Choice Boards

Choice boards are tools used to increase student motivation for completing tasks by providing flexible options for activities in and out of the classroom. By offering students an element of control when tasks are new, challenging, or non-preferred, parents and teachers can increase the likelihood of task initiation and completion. 

Choice boards are most successful when used in conjunction with the Premack Principle (aka "Grandma's Law") or the Behavioral Momentum Principle (aka "Easy-Easy-Hard Sequence").

• Premack Principle - presenting tasks using "First/Then" language and visual aids to establish reinforcement for a non-preferred task.

  • • • Example: "FIRST, complete your math problems, THEN you can play on the iPad."

      • Example: "FIRST, eat your carrots, THEN you can have a cookie."

• Behavioral Momentum Principle - presenting 3-5 easy task demands in a quick sequence to build confidence prior to presenting new, challenging, or aversive tasks. Behavioral momentum helps the student associate task demands with good things such as praise.

  • • • Example: "Touch your nose. Yay! Point to the sky. Great job! Give me a high five. Awesome! Time to go potty."

      • Example: "Group the red blocks. You did it! Group the blue blocks. Good! What color is left? Yes, the green blocks are left! Show me an ABC pattern with the blocks."