Teaching Children with Autism in the Natural Environment: Practical Strategies for Public School Classrooms

Prerequisite- Participants MUST have an understanding of motivating operations, B.F. Skinner’s behavioral classifications of language, and the application of research-based teaching procedures (covered in workshops #2 & 3).

The behavior literature has provided convincing evidence that many children with autism can develop language and learn many other important skills. Despite the successes of behavioral approaches, the development of generalized and functional communication has been disappointing (Fay & Schuler, 1980). Many behavioral language programs have failed to incorporate natural environment teaching methods into their programs (Laski et al, 1988).

This workshop will demonstrate how the manipulation of motivative variables (motivative operations) is the key to accelerated skill acquisition & generalization. Specifically, strategies for planning and implementing highly motivating group activities in public school classrooms will be provided.

Participants will be provided with information on how to:

• Distinguish between discrete trial training (DTT) and natural environment teaching (NET)
• Identify developmentally appropriate skills to be targeted in the natural environment when students are grouped heterogeneously
• Capture or contrive motivation when working with several students within the context of a single activity that is reinforcing to all students
• Write NET lesson plans that incorporate B.F. Skinner’s behavioral classifications of language, as well as other readiness and academic skills