Giving children choices encourages creativity. Sometimes choices may involve simply selecting a book to read or topic to write about. But choices can also allow children to decide how they can express themselves through their work. After reading a book or studying a topic, for example, they might make charts or graphs, draw pictures, paint a mural, create a computer design or game, build a model, put on a skit or puppet show, or write a report. Often these artistic expressions mingle personal aspects of a child's self along with the newly learned material.
Children feel connected in a classroom structured as a community.
When classrooms are organized as communities rather than as authority-based hierarchies, a group spirit emerges. In such an environment, children can practice the resiliency of humor by learning to laugh at themselves and help others see fun in everyday happenings. Humor can be a daily part of life in a classroom community, where children greet each other, share family stories and events, and make jokes about themselves. Being able to laugh about mistakes together cuts tension and lessens competitiveness. Children play an active role in setting rules for classroom life.