Empowering students through choice-making is a simple yet powerful way to foster autonomy, strengthen decision-making skills, and support overall development. By incorporating meaningful choices into the classroom, we not only promote independence but also build self-confidence and reduce anxiety—making it a proactive and effective strategy we can implement today!

The Benefits of Teaching Choice-Making

• Promotes Voice & Choice – Giving students the opportunity to make choices empowers and guides them to direct their own actions and learning, which fosters independence. It also increases motivation and engagement in daily activities.
• Enhances Communication Skills – Choice-making encourages students to express their preferences, supporting the development of preferred modes of communication.
• Builds Confidence – When students are empowered to make decisions, they build confidence, which positively impacts other areas of their lives.
• Reduces Anxiety – Having a say in their daily routines provides predictability and control, helping students feel more secure—especially in new or unpredictable situations.

By intentionally embedding choice-making into our classrooms, we create an environment where students feel valued, capable, and in control of their own learning experiences! In today's newsletter, we are going to explore how to embed more choices and tips to ensure success!

Daily Routines & Learning Activities:

• Choosing the order of tasks (when appropriate)
• Choose a song or activity during morning meeting
• Selecting a preferred workspace (desk, standing, floor, quiet corner)
• Picking between different writing tools (pencil, marker, keyboard)
• Deciding between independent work or small group support

Sensory & Regulation Options:

• Selecting a preferred fidget or sensory tool
• Choosing a calming strategy (deep breathing, weighted lap pad, movement break)
• Deciding between sitting in a chair, on a wobble cushion, or standing
• Picking a quiet space to self-regulate when overwhelmed

Preferred Activities:

• Selecting a preferred break activity (drawing, music, puzzles, sensory play)
• Choosing a reward system (if applicable)
• Picking a preferred staff member or friend to work with
• Deciding on a motivator (preferred activity, extra recess, favorite toy)

Transitions & Scheduling:

• Choosing how to transition (walk, skip, use a transition object)
• Selecting a visual schedule format (binder, clipboard, wall schedule)
• Picking between two options when a schedule change occurs

Social & Communication Choices:

• Deciding how to communicate (speech, AAC device, visuals, sign language)
• Choosing a preferred greeting (wave, handshake, fist bump)
• Picking a classroom job or responsibility
• Choosing a peer for partner work or lunch

💡Start Small

Begin with simple, manageable choices to help students ease into decision-making. Offer two options, such as choosing between two snacks, two toys, or two activities. This keeps the process straightforward and prevents students from feeling overwhelmed.

💡Provide a Preferred Choice

When students are learning to make choices, include at least one option you know they enjoy. As they gain confidence in decision-making, gradually introduce less preferred options to expand their flexibility.

💡Use Visuals

Visual supports help make choices clearer and more concrete. For example, showing pictures of two different snacks can assist students in deciding what they want. If visuals alone aren’t effective, present the actual items alongside the images to help them make the connection.

On the bottom left, you’ll find an example of a lanyard visual that presents two choices, plus an option to choose something different. This fantastic tool, used by Kayla Anderson's team in Brainerd, supports students in making decisions—such a great idea!

Using the visual is simple—when offering a choice, point to "1" and state the first option, then point to "2" and state the second. If a third choice is available, indicate the “something different” option. If you'd like to incorporate this strategy into your classroom, a ready-to-use visual is available in the Resource Section!

On the bottom right, you’ll find another excellent choice-making cue. Kia Ringnell from Sherburn uses a "choice wheel" to signal when it’s time for a student to make a decision. She also incorporates real-life visuals to enhance understanding and support the selection process. If you’d like to try this approach, a circle visual is available for you in the Resource Section!

💡Think Outside the Box

In some situations, offering a choice may seem impossible—but with creativity, options can be found! For example, if a student needs to get on the bus, they may not have a choice about getting on, but they can choose how. Try asking, “Would you like to step on with your left foot or right foot?” or “Would you like to get on in 30 seconds or a minute?” Acknowledging their feelings while still providing a choice can make transitions smoother.

💡Be Patient

Decision-making is a skill that takes time to develop, especially for students who haven’t been given many opportunities to exercise voice and choice. Avoid rushing them—offer ample time to process and respond.

💡Celebrate Positive Outcomes

Acknowledge and celebrate successful decision-making, especially when it leads to positive outcomes. Encouragement and praise help build confidence and motivation to engage in future choices.

Next week in our balanced behavior support series, we’ll dive into the "Can’t Do/Won’t Do" framework that will guide us in creating proactive supports that effectively meet the unique needs of our students.

Check out the An Ocean Life unit in Themes First!, which includes original songs, books, and activities that support students’ skill development and generalization with content that’s fun, accessible, and theme-based. These monthly units now include an expanded Social Studies suite, containing fun, theme-related activities that reinforce cultural engagement. Included in all Themes First! units are lessons, activities, and worksheets for group and independent work at a wide range of levels.

The next Themes First! release, Blast Off to Space, will be ready to prep soon!

💡Print all the activities you plan to use for the upcoming month as soon as they become available. Put printed activities in a "prep" area equipped with a laminator, file folders, Velcro, labels, and baggies. If you have a large laminator, laminate all the activities at once! When you and your team have a few minutes to spare, laminate, cut, and Velcro. It helps to organize activities in trays by "Needs to be Prepped" and "Finished." Don't forget to teach your team how to prep the activities and to model this new expectation. Check out the How to Prep a Month-Long Themes First! Unit below.

Count Down to Winter Break

Schedule Changes

Class Parties

Structuring Crafts

Classroom Routines

Introduction

Teaching Routines

Classroom Slide Deck

Arrival Routine

Check Schedule Routine

Expectations

Resources for the New Year Series

STAR Media Center Updates

Caregiver Survey

Home-School Communication

Reset Checklist Visuals

2023-2024 Tuesday Tips & Tricks Newsletters

Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns via email or phone. I'm also available to chat via Zoom Mondays from 7:30-8:00 AM and 3:00-3:30 PM. If these times do not work for your schedule, please email me and we will find a time that will work for both of us.

Use the link below to ask questions about this week's Tuesday Tips 'N' Tricks and/or give suggestions on future topics.

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