When I started teaching I knew the value of using visuals in
the preschool setting. but I never new how impactful they would be for my
students in special education. I use
visuals in every part of my day and It is a huge part of my classroom
management and it is also how I adapt a lot of my lessons in my room. I would like to cover adaption in a different
post though. In this post I would like
to talk about how visuals have helped my nonverbal preschooler students become
more independent, how they help them attend to circle time and skills group
time and how they help them follow simple routines without prompts.
The visuals that I have found to be the most powerful are
the visual picture schedule. Each of my
students has one to help them transition independently throughout the day. I also have them at group times (circle time
and skills group time) to help students what we will do at these times. Typically students with communication delays
also have trouble understanding verbal language, so, the visuals help the students
see what will happen next. This allows
them to not be anxious or unaware of the next activity. It helps them be independent, as well,
because you are not constantly prompting them with directions and
gestures. The picture allows them to
understand the direction in a way that it meaningful. Visuals also help students to be independent
with routines as well. It is similar to
how they help students with the other areas I mentioned. The visual allows the students to know what to
do without prompts and they can do the task with independence.
I first learned of visual schedules and using multiple
visuals throughout the day from a TEACCH training that I attending in my first
year of teaching. I have used many of
the TEACCH strategies throughout my teaching career.
You can learn more about TEACCH at: www.teacch.com/about-us/what-is-teacch
Below I have added some pictures of the visuals I use every day:
Visual Picture Schedules (6 Students)
Independence in the Bathroom Visuals
Classroom Rules Visuals with Mr. Potato Head
Circle Time schedule and Group Rules
I bet this would be helpful to other students as well. I know that i have a daily schedule in my classroom as well, only it is a printed one that they can refer to. When I forget to change it I know that they are a little confused and ask if they can change it for me. My schedule changes daily though. Students need to know the routine and what is coming next if they are to be successful in most circumstances.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog! I love all of your ideas of incorporating the pictures and the great ideas of how you accommodate and differentiate for the many different levels in your room! Your ideas really helped me to think of the opportunities and ideas I can use with my newcomer ESL students who are in the nonverbal stage.
ReplyDelete-Jamie B.