Using Choices to Improve Problem Behaviors

Using Choices to Improve Problem Behaviors

In this episode of the Teach Task Box Inspire podcast, join me as we explore the effective use of choices to manage challenging behaviors in students. Let's face it, this time of the year especially behaviors can be very challenging. Providing students with choices can eliminate a lot of these problem behaviors.

I emphasize that offering choices in the special education classroom is a powerful strategy that can be seamlessly integrated throughout a student's school day, promoting engagement and reducing resistance.

You don't want to miss this episode! Tune in now!

Episode Highlights:

Antecedent Intervention: Lisa discusses how using choices as an antecedent intervention, particularly before non-preferred tasks, can effectively mitigate challenging behaviors. By allowing students a sense of control through decision-making, teachers can create a more positive learning environment.

Teaching Decision-Making Skills: Offering choices helps students develop essential decision-making abilities, fostering self-advocacy and independence. Lisa advises starting with tangible choices and gradually introducing more abstract options as students progress in their developmental stages.

Simplicity and Avoiding Overwhelm: Keeping choices simple and limited to two options is crucial to prevent decision overload, especially for students who might struggle with executive functioning. Open-ended questions should be avoided to streamline decision-making and reduce stress.

Maintaining Control and Goal Orientation: Providing choices empowers students while ensuring that essential tasks and goals are still met. Lisa illustrates this through practical examples like offering choices during outings, maintaining focus on the end goal, and avoiding unnecessary power struggles.

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More About Teach, Task Box, Inspire: The Podcast:

Teach, Task Box, Inspire: The Podcast is your go-to educational podcast dedicated to making your job as a special education teacher easier and more enjoyable. Your host, Lisa Hollady, is a veteran special education teacher with a passion for helping teachers like you make a real difference in the lives of your students.

In your demanding roles, you’re constantly juggling various responsibilities, from differentiated instruction and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) to data collection, and, of course, teaching. That’s where task boxes come in.

Task boxes aren’t just teaching tools. They’re the key to unlocking student independence, student engagement, and personalized learning. Through this podcast, you’ll uncover the incredible task box benefits for your special needs students and practical implementation tips that you can take to your classroom.

Tune in each Monday for a new episode that will equip you with essential strategies and motivation to approach your week with confidence and enthusiasm. Topics will include task box activities, social and emotional development, adaptive teaching, inclusive teaching, supporting diverse learners, classroom management, scheduling, visual aids, and more.

If you’re looking for more special education resources and support with increasing student independence, check out Lisa's FREE training.