Pre-Correction and Choices

Ways to keep students engaged in learning

Anne Marie Evans, Elizabeth Houser, & MaryCeline Josephson

What do you think
pre-correction is?
What Is Pre-Correction?
● “An antecedent instructional event designed to present the occurrence of
predictable problem behavior and to facilitate the occurrence of more
appropriate replacement behavior.” (Jolivette, Alter, Scott, Josephs, &
Swozowski, 2012)
● A reminder of the desired behavior to help the student avoid the undesired
behavior.
● Reduces the necessity of correcting an undesired behavior while it is
happening.
How Is Pre-Correction Used?
1. Identify the predictors
2. Identify the behavior
3. Ensure desired behavior is possible
4. Provide a prompt
5. Listen to the response
6. Reinforce appropriate behavior
7. Collect data
8. Once appropriate behavior is regular, fade prompts
Want to see Pre-Correction in Action?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUJSr5DNKlk
What is Choice-making?
● Provide opportunity for choice in classroom!
● Many ways:
○ Items
○ Task demands
○ Situations
○ Reinforcers
● Quality of life and emotional development, dignity, autonomy
● Choices provided before when a problem behavior usually occurs
● Reinforcing
Behaviors Choice-Making Can Help Manage
● Student task performance
● Attempted task problems and problems correct
● Off-task behavior, disruption, and noncompliance
● Aggression
● Self-stimulation
● Spontaneous speech

Use across all age groups

Steps for Implementing Choice-Making
1. Offer: at least 2 options
2. Ask: make choice
3. Wait: 5-10 seconds
4. Respond- verbally or gesture
5. Prompt if don’t respond-help gain understanding of what means to make a
choice
6. Reinforce= give selection, immediate
a. Change of mind
7. Monitor to ensure effectiveness
Reminders
Choice-making should be:

● Consistent
● Frequent
● Range from basic to complex
● Be reinforced

Implications for practice:

● Be realistic
● Focus on most beneficial curricula areas
● Choice-making continuum
● Consistent presentation and reinforcement
Create Your Own Choice Menu
1. Create a menu of choices that you
would be willing to provide your
students.
2. Compare your menu with a partner.
3. You are teaching a lesson on parts of
speech to a 5th grade inclusion class.
The lesson includes a short mini-lesson,
guided practice time, partner work, and
independent practice with worksheets.

With a partner, decide how would you

incorporate options from your choice
menu in the lesson.
Resources
Jolivette, K., Alter, P., Scott, T. M., Josephs, N. L., & Swozowski, C. N. (2012). Strategies to prevent problem behavior. In
B. G. Cook, K. L. Lane, & M. Tankersley (Eds.), Research-based strategies for improving outcomes in behavior. (pp.
141-152). New York, N. Y.: Pearson.