freedom in the classroom

Introduction The need for freedom does not require much explanation. Freedom is one of humankind’s “Inalienable rights.”It may be one of the more difficult of the basic needs for student to meet in school, but if we hope to help students become responsible members of a democratic society, then it is important that we allow them to experience freedom in their formative years. When we talk about freedom, we are not saying that students have license ( freedom without responsibility) to do or say anything they want. But there are specific strategies that can provide students with dozens of ways of meeting their freedom in responsible ways. In other words it is better to allow your student to experience their freedom and to be a responsible member in the same time through different practices. The need for freedom can be divided into two major types: freedom to and freedom from. Freedom to Involves having choices. Freedom to go where you want say what you want, associate with whom you want, pursue an interest or a career, and so on. It also refers to opportunities that allow us to choose from a variety of options.
Freedom from Refers to opportunities that allows us to experience a need change or to void an unpleasant situation.For example,free from failure, fear…etc.
Practices Granting Freedom to
1.Choice of Seats Allowing students to choose where they sit is one way to help them meet their freedom to need. The responsibility that comes with this freedom must be discussed with the students. It’s important that they understand that if they are going to choose to sit near their friends, they are expected to be respectful of you and the rest of the class and not engage in side conversations. Since the side of the room affects learning, it is very important to provide students with opportunities to choose their seats for better learning. For instance, “The kinesthetic-tactile learners may need to stand, move, sit on the floor, or walk around

References: Jonathan, C. E. (2004). The classroom of choice. Virginia USA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_freedom