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Using Visuals to Manage Behaviors in the Classroom

January 22, 2019

Woman with dark curly hair in a blue shirt scratching her head and with a confused look on her face

As adaptive skills increase, challenging behaviors typically decrease. This blog helps teachers understand the different formats and types of visual supports they can implement in their classroom.

Dana Howell - Behavioral Interventions And SolutionsToday’s guest blogger, Dana Howell, is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who taught regular education, and special education. Dana has also been a paraprofessional and a speech-language pathology assistant. Her company, Behavioral Interventions And Solutions, creates ABA resources that empower parents with affordable and easy to use tools for managing challenging behaviors.

Using Visual Supports in the Classroom

Visual supports are a crucial part of any special education classroom.  Not to mention, the use of visuals can often help you avoid challenging and unwanted behaviors.

Colorful Visual Supports

Visuals can assist with many things, including:

  • Language Comprehension
  • Organization
  • Scheduling
  • Choice Making
  • Reminders
  • Rules
  • Directions
  • Communication
  • Transitions
  • Reinforcement

As adults we utilize visuals every day.  Some examples include: calendars, to-do lists, maps, and assembly instructions.  Therefore it isn’t hard to see why children would benefit from similar supports.

Visual Support Formats

Visuals come in a variety of shapes, sizes and styles.

Images of simple objects and their visual icons

There are 5 main types of visual formats that you can utilize in your classroom.

Visual Support Chart of Pros and Cons

In addition, each visual format can be organized from concrete to abstract.  The type you choose ultimately depends on the style of learners that you have in your classroom.

Chart from Concrete to Abstract Visuals

Why are visuals helpful?

Visual supports can complement many types of verbal information, thus increasing comprehension and independence.  Teachers are always are striving to teach their students to be self-sufficient. Using visual supports in the classroom can help you get there.

There are MANY types of supports that you can implement in your classroom.

Visual Schedules – These are useful in helping students understand a scheduled sequence of events, anticipate changes, and increase independence.

Child using magnetic visual chart

Environmental Visuals – These supports can help structure your classroom and decrease the need for prompting.

Mr. Potato Head is a good tool for visual support

Visual Scripts – These can be used to help children understand social situations engage with others, respond appropriately to situations, and problem solve.

A poster with visual prompts for following behavior

Rules/Reminder Visuals – These supports visually present expectation and remind students about what behaviors are acceptable or what consequences could occur.

Class Expectations tools by Especially Education hanging on the wall

Visual Task Analysis – These supports can be used to facilitate a step-by-step series of tasks and are often helpful for students who are easily distracted or confuse the order of a multi-step process. Turkey themed Easy Art found here.

Made For Me Literacy Easy Art Construction Paper Turkeys displayed on the wall

Choice Boards – These supports can be utilized to help students know what options are available and aid in the decision-making process.

Laminated spiral bound book with cards displaying choices

Transition Visuals – These visual supports can prepare students for an upcoming shift in activity and can be presented in a low-tech paper format, as a tangible timer, or a high-tech device app.

Transition Visual Tools Include Hand Held Timers as well as Strips of Paper

Communication Boards – These visual supports can be utilized to help a student communicate and can consist of a single page or multiple pages bound together into a book.

Poster board filled with colorful visual supports

Token Board – These supports can be utilized as a way to reinforce students for the good work they are doing, and allow them to see what is available to earn at the end of a series of tasks.

Dinosaur toy and book next to colorful small boxes filled with tokens

Helpful Hints

When making visual supports for your classroom, it is important to ensure that they are portable, durable and easily accessible.

Visuals can be static or interactive, based on the situation or student you are making it for.

Visuals don’t have to be fancy.  My favorite DIY lamination hack is using PACKAGING TAPE! Within seconds you can have a new visual support printed, protected and ready to go.

2D visuals can be mounted on foam or wooden blocks for students who need something a little sturdier.

Laminated game boards with game pieces on wooden blocks and clasp next to a roll of packing tape

Regardless of what format or type of visual supports you choose for your classroom; using them is the key! That way every one of your students has an equal opportunity to be a successful and independent learner.

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