Lesson COG 54
Task: Spell first and last names.
Prerequisites: COG 37, COG 43, S&L 6
Concept: Because a person's name has a direct relationship to functional spelling, this task appears to be a good place to start learning the concept that can lead to spelling simple words. Physical guidance that is gradually reduced is the initial action given to the student. In addition to writing the letters, the student should be prompted to say the names of each letter as written. Repeated action in spelling the student's name serves to ingrain the name into memory and ultimately makes this a functional task.
Behavioral Objective: When requested to "please write your name," the student will print his or her first and last names on a piece of paper and say the names of each letter as he or she is writing to a 90% accuracy level for 20 trials.
Materials: Various markers and paper.
Task Analysis:
1. Review with the student the ability to identify his or her first name (COG 37). Add to that skill the ability to identify the printed last name.
2. Using the student's ability to copy letters (COG 43), physically guide the student through the process of printing his or her own name. After providing a sample from which to copy, prompt the student to say the name of each letter as it is printed.
3. Continue Step 2, reducing physical guidance, and present the student with a connect-the-dots type of sample to use.
4. Continue Step 3 without using the connect-the-dots type of prompt, using step-by-step verbal prompts instead.
5. Reduce all guidance until none other than the request to "please write your name" is needed. Prompt the student to say the names of the letters if it does not automatically occur.