FIRST THEN Visual

Do you have a kid who needs a Carry around First/Then card?

Staff: Time for Deskwork!

Student A: (dropping on the floor to protest)

Staff: Time to use a restroom!

Student A: (hitting herself, crying to protest)

If your day goes like that in an every single transition, that could be a big problem. It was actually like that a month ago with this sweet little girl in my class.

This kid needs a constant assurance of what’s is expected in the activity and what’s coming next, also requires consistent cues during transitions….Carry around First/Then card was a savior!!!

I point to each icon while saying simply, “First Fine Motor and then computer”

When student is on the task, I have this visual cue visible for the student, so she understands what’s coming afterwards. Then, when all the work has been finished, I will say quickly, “Fine motor is all finished(taking off the icon from the board), time for computer!”

Inside the card, carry some of the emergency icons in case you are outside of classroom.

Use them consistently!

Use the system(first/then) throughout the day in every single opportunity(transition), especially in the beginning of the implementation.
Verbal and gestural cues have to be all consistent or at least similar across staff members when using this system.
Begin using it from preferred to preferred activity.
Next, non-preferred to preferred activity.
Slowly move on to non-preferred to non-preferred activity.
It is all about building trust between the students and staff, and easing anxieties…eventually helping students understand what’s expected at the moment.