TAGteach Webinar - TAGteach and Autism #5

Resource List for Webinar #5

This can be a pricey book, but worth every penny if you are interested in applying TAGteach and Applied Behavior Analysis principles in the classroom for academic instruction or you are preparing to take the BCBA exam.

"This is a precious book" - Luca Canever - TAGteacher Level 3

Information about Direct Instruction (DI) 

Direct Instruction curricula are academic programs based on scientific principles of human learning. Direct Instruction (DI) curricula have 40+ years of research validation in providing superior learning outcomes to all types of students. See the National Institute for Direct Instruction at http://www.nifdi.org/ for more information.

DI programs are painstakingly designed and carefully structured, with learning tasks broken down into small components. Because of this feature, DI curricula are highly “TAGteach compatible”. The desired response serves as the tag point! It is easy to mark and reinforce specific learning behaviors by using TAGteach during a DI lesson.

We discussed the following DI programs during the webinar: 

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, by Dr. Siegfried Engelmann.

• Takes any learner from being a non-reader to reading at the 2nd grade level.

Funnix Beginning Reading and Funnix 2, also Funnix Beginning Math

• Computer-based programs

There are DI Curricula for Grades K-8 for Math, Reading, Spelling, Writing and Language, Science and Social Studies, and English as a foreign language (Espagnol to English and Direct Instruction Spoken English). See www.nifdi.org and look under the “Programs” tab. You can download free sample lessons and free Placement Tests for each program. 

Detailed curriculum information is available via the publisher, McGraw-Hill, at https://www.mheonline.com/discipline/tags/1/3/.

TAGteach + Direct Instruction = an outstanding learning experience!

Classroom Activities (from TAGteach Yahoo Group)

From Mary Cotter

I announced to the class the entire class would earn points for appropriate behavior. Up to 5 points during a 40 minute class, that could be 1 point every 8 minutes. I was always more generous and actually worked off an 8 point per 40 minute class ratio. I used plastic poker chips and a glass jar as my marker, no verbals! When the class was on task the click was the sound of the plastic chip being tossed into the jar. Students would remind each other to behave as they discovered they were earning points. The rewards were things that did not cost me any or much money or curriculum things I could turn into a reward. Playing music during cooking, eating popcorn during written work, making ice cream. I organized the rewards so it could be earned every 2 weeks for a class that met every other day. I created a bulletin board to chart the progress of each class. Students could see how quickly their class earned rewards compared to the others. More peer pressure. It was amazing how students promoted good behavior among themselves. I felt empowered and happier because I was looking for good behavior and got it.

My next example is again in an urban middle school. I was training students during the summer to become peer mediators. My students were well behaved but since it was summer and the environment more casual they were not always on task. For this I used a clicker and stickers. Again without verbal markers I simply started giving stickers to students who returned from breaks on time, raised their hand and focused on the teacher. Kids become competitive and want to earn as many stickers as they can.

From Cathy Beyer:

One fun activity with the tally counter is to find out how many "yes!" clicks the class can earn in a given period and chart it. As a group, can they beat a previous record? Tally counters work especially well with peer tagging. I have also dropped marbles into a jar, which makes a loud noise and provides a visual assessment of progress. When the jar is full, the class earns something special, like a bubble blowing festival or pizza or ?????

From Richard McManus:

You and your assistant should make up tagulators for each child so they have a way to collect tags. You will also need to collect some backup for your tags! Good inexpensive stuff is going to be important--OR you could use time on chosen activities as the backup--or even "chances" on stuff, though I am not a fan.

I would start with something easy like "Simon Says." Have two or at most three children be the first ones. Ideally pick kids that are already fairly compliant so you are insuring your own success. "The tag point is ONLY do what Simon Says!"

A correct response gets a tag and a chance to push the bead over on the Tagulator. Once your first three students have demonstrated see who else wants to play. As you get more kids involved you can start to shift the tag points to other activities.

Then the sitting in the right spot, lining up, social skills.

For example: "The tag point is "say May I have a (toy of some sort), please, and "Yes, of course you may" and "thank you," (This is a role play game for two children at a time, while the others sit and applaud while you tag!) Later you can just tag when the behavior you taught shows up on a free basis without the role play. Meanwhile switch children around in the role play quickly so they all get to be in both the asked and asker roles.

General Resource List

This is a list of resources from Martha Gabler that relate to issues of concern raised by parents in responses to a survey conducted prior to the start of this webinar series.

From the Chaos to Calm blog: Articles addressing a number of the topics mentioned in the survey, and how to address them with TAGteach.

Medical Care/Preparing for Medical Testing:  “TAGteach Tale: Tink Rocked Her Blood Tests,” at http://autismchaostocalm.com/getting-started/tink-rocked-her-blood-tests/

Tantrums, agitation:  “Got autism? Got tantrums? Here’s what you can do to help your child,” at http://autismchaostocalm.com/dealing-with-challenging-behavior/got-autism-got-tantrums-heres-can-help-child/

Stimming:  “Got Autism? Got screaming and verbal stimming? You can teach your child peace and quiet,” at http://autismchaostocalm.com/getting-started/how-i-reduced-screaming-and-verbal-stimming-in-my-child-with-autism/

Fine Motor Skills: “Got autism? Want to help your child learn to handle buttons, zippers and cutlery?” at http://autismchaostocalm.com/getting-started/tag-points-for-helping-to-develop-fine-motor-skills/ 

Additional Resources:

The Fact Sheet on desensitization will give you ideas for tag points to start increasing your child’s tolerance for sound, light, activity and touch. Building up tolerance for touch is important for personal care, medical care and dental care. The Dental Care Tool Kit from Autism Speaks has many excellent suggestions, which can also be taught via TAGteach.

The Autism Beacon resource on Task Analysis for Life Skills describes everyday activities in detailed steps. Each of these steps can be taught via tag points. The article on fine motor skills has many activities which can be taught via tag points.

Desensitization

Autism Spectrum Disorders Fact Sheet on Desensitization: see http://www.autism-help.org/behavior-desensitization.htm.

Dental Care

From Autism Speaks: Dental Took Kit (free). Download from this link: http://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/tool-kits/dental-tool-kit

Contains detailed recommendations for working on tooth brushing and dental care at home, getting ready for dental visits, finding the right dentist, and how to make sure your child has a successful experience.

Task Analysis

From Autism Beacon, “LIFE SKILLS PROGRAM PLANNER: A FRAMEWORK FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAMS FOR PUPILS WHO EXPERIENCE DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS,” see http://autismbeacon.com/images/uploads/Life_Skills_Program_Planner.pdf

This 26-page PDF (free download), describes functional life skills in the areas of Academics, Communication, Interpersonal Skills, Independent Living Skills, Leisure Skills, Pre-Vocational Skills, and Vocational Skills. It has detailed break-downs of many tasks of everyday life, such as making the bed, doing laundry, or asking for help. Outstanding resource.

Fine Motor Skills

From Pediastaff; “OT Corner: 10 Fun Ways to Use Toothpicks for Fine Motor Practice and Grasping Skills,” see http://www.pediastaff.com/blog/ot-corner-10-fun-ways-to-use-toothpicks-for-fine-motor-practice-and-grasping-skills-7585?utm_source=blogrss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=blogrss.  

There are many excellent articles on the internet with suggestions for how to build fine motor skills in children. This is one of many.