STRUCTURED TEACHING

JENNIFER PENZENIK SPECIAL EDUCATION DISTRICT OF LAKE COUNTY

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An Overview

WHAT IS STRUCTURED TEACHING?• Structured teaching is a series of interventions

utilized for children and adults with autism spectrum disorder or other communication disabilities

• It was designed by the division of TEACCH at the University of North Carolina

• TEACCH stands for Training and Education of Autistic and related Communication-handicapped Children

• It encompasses five areas of classroom/teaching development

THE FIVE AREAS OF TEACCH

PHYSICAL STRUCTURE “Disorganization can pull

a student’s attention to irrelevant details.”

Organized space… • Allows a student to know the expectations • Increases independence • Limits distractions (visual and auditory) • Increases on task behavior • Easier for outsiders to learn & navigate classroom environment

SCHEDULES

Visual Schedules… • Tell a student where to be and when to be there • Reduce anxiety • Provide safety and predictability • Increase independence • Decrease cue dependency • Help students attend to meaningful information

SCHEDULES

Video Example Removed for Confidentiality

WORK SYSTEMS

Should share four pieces of information: 1. The steps necessary 2. How many steps are required 3. When the task is complete 4. What should be done next

WORK SYSTEMS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmxsh3e3qW4

Work systems… • Support the organization that is comforting to students • Limits distractions • Determine expectations • Support the generalization of skills • Decrease cue dependency • Prepare students for adult life by increasing independent skills

ROUTINE AND VISUAL STRATEGIES

Visual structure… • Plays off visual strength • Reduces auditory instruction • Highlights important information • Minimizes distractions • Increases independence

VISUAL STRUCTURE OF MATERIALS

References

Hume, Kara. (2011) Structured Teaching Strategies. Indiana Resource Center for Autism. Retrieved from http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/?pageId=3520.