Are you looking ways to teach students how to find their way around the school campus? If so, keep reading.
1. Get the student to create instructions for discovering places in the school building.
2. Let the student move from one place to another in the school building only at specific times (e.g., if the student has difficulty discovering places in the school building when other students are in the halls, let the student move from one place to another when others are not present.)
3. Get the student to move from one place to another with a group of students until they develop the capacity and ability to find the places independently.
4. Get the student to find several landmarks throughout the school building that can help in discovering various places in the school building.
5. Make sure the student is paying attention to the source of information (e.g., eye contact is being made, hands are free of learning materials, etc.) when instructions to specific places in the school building are given.
6. Get the student to review instructions before leaving the classroom to find specific points throughout the school building (e.g., have the student repeat instructions back to you, or have the student look at a map, etc.).
7. On occasions where giving the student instructions to specific points throughout the school building, use concrete clues such as the drinking fountain, restrooms, lunchroom. (e.g., say, “Go to the room that is just past the lunchroom, ” or “The bathroom is on the left side of the drinking fountain.” )
8. Teach the student instruction-following skills (e.g., stop doing other things, listen carefully, write down essential points, wait until all instructions are given, question any instructions not grasped, etc.).
9. Utilize images, diagrams, the smartboard, and gestures when delivering information.
10. On occasions where delivering instructions, explanations, and information, be specific and use vocabulary that is within the student’s level of comprehension.
11. Assess the appropriateness of the task to ascertain (a) if the task is too easy, (b) if the task is too complicated, and (c) if the duration of time scheduled to finish the task is sufficient.
12. Connect with parents (e.g., notes home, phone calls, etc.) to disseminate information about the student’s progress. The parents may reinforce the student at home for discovering appropriate places in the school.
13. Draft an agreement with the student stipulating what behavior is required (e.g., going to and from the restroom in a sensible amount of time) and what reinforcement will be available when the terms of the agreement have been met.
14. Praise those students in the classroom who demonstrate the capacity and ability to find appropriate places in the school building.
15. Converse with the student to explain (a) what the student is doing wrong and (b) what the student should be doing.
16. Praise the student for demonstrating the capacity and ability to find appropriate places in the school building : (a) give the student a concrete reward (e.g., privileges such as leading the line, handing out learning materials, 10 minutes of free time, etc.), or (b) give the student an informal reward (e.g., praise, handshake, smile, etc.).
