Democratic Education Jennifer Smith HPE 364 Ms. Minear Fall 2008

Democratic Education Within a democratic classroom, each child has a voice in the rules, activities, and curriculum. Since children are involved in these types of democratic activities, they feel important within the classroom. Each child’s voice and opinion matters. In a democratic classroom, the teacher and the students all work together to create a positive learning environment.

Classroom Contract This contract was created on the first day of school. Once students created classroom rules, they signed the contract. Their signature is their promise to follow the classroom rules. This is a form of democratic education because the students voted on the classroom rules and they chose to sign the contract.

Democratic Activity During the month of November, I will be teaching the students about Thanksgiving. On the last day of the unit, the students will make a Thanksgiving craft with construction paper, crayons, markers, tissue paper, etc. I decided to allow the students to choose which Thanksgiving craft they would like to create. There were two crafts in which the students could choose from. They were a Thanksgiving Hat or a Thanksgiving Chain. The students could only choose one craft and were given an official ballot. Also, the offices were placed around the students to ensure they voted privately.

Thanksgiving Crafts The students were allowed to choose one of these two crafts to make on the last day of the Thanksgiving Unit.

Craft One: Thanksgiving Hat Students will create a Thanksgiving Hat using tissue paper, pipe cleaners, markers, and crayons.

Craft Two: Thanksgiving Chain Students will create a Thanksgiving Chain using construction paper, glue, and markers. On each chain, students will write one thing they are thankful for this Thanksgiving season.

Thanksgiving Craft Ballot Thanksgiving Craft Vote I choose: Craft One: __________________ Craft Two: __________________ Students were asked to place a check mark next to the craft they chose.

I used this photograph in my discussion of voting. I discussed with students the meaning of voting and how each student’s vote is important when reaching decisions. Caption Erica is choosing which craft she wants to make. Her vote is important because the craft with the most votes is the craft we will make.

I used this photograph during the discussion of choosing which craft to make. As a group, we discussed the things that were considered when choosing a craft. We also discussed the importance of considering the positive and negative when voting. Caption Carl is thinking about which craft he wants to make. He is considering which craft would be more fun to make.

I used these photographs to discuss the importance of privacy when voting. We vote the way we would like to vote regardless of the way others are voting. We use our own judgment when voting. Caption Students are voting using the offices so their neighbors cannot see the craft they are choosing. Each student is choosing the craft they want to do. They are not paying attention to the way others are voting.

Craft Vote Results Craft One: 15 votes Craft Two: 5 votes And the WINNER is….Craft One: Thanksgiving Hat!!

Reflection I asked the students a simple question, which was “Do you like choosing the activities you do?” The answer was unanimous. All of the students said, “YES!” I then asked the students, “Why do you enjoy choosing the activities?” The students responded, “We like to choose because it is better than being told what to do all of the time.” I was a bit taken back by this response because I had never thought of myself as only an order giver. This activity has opened my eyes to the importance of allowing students to be actively involved in classroom activities as much as possible. I could have easily told the students to make a Thanksgiving hat or chain. However, because I allowed the students to choose the craft, they not only felt important but it also helped me realize how easy it is to get students involved in the classroom.