Lesson S&L 8
Task: Respond to one-step action requests.
Prerequisites: COG 6, COG 11
Concept: Receptive language, or the understanding of words, becomes more functional when a student can be requested to perform a specific task and he or she understands it. The best way to measure whether the student understands the request is to observe the performance of the requested act. Some memory skills are needed for the student to receive the information and then complete the request. In some later lessons (S&L 14, S&L 18, and S&L 19) the memory aspect becomes more important. The requested tasks should be functional and, where reasonable, promote independence. The term one-step request means that the student only needs to remember one specific action. Examples include, "Please pick up your pen," "Please stand up," and "Please open the door."
Behavioral Objective: When the student is requested to perform a one-step action, he or she will perform that activity to a 90% accuracy level for 20 trials.
Materials: None.
Task Analysis:
1. Begin by reviewing the student's ability to imitate specific gross-motor movements (COG 11) such as raising his or her arms over the head. As this is being performed, verbalize the action taken in the form of a request.
2. Continue Step 1, reducing the imitation component, which is actually gestural prompting, and replace it with step-by-step verbal requests.
3. Continue Step 2, modifying the action requested to be a functional task such as, "Please open the door," or "Please bring me the pen." Continue step-by-step verbal prompts as needed.
4. Reduce the step-by-step verbal prompting and replace it with a total-task verbal request. Continue until the objective is met.