Following Instructions

Boys Town Skill of the Week

Following Instsructions

Students are expected to follow instructions dozens, perhaps hundreds, of times daily. Why not help them be more successful by letting them know exactly how to do it? In a perfect world, all students would come to class having mastered this skill. But in reality, we can’t assume they already know how. “Following Instructions” should be one of the first skills you teach your students. This is a skill students will use often, so you will have m opportunities for students to practice this skill throughout the day. Almost as important as their practice of this skill is making sure to praise their efforts. Building competence and confidence with this skill will provide the motivation and enthusiasm for students to build from as you teach more skills.

Planned Teaching

*See links below for lesson plans, role play scenarios, & skill posters*

Introduce skill

Have students brainstorm all the different instructions they have to follow during the day
Is it hard to follow all of those instructions?
We are going to make a plan so no matter how difficult it is, you will know what to do

Describe the Appropriate Behavior

Look at the person (always the first step)
Say Okay (talk about HOW you should say okay)
Do what you have been asked right away (what does right away mean?)
Check back (discuss an appropriate time to check back after following instructions)

Give a Reason - let students help you generate these

So you get to recess faster
So you get your work done the right way
So the teacher doesn't call parents with a bad report

Practice

Simon Says
Let students write and perform skits
Read a book and have students rewrite a scene that shows the characters following instructions appropriately. Some sample read alouds: Do Not Open, Three Little Kittens, No David, etc.
Math story problems (Blended Teaching) - Twelve students got on the bus to go home. The bus driver asked 22 all the students to take their seats so the bus could leave. Four students did not sit down right away. How many students followed the bus driver’s instructions?)

Journaling

Write about a time you followed instructions even when it was difficult
Older students can write about what would happen if people didn't follow traffic laws or ignored rules/laws that are meant to protect us

Feedback

Praise specific steps followed and give feedback on areas of improvement
Let students know you will be watching in order to "catch them" using the skill
Continue to praise and re-teach as needed

Preventive Prompts

There are many times during the day you can prompt students that they are going to have to follow some instructions
Review the skill and the steps or have them tell you what the steps are before they need the skill

Ideas for Teaching Skill

Invite students to tell each other jokes and practice listening (ahajokes.com)
Simon Says
Red Light, Green Light
Cha Cha Slide
Hokey Pokey
Follow instructions to a scavenger hunt
Directed drawing
Brain breaks

Following Directions With Legos

Before starting the game, collect two bags of Legos. Each bag needs to be filled with the same size and shape Legos for this activity.

One child builds something with their Legos, and then he/she has to explain to their partner how to build the same structure by giving clear directions. (Their partner is not allowed to look at the structure until all the directions have been given. At that point, the two can compare how well they did communicating with one another.) This activity can be done with paper and stickers, as well.