I often feel like we only see the tip of the iceberg in terms of what our students REALLY know about what we teach. Sometimes when I assess, I feel discouraged because I know they know more...why aren't they able to show me? With less sructure and need for total control on my part (very hard), academic choice has been one way that I can see more than just the tip. Kids take control, they WANT to show us how much they know. The do more than just answer 6 out of 10 questions. It's remarkable what some kids will come up with when given freedom. It's remarkable just how much they know, but never showed, because we weren't offering them a way to do that. As my kiddos have created their nonfiction books about space, I noticed they were dedicated, eager, energetic, and engaged. Unlike many other things I have taught this year, it is not likely they will ever forget what they learned about their chosen topic. And it's not just because they had control over the what and how.....it is because they were so dang proud of their completed project. They are so eager to share theirs and listen to others, they taight themselves the material. I think this is one of the true beauties of choice, even students who are not normally self propelled learners can't help but climb aboard.