Introducing Visual Strategies in School
Why Visual Supports?
Visual supports & strategies may be used for all children. From constructing a communication foundation for those who are non-verbal to supporting language development and beginning reading skills for those who are. A large number of children are visual learners and using visual strategies builds on this strength.
Using Visuals to Communicate
Many children with autism and other learning issues, may be able to speak well and often able to repeat what is said to them. However, they may have difficulty comprehending spoken messages. Visual cues may be the tool they need to understand what is being said. Many times we overestimate a verbal child's ability to understand.
Behaviour Management
Visual strategies may also help with behaviour management. Developing visual tools to accompany a behaviour plan can help guide the plan design and clarify the expectations to insure success. Visual strategies teach the child the next step in an activity. He may look unmotivated but perhaps he actually doesnot know what to do.
Introducing Visual Support & Strategies in Your Child's School
One of the key challenges in using visual supports is to implement them across home and school environments. Introducing visual strategies to teachers in school is a challenge but with the right approach, it can be done successfully.
The articles below show the efficacy of using visual strategies to communicate and manage behaviour in the classroom. I have passed on these articles to our son's teachers to help them understand and approach the use of visual strategies and I hope you will find them useful as I have.
(A note: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download these files)
• Introducing Visual Strategies In School - A Parent's Perspective
- This is our personal "plan" on how to introduce visual strategies in school. The key was to convince teachers that visual supports would benefit all children in class.
- Teachers need to gain confidence in using visual strategies and this can be achieved by giving them access to resources and support.
- This "workplan" was produced as part of a workshop "Visual Strategies to Enhance Communication & Behaviours", conducted by Chithra Katherisan, SLT in September 2002.
• Visual Support Strategies for Literacy Development by Brenda Fossett
• Help Preschoolers Stay on Task by Deb Schwabe
• Strengthening the School-Home Connection:
Using Visual strategies across Environments
• Effective Literacy Instruction for Adolescents
If you are a teacher, parent or professional and have feedback on how parents and teachers can work successfully to introduce visual strategies in school and home, please do email us with your experience.
It will go a long way in helping parents and educators alike!
Copyright (C) 2002 Explora Learning Company Pte Ltd, For reprint permission.
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