give them flexibility in how they can accomplish that project.
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In my literature courses, I always assign a paper or a project at the end of each novel. Once a semester, I give the students a list of five different assignments that they can complete at the end of one of our books. The students love this, because they have a choice, and they can choose an assignment that utilizes what they believe they are gifted in.
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I have often in my math courses allowed students to create posters or visual displays so that the students that are not very confident in their math skills have another way to improve their grade that may be something they really enjoy.
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I think one has to find a balance between all orientations that is filtered through truth found in the Bible. One should start with traditional values and standards and then accomplish those through all forms of teaching. One should always be looking for ways to differentiate.
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I love structure and I think that most people do thrive with structure. I also think that people love having a say and having choices. I as the teacher feel there are times that flexibility is important and should be allowed and times when it shouldn’t. I liked the idea presented that we could give choices when it comes to assessment time. I think that is something I could contemplate and work on. There are students who would chose every time to just do a written test or write a paper, but there are those that really have learned what is necessary and do not do well studying for and taking tests. I could think creatively about different ways to offer assessment choices when it is appropriate. I think another appropriate place to offer flexibility is with large projects or group projects. I could adapt some of my lessons to offer more choices on those projects.