First/Then

(upbeat music) (slide swooshes) - [Narrator] In this video, we'll explore the use of a first/then visual support for a student working at the table. The first/then visual support is an effective tool to help provide students with structure and predictability in their learning environment. First/then is a simple, effective strategy used to help students understand and follow a sequence of activities or tasks. The first/then approach involves presenting a visual or verbal prompt that tells the student what they need to do first as in, "First, complete your worksheet," and what will happen next. "Next, you can have a break." (TV reporter chattering) - All right. - [Reporter] High crimes and misdemeanors for its annual- - So we're gonna finish our news, and then you get Legos. Timer's going. - [Narrator] Here we see that the first/then support clearly prompts the student to complete his reading activity so that he can then access his preferred activity, building with Legos, once the reading task is finished. Once the student has completed his reading activity, he is able to transition to playing with building bricks. This access to a preferred activity helps to reinforce completing the task and maintains motivation for future activities. - [Teacher] You finished your reading. Now you get your Legos. - Wow. - [Teacher] And then we're gonna do our basket. - Basket? - [Teacher] Yes, you're gonna do your basket next. - [Student] Basketball? - [Teacher] Not basketball, your basket. (timer buttons beeping) - What is this gonna be? - [Teacher] You got eight minutes. - [Narrator] After giving the students building bricks, the teacher updates the first/then visual support by moving the building bricks icon to the first box and moving his next activity, task boxes, to the next box. She pairs the use of the first/then visual support with a visual timer. Pairing a first/then visual with a visual timer can provide support for the student to transition to the next activity. This combination of tools helps ensure predictability, supports time management, and motivates task completion by linking it to a favorite activity within a desired time frame.