Taylor Flores #10

Student Choice

The student choice strategy can positively influence students with low motivation.

Research explains that offering students choices can influence student interest, engagement,
and learning (Patall, E. A., Cooper, & Wynn, H., C., 2010, pg 896).

Student choice is rooted in the Self Determination Theory which explains that students need a
sense of control, a sense of purpose, and a sense of competence for internal drive (Patall et al.,
2010).

Steps in Providing Student Choices

1. Who? Consider choices for student in terms of who they work
with.
2. What? Students like to be able to choose what content or topic
areas they work on.
3. When? Providing options and flexibility for when parts of
assignments are due can be helpful. Not to be mistaken for nonexistent due dates.
4. Where? Allowing students to have choices for where tasks are
completed in the classroom is a helpful choice.
5. How? Offering choices in the manner in which students present
new learning is a supportive choice.

Taylor Flores #10

Why Provide Students with Choices?

Providing students with choices can be helpful for students with low motivation and poor
interest.

Providing choices to students may be the easiest option to focus on one's autonomy.

Examples of Student Choices

Choosing Seat in class or part of the room to complete work.

How to access the restroom, without disrupting teacher.

The mode to participate in a learning activity.

Choosing to work alone or with peer.

Participate in developing classroom rules/procedures.

Offering choices related to supplies.

Choosing between two options for homework.

Choice in reading material rather than a class wide novel.

References

Who can
choices be
used with?

Students with
Emotional
Disturbance

Anderman, L., Andrzejewski, C., & Allen, J. (2011). How do teachers support students' motivation and learning
in their classrooms? Teachers College Record, 113(5), 969-1003.

Fisher, D., & Frey, N. (2012). Motivating boys to read: Inquiry, modeling, and choice matter. Journal of

Students with
Learning
Disabilities

Students with
Autism

Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 55(7), 587-596. doi:10.1002/JAAL.00070.

Morgan, D. N., & Wagner, C. W. (2013). "What's the catch?" Providing reading choice in a high school

Students with
ADHD

classroom. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, 56(8), 659-667. doi:10.1002/JAAL.193.

All Students
Patall, E., A., Cooper, H., & Wynn, S., R. (2010). The effectiveness and relative importance of choice in the
classroom. Journal of Educational Psychology, 102(4), 896-915.

Seo, S., Brownell, M. T., Bishop, A. G., & Dingle, M. (2008). Beginning special education teachers' classroom
reading instruction: Practices that engage elementary students with learning disabilities. Exceptional
Children, (1), 97-122.

Adolescent Literacy in Perspective. (2010, March/April). Ohio Resource Center.