Demonstrate!

Tag and reinforce me for watching you. Tag points are:

– Eyes on teacher

– Eyes on task materials

– Watch teacher write

– Watch teacher build tower

In the beginning with Douglas, even a new worksheet – although it was almost identical to a previous one – could set off a fear reaction.

This is where plastic sheet protectors came to the rescue. I put the worksheet in the sheet protector and let him look at it, then showed him how to draw or write the response, then he did it, with lots of tags and reinforcement. Over time this became less and less necessary and eventually he was fine with new worksheets and new materials. He had the trust that he would be helped, and that he would not have failure thrust upon him.