Around Town Round Up-- Choice Boards

The ability to make a choice is a powerful way for students with communication deficits to show their voice. If you have students who are nonverbal or who have limited functional verbal communication, choice boards should be incorporated throughout the day to provide plenty of opportunities for practice and to give students a meaningful way to participate.

Today's Around Town Round Up has found some of our favorite choice boards that can be used throughout the school day.

Reward Choice Boards
Many classrooms have choice boards for activities students can earn after completing work. This is often referred to as a reinforcement menu.

Rachel Engle
Horace Mann Elementary, Springfield

Jamie Minnish
Prass Elementary, Kettering

Some students may need a reduced number of choices to prevent from becoming overwhelmed or if they struggle with discrimination.

Christine Scarborough
Tecumseh Elementary, Xenia

Activity Choice Boards
Other classrooms have choice boards to allow students to choose during routine activities such as circle time or gross motor time.

Jackie Vollmer
Driscoll Elementary, Centerville

Jackie Vollmer
Driscoll Elementary, Centerville

Amy Beanblossom
Arcanum Elementary, Arcanum

Errorless Choice Boards

For students who are unable to answer questions accurately, you can use an errorless choice board to still allow them an opportunity to participate meaninfully. 

Boardmaker Online

Miss LuLu

Amy Beanblossom
Arcanum Elementary, Arcanum

Forced Choice Boards
Forced choices are an excellent way to get student buy-in because they provide the student with some shared control. When creating a forced choice board, all of the options should be acceptable at the given time.

Some forced choice boards give students the choice of the learning environment or equipment such as seating, working alone or in a group, or choosing the type of writing utensil used.

Considerate Classroom

Kim Kohlrus
Beverly Gardens Elementary, Mad River

Other forced choice boards provide choices on how to complete the activity or in what order activities will be completed.

Goalbook Toolkit

Jill Richardson