Using Choice Boards in the Upper Elementary Classroom

Empowering Students with Choice Boards in the Upper Elementary Classroom

By: Jacqueline Ortiz, Updated January 16, 2025, Originally Written March 2021

Every teacher has heard it before: “But teacher, that’s boring!” or “I don’t wanna do that!” Even the most exciting, well-planned activities can sometimes fall flat for certain students. When students aren’t motivated or excited about an activity, they’re less likely to give it their all, which can hinder both their engagement and learning outcomes.

So, how can you turn things around? One powerful way is to offer choice! Providing options allows students to take ownership of their learning, fostering empowerment and motivation like nothing else. In my classroom, I’ve found that offering choices makes all the difference. One of my favorite tools for giving students options? Choice boards!

Why Use Choice Boards and Menus in Upper Elementary?

Menus are incredibly effective in upper elementary classrooms because they give students autonomy. Students love having a say in their learning, and choice boards provide just that—an opportunity to pick what they’ll work on while still focusing on the skills and content they need to master.

What Are Choice Boards?

Think of choice boards as bingo cards with a grid of 9 squares. Each square contains a different activity related to a specific topic, such as word work, writing prompts, independent reading, or extensions. The beauty of choice boards is their flexibility—students can complete anywhere from one to several activities depending on the depth of learning you’d like to achieve. Once they’ve completed an activity, they cross it off the grid. It’s simple, engaging, and incredibly effective!

How to Use Choice Boards & Menus in the Classroom

Choice boards are versatile and can be used in various ways to meet the needs of your students and your teaching goals. Here are a few examples:

1. Homework: Turn them into a weekly homework assignment! Send a choice board home and let parents help their children pick a few activities to complete during the week. This not only adds variety to homework but also makes it more manageable for families. Plus, it allows students to explore tasks that suit their interests and strengths.

2. Fast Finishers: Every classroom has those students who finish their work early. Instead of scrambling to find extra tasks for them, hand them a choice board! This keeps them busy with meaningful, skill-building activities and prevents disruptions while the rest of the class continues working.

3. Regular Classroom Work: Incorporating choice boards into your regular lessons adds excitement and engagement to your curriculum. Use them for units on writing, reading, spelling, math, or even science! By giving students a choice, you break the monotony of traditional assignments and create a more personalized learning experience. Students love the freedom, and you’ll love the increase in participation and effort.

How I Use Choice Boards

I’ve been using these for years, and they’ve become a go-to tool in my teaching toolbox. They’re easy to prepare, print, and implement, making them perfect for a variety of classroom needs. Here are some of my favorite ways to use them:

Grab the Choice Boards Bundle Here!

• Word Work: Help students strengthen vocabulary, spelling, and grammar skills with creative and varied activities.
• Writing: Encourage students to explore different writing styles, from narratives to opinion pieces.
• Early Finisher Activities: Keep students engaged and learning even after they’ve completed their primary tasks.
• Reading: Promote independent reading with engaging activities that encourage critical thinking.
• Writing Picture Prompt: Inspire creativity with visual prompts that spark imagination and storytelling.

Take a Peek at all the Choice Boards Here!

Grab the bundle Here in my Shop or here in my TPT Shop

Benefits of Using Choice Boards

Still not sure if choice boards are for you? Here’s why they’re worth incorporating into your classroom:

• Empowerment & Motivation: Students feel in control of their learning, which increases their motivation and effort.
• Versatility: Use them for homework, early finishers, or during regular lessons.
• Ease of Use: Choice boards are simple to prepare and implement, saving you time and energy.
• Skill Growth: By allowing students to choose tasks, you encourage independent learning and critical thinking skills.

Get Started with My Bundle!

To make things easier for you, I’ve compiled all my favorite choice board resources into one comprehensive bundle! This bundle includes:

• Word Work
• Writing
• Early Finishers
• Reading
• Writing Picture Prompts

With these resources, you’ll have everything you need to bring choice, accountability, and excitement into your classroom. As a bonus, all digital formats are included to make it even easier to adapt to your students’ needs.

Teaching Takeaways: Why Choice Boards Work

1. They empower students by giving them ownership of their learning.
2. They’re incredibly versatile and can be used for homework, early finishers, or regular classroom work.
3. They’re easy to prepare and implement, saving you time while keeping students engaged.

So, how will you start using choice boards in your classroom today? Give your students the gift of choice, and watch their motivation and learning soar!

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