35. How to Figure Out What Kids Will REALLY Work For

In this episode, we’re breaking down preference assessments—those handy tools that help figure out what really motivates students, especially those with special needs. We chat about different ways to discover what kids love, from simple interviews to observing their choices in real-time. By collecting this info, teachers can create a preference hierarchy, which is just a fancy way of ranking what kids enjoy most so they can use those favorites to encourage positive behavior.

We also share some practical tips for getting the most accurate results, like keeping things consistent and offering a variety of choices. Plus, we tackle common hiccups, like when kids aren’t interested in what’s offered or get overwhelmed by too many options, and how to work around those challenges. This episode is all about making behavior management smoother and more effective by truly understanding what makes each student tick.

Resources Mentioned:

• Preference Assessment

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 11: Understanding the Functions of Behavior

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