Classroom Management Through Student Choice and Democratic Practices: Part 1

Abstract

Employing student choice and democratic practices are pillars of modern classroom management in a variety of settings, including elementary general music spaces. However, as curricula become larger and instructional times become shorter, there is a perhaps a temptation to resort to more teacher-centered management techniques in the perceived interest of saving time. This column, the seventh in a series about classroom management and the first of several about the particular topic of student choice and democratic practices, contains several techniques for teachers who are ready to cede some control of their classrooms at first in exchange for classrooms in which students perhaps feel more invested and help manage more autonomously. Specific techniques include preparing multiple activities to help teach a concept and establishing procedures for class choices of activities.