As educators, one of our primary goals is to create an inclusive and engaging learning environment that fosters growth and development in our students. A learner-centered approach is not just a buzzword; it’s a pedagogical philosophy that centers students as they take charge of their learning journey.
So, as we gear up for the new school year, why not review what can make it a learner-centered start?
Really quick – did you get your guide yet?
Please don’t miss out on this FREE guide to centering students in your elementary classroom today!
Learner Centered Practice: Build a Welcoming Classroom!
A learner-centered classroom begins with a warm and welcoming environment. When students feel comfortable and safe, they are more likely to actively participate in the learning process. Consider these strategies:
- Arrange desks or seating in a way that promotes collaboration and interaction.
- Bring life into the classroom with plants and/or pets. (I’m more of a plant person myself!)
- Co-decorate your classroom with your students. This is THEIR space!
- Incorporate natural light and soft light as much as possible!
Foster community from day 1 by reading and discussing communities! Check out some of my favorite read-alouds about communities here!
REALLY Get to Know Your Students
Really knowing your students individually is a crucial step in creating the learner centered classroom of your dreams. Take the time to understand their interests, strengths, challenges, and learning styles. Here’s how:
- Design interactive icebreaker activities that allow students to share something unique about themselves.
- Challenge your students to find similarities and differences between them and their classmates!
- Inquire about what students envision for the year!
- Use student surveys and questionnaires to gather information about their preferences and goals.
- If possible, schedule one-on-one meetings with each student to build rapport and address their individual needs.
Learner centered practice: Get excited about this year’s learning!
How will this year be different than the previous year? What will students learn this year that will be new and exciting? Provide an exciting preview to all that students will encounter this academic year to build shared curiosity and enthusiasm!
- Prepare a slideshow of pictures of former students’ work and projects!
- Make visual or written riddles that will
- Play “what we’ll learn this year” BINGO!
- Set up a year-long learning portfolio that provides student-friendly objectives & hints towards exciting projects!
Provide an exciting preview to all that students will encounter this academic year to build shared curiosity and enthusiasm!
Work together to set up a learning board or inquiry wall: a special place in the classroom where you’ll visually represent students’ learning!
Offer Choice and Autonomy from the beginning
Handing students control over their learning is a cornerstone of learner-centered education. Even though it can feel scary at the beginning of the year, offer choices even in the very first days of school. These can be small or large decisions! Here are just a few of some scaled choices I offer my students from the first week of school:
- Do you want a hand shake, a high-five, or a wave?
- What color would you like for your portfolio cover?
- Do you want to write your own name tag or do you want me to?
- Who will you choose to sit next to as we look at books?
- What classroom job do you think our classroom needs?
- What job would you like to have in our classroom?
- Should we start with an activity or a read-aloud?
- What will you choose to work on in these 15 minutes?
Students get to practice both individual and group decision-making from the very beginning. This solidifies that they have a voice in their classroom and school day!
Ask for (and respond to) student feedback!
Starting even on day 1, solicit student feedback with simple questions like: “What did you have a lot of fun doing today?” and “What do you hope we do tomorrow?” Then, explicitly refer to their preferences as you walk through the following day. “I know so many of you loved the BINGO game we did yesterday, so we’re going to do another round today!” or “Lots of you were hoping for more art time today, so I’ve planned a fun project for us to do after lunch!”
At the end of the first week, consider giving a survey or conducting an activity to determine how students are experiencing school so far. Here are some of my favorite ways to gather their input:
- Agree/Disagree Movement: Teacher says a statement, students move their bodies to the “Agree” or “Disagree” side of the room.
- Short survey: What is your favorite part of the school day? What is your least favorite part? How do you think we could make ___ grade even more fun?
- Cut and past ranking activity: Students are given a schedule outline and cut out different parts of the school day. They then glue them in order from “favorite” to “least favorite” or “most fun” and “least fun.”
- Class meeting: Gather together as a whole class and discuss what students loved and wished for in the first week.
Continue to explicitly refer to students’ feedback as you narrate your decisions going into Week 2. Students will know you are listening to them!
You can be learner centered from Day 1!
Creating a learner-centered start to the school year is a transformative experience for both teachers and students. By fostering a positive classroom environment, understanding your students, getting excited about learning, offering choices, and soliciting feedback, you put your students at the center of their school experience.
Friendly remember: a learner-centered approach is not a box to check, but a continuous process of adaptation and growth.
Looking to read about more learner-centered practices?
Check out these other posts on the Lit By Learning blog:
- Inside a Student-Led conference!
- Great activities to start the school year!
- Launching your classroom library!
