Errorless teaching is an instructional strategy that ensures a student responds correctly. Here, we discuss why errorless teaching is important and how we can use it to benefit our learners. We provide some examples of what errorless teaching looks like and tips to help learners succeed. We also discuss how to choose the right prompt, why it’s important to make sure your prompt matches your SD, and how to fade prompts within sessions.
Reinforcement is one of our most common and useful tools, and it’s just as important to know how to fade reinforcement. Here, we dive into fading reinforcement through different schedules. Our conversation also includes tips on how to use behavior contracts and self-monitoring as well as how to naturally fade reinforcement in the classroom.
Getting back into the routine of a new school year isn’t always easy. Here, we discuss the best ways to help our learners with autism transition back to school. We discuss how to help kids get used to routines throughout the school day, adjusted schedules, the importance of a good communication system, and when to introduce behavior plans.
Trips to the doctor or dentist are hard for any kid. They’re especially tough for our learners with autism and other delays. Here, we dive into how to make these experiences easier for these learners and their families. We discuss the desensitization process, the benefits of social exposure through videos and play, how to be a good salesperson about the dentist or doctor, and the importance of modeling when normalizing going to appointments.
Kids with advanced language skills may be ready to have conversations with others, but how do we teach these skills? Here, we’re diving into what conversation skills are and how we can best teach them to our learners. We discuss examples of how to use different programs to teach conversation skills. We also talk about the challenges of teaching conversation skills with peers and in the natural environment.
The purpose of assessments is to provide us with a starting point and create a baseline for our learners. Some of the most common assessments include ABLLS and VB Mapp and we compare and contrast the two here. We also discuss the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) and why it’s good for early learners, why you shouldn’t outsource assessments to RBTs, information on PEAK, and tips for how to complete a successful assessment.
Through the use of effective prompting, we’re able to help our learners succeed. Here, we dive into the hierarchy of prompting so we can use it in the best way possible. We discuss the importance of repetition and modeling and why they help learners become more successful. We also discuss fading prompts, why verbal prompts are the hardest to fade, and how to use least-to-most prompting.
ABA is an evidence-based, effective approach for teaching skills, especially for individuals with autism. Here, we’re diving in deeper and discussing what ABA is. We discuss how ABA uses data to make positive changes in behavior. We also talk about how ABA is tailored for each individual learner, why ABA isn’t only for children or those with autism, and more.
In ABA, a task analysis can be used to break down larger, more complex skills into smaller steps or actions to make things more manageable for our learners. Task analyses can be used to teach a variety of social and life skills. Here, we discuss how to create a task analysis from scratch, the different types of chaining, and how to use prompts to build independence.
To put it simply, autism is a different way of thinking and viewing the world. Here, we dive into the technical definition of autism as stated in the DSM-V. We discuss each level of severity and the criteria for a diagnosis and how to classify autism in terms of behavioral excesses and behavioral deficits. Our conversation also includes discussion about repetitive behavior and how the approach to programming and goal setting is as unique as the individual client.
