Children’s Role in Classroom Decision-Making Dynamics: Reflections from Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of Freedom

Abstract

This paper presents three educational experiences in a preschool classroom as part of an action research project. These experiences are accompanied by three types of knowledge discussed in the Pedagogy of Freedom proposed by Paulo Freire: fully listening, respect for autonomy, and adequate emotional bond. I intend to demonstrate how 3 and 4 year-old children in a pre-kinder class (Interactive I) from a Costa Rican private school can take a leading role in the classroom decision-making process. Methodologically, video is the only technique I used to record the scenes of classroom dynamics and systematize events. As part of the final reflections, I state that preschool children are capable of taking a leading reflective, critical and transformative role that demands respect for their listening, independence and liberation of the self.

Keywords

• Investigación-acción
• reflexión
• protagonismo
• transformación
• autonomía
• libertad.