Author: jessica leach Role: Student Location: Manchester, NH Date: 10-26-03 Lindsay Harden’s article shows us that freedom does not mean chaos in education. Lindsay doesn’t conform to the conventional just because that is how the school and other teacher are used to teaching, but finds her way instead. She found that allowing the students the choice to find their niche they would still learn and in fact become more engaged. Most important, by allowing the students freedom she didn’t have behavior problems to worry about. This allowed her time to work with the students and also observe the students. Sometimes observations can serve as very reliable assessment opportunities, not only in the art room, but also for those students who do not test well. In this time of standardization, we should really be opening our eyes to the development of students when they are given choices because it seems to me that they are more willing to learn and that is when they learn the most.

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