Makes students feel engaged and a part of the decision making process
Increase compliance
Students respond better to choices
Improved coping when having to do an undesired task
Decreases conflicts, refusals, defiance, and opposition
Builds rapport
When should I do it:
Offering students choices should be a regular part of classroom management and strategy
When telling any student to do something or giving a directive
When a student is reluctant to do something
When a student is stuck on making a decision
When a student engages in a power struggle or is argumentative
When students become oppositional and defiant
When students make excuses
When students are reluctant
When giving consequences
When giving rewards
How do I do it:
Speak in calm, neutral tone
Provide the student with two or more choices that you will fully accept, for example, “you can either do your work sitting at your desk or sitting at the table”
Have the student decide in ten seconds, or you will choose for them, for example, “I gave you several choices. If a choice isn’t made within 10 seconds, I will choose for you” (this prevents the choosing process from going on all day)
Present the entire class or group with choices when assigning work, for example, “Students, you can either do the odds or evens, you choose”
Give choices when rewarding, for example, “Johnny, do you want computer time or a fancy pencil?”
