Going Low-Tech!

So often we push to include high-tech devices into instruction, but sometimes good, old-fashioned, low-tech tools can be just what we need to help our students succeed. I do love my iPad apps (read more here), but I lean on my tried-and-true low-tech tools just as much. 

FIRST/THEN

One of my favorite low-tech instructional tools is the "First/Then" board I use to help students with communication deficits make requests and learn to wait/follow a directive before gaining access to whatever it is they want to obtain. The clipboard I use has storage underneath, holding pictures of all of the different reinforcers (for example, pictures of sensory activities, foods, etc.) and tasks (sit, quiet hands, etc.). These items can be switched out quickly and easily.

 

I have a student who, earlier this year, was exhibiting some pretty aggressive behaviors related to not getting a reinforcer (something she wants to get or do).  When we would just verbally tell her to "wait" and explain "first/then" without a visual, we would see behaviors start to emerge. Once we started using this visual to let her actually SEE that we are on the same page- that I am getting HER message, and SHE is getting MY message, behaviors started to decrease. It has also been so helpful for her to SEE what she has to do first. We used this board for a few months before we were able to fade it out to using verbal cues. Now the conversations go something like this:

Student: "I want beanbag!"

Me: "First sit with quiet hands, then get beanbag. What comes first?"

Student: "First: sit, then: beanbag!"

With the help of this handy little tool, the communication breakdown was eliminated and frustration decreased.

FIVE POINT SCALE

If you're a special educator or a therapist, then you're probably familiar with the fabulous five point scale. This is one of the first visuals I used when I started teaching eight years ago, and it's something I've continued to use in many different capacities over the years. It's one of those great tools that is so easily adaptable (you can even make it into a 3 or 4 point scale, depending on student need) that you can use it for just about any student in any situation. It's even something I've seen used in a general education setting to help students control their volume.

I used this particular 5 point scale with a student who exhibited aggressive behaviors and needed to work on identifying emotions to decrease these behaviors. You can even adapt your scale to decrease the categories (think 3 point scale). You can create these scales for volume, emotions, excitability levels. You can even change the color and shape of your scale to meet your student's needs. Use words or pictures, depending on your student's level of functioning. You can also adjust the size- large for a wall display or small to fit into a wallet as a reference that a student (or adult!) can use out in the community or on a job-site.

TEACCH WORK LIST

I can't walk about all of my low-tech tools without giving a shout out to one of my favorite vendors, Fastenation. I buy my Velcro in bulk, and the rep I work with is so helpful! Highly recommend!

Busy week ahead here...hope you all have a wonderful week!