There are many ways to give children choice in their learning and in their classroom life. Academic Choice is an integral part of a differentiated learning environment. In a Responsive Classroom, we look at a few essential elements to structure academic choice for children.

• Teachers understand the important connections between how children really learn and the opportunity to make choices in their learning
• Each day children must have some choice about academic work
• Academic Choice is not a scheduling tool.
• Academic Choice is not used as a reward that children are given when their "real work" (teacher-assigned work) is finished.
• Every child's day should be a careful balance of teacher-directed activities (whole group, small group, and individual) and child-initiated activities.
• The teacher's role during any kind of Academic Choice is to observe and interact with the children.