Intensive Intervention Practice Guide - Using Student Choice to Decrease Challenging Behaviors for Elementary Students With Comorbid Academic and Behavior Difficulties

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Angel

An often overlooked antecedent modification, student choice, can reduce challenging behavior by giving elementary students a sense of control in difficult academic situations. Choice can be embedded across individuals and activities, such as selecting the first assignment, identifying preferred reinforcers, and choosing when to take a break. The guide explains what student choice is, who benefits most, summarizes research on efficacy, provides implementation tips, highlights practical considerations, and notes remaining questions and additional resources.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages22

Reading Time55 min

AccessFree to download

What Is It?

For Whom Is It Intended?

How Does It Work?

Figure 1

Figure 2

How Practical Is It?

How Can Families Support Implementation?

How Adequate Is the Research Knowledge Base?

How Effective Is It?

What Questions Remain?

Where Can I Learn More?

References

Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix C

Appendix D

Appendix E

Intensive Intervention Practice Guide: Using Student Choice to Decrease Challenging Behaviors for Elementary Students With Comorbid Academic and Behavior Difficulties Gabrielle Crowell, Vanderbilt University Jillian Thoele, University of Georgia Sarah DeAngelo, University of Illinois at Chicago Amber Reilly, University of Minnesota Using Student Choice to Decrease Challenging Behaviors for Elementary Students With Comorbid Academic and Behavior Difficulties | 2 This project was supported in part by Grant H325H190003 from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) . Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of the U.S. Department of Education, and no official endorsement by it should be inferred. This product is public domain. Authorization to reproduce it in whole or in part is granted. Although permission to reprint this publication is not necessary, the citation should be: Crowell, G. , Thoele, J. , DeAngelo, S. , & Reilly, A. (2021) . Practice Guide: Using Student Choice to Decrease Challenging Behaviors for Elementary Students With Comorbid Academic and Behavior Difficulties. Washington, DC: US Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. Fall 2021 Graphic services supported in part by EKS NICHD Grant \#1P50HD103537-01 to the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. Using Student Choice to Decrease Challenging Behaviors for Elementary Students With Comorbid Academic and Behavior Difficulties | 3 Abstract An often overlooked but simple antecedent modification is student choice. Student choice can be incorporated with a variety of individuals and across a multitude of activities (Texas Statewide Leadership for Autism, 2013) . Choice can be as simple as letting a student choose the assignment they want to complete first (Cosden et al. , 1995; Kern & Clemens, 2007; FraumeniMcBride, 2017), asking what reinforcer(s) they wish to work for (Tiger et al. , 2006), or allowing them to choose when they take a break (Rajaraman et al. , 2021) . Choice may be especially effective with students who have comorbid learning and behavior disorders (Killu, 1999l; May & Howe, 2013)—and engage in task avoidant behavior (Morgan, 2006)—as it gives them a sense of control in challenging academic situations that typically precipitate challenging behavior (Kerns, 2002). The goal of this practice guide is to provide an overview of student choice, describe who it benefits, present examples of research on its efficacy, suggest tips for implementation, underscore its practicality, highlight questions that remain, and supply resources where you can learn more. Keywords: • choice • avoidance behavior • comorbid • behavior difficulties • challenging behavior Using Student Choice to Decrease Challenging Behaviors for Elementary Students With Comorbid Academic and Behavior Difficulties | 4 Contents What Is It? .......................................................................................... 5 For Whom Is It Intended? .................................................................. 6 How Does It Work? ............................................................................ 6 • Figure 1 ......................................................................................... 8 • Figure 2 ......................................................................................... 8 How Practical Is It? ............................................................................ 10 How Can Families Support Implementation? ................................... 10 How Adequate Is the Research Knowledge Base?........................... 11 How Effective Is It? ............................................................................ 12 What Questions Remain?.................................................................. 12 Where Can I Learn More? ....................................................

FAQs

What is student choice in this practice guide?

Student choice is an antecedent modification where students are given two or more options, independently select an option, and receive the selected option.

Which students is this approach intended for?

It is intended for elementary students, particularly those who have comorbid learning and behavior difficulties and may engage in task-avoidant behavior.

How does student choice work to decrease challenging behavior?

By providing options, it increases students’ perceived control in challenging academic situations and supports participation in desired activities while reducing disruptive behavior.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Angel