Learning to Follow Directions
Has this ever happened to you: you provide a set of instructions to your students but notice that not all of them are following them entirely. Sometimes students need additional support to learn how to follow directions but don’t know how to ask!
Students are given directions from the time they leave their homes to the time they return there after school. Directions will come from their parents or caregivers, their teachers, possibly their bus driver, and even from their peers throughout the day!
Help your students learn how to follow directions by sharing these tips:
- listen carefully
- check for visual cues – did your teacher write directions on the board? Did your teacher signal for the class to be quiet and listen by holding a finger up to their lips?
- repeat the instruction to yourself and think “okay” – sometimes repeating the instructions to yourself can reinforce what you should be doing. The same can be said when you picture yourself doing the task in your mind!
- follow the direction as soon as possible so you don’t forget
- ask questions if you didn’t hear or understand – it’s okay to ask for clarification!
If your students have more complex needs, you could also help them learn to follow directions by providing visual cues or written instructions, or mini-schedules that they could follow.
Check out the additional resources available in this social skills learning module such as a PowerPoint presentation, mini schedule, and homework assignments!
The special education resources on this page were authored by Watson Institute’s special education consultant, Andee Morris, M.Ed.
Power Point Presentations
I Can Follow Directions PowerPoint
I Can Follow Directions Facilitator’s Guide
Resource Materials
I Can Follow Directions Activity 1
I Can Follow Directions Activity 2
I Can Follow Directions Mini Schedule
I Can Follow Directions Outline
I Can Follow Directions Parent Note
I Can Follow Directions Teacher Note
I Can Follow Directions Homework
I Can Follow Directions Magnet Cards
Pre/Post Assessment
A pre and post lesson assessment is included in each lesson. Use of the assessment is an instructor preference. Many of the ‘homework’ pages for a lesson can be used as a pre/post assessment device alone or as part of the provided assessment. Each homework page can be checked by the instructor as well as the student.
Review all included pages of the lesson to determine what ‘assessment’ method will meet your needs. If the student is able to achieve a + in the majority of items of the pre-assessment, or if the student has been observed to display the skill topic of the lesson often, then the lesson may not be introduced or can be taught with a group as review and/or reinforcement.
I Can Follow Directions Pre/Post Assessment
If you have questions or concerns about the Watson Institute’s use of this information, please contact us.