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Bringing child and youth agency into the classroom
Posted by Janice Scheckter on 01 July 2024, 05:20 SAST
So, how can we bring student agency into the classroom? 
Here are 9 practical examples that come directly from relevant research on youth agency:
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Provide youth with choice in what they learn and read.
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Allow youth to select a comfortable location to learn and read in the classroom.
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Encourage youth to set a personally appropriate pace for their work and reading.
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Foster non-threatening learning environments.
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Guide youth in designing processes and structures for scientific understanding and experimentation.
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Encourage youth to share and justify their thinking publicly.
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Encourage youth to form their own opinions, pursue their thoughts and ideas, and show support for their peers' thinking.
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Formulate discussion questions that invite youth opinion, perspective, and voice.
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Identify opportunities within teaching and learning wherein youth share in decision-making responsibility.
With these strategies, we can create classroom environments that enable child and youth agency, engagement, and academic success. Promoting agency in the classroom is a crucial aspect of equipping students with the 21st Century Skills. How will you empower your students to become leaders in the classroom and beyond?
