Task Box Center in an Autism Classroom

[@kylieloomis7761]

This was so helpful! I'm one year away from student teaching and I am planning on teaching Autism self-contained Pre-K. I love the idea to add the individual center schedules and icons so they know exactly which boxes to work on. Before watching I wasn't sure how to make the center accessible enough so they could independently get their task boxes. Thank you for the ideas!

[@theautismhelper]

SO great to hear this was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@susanclancy8652]

I just was hired as a K-2 autism teacher, too. Your videos re so helpful and inspiring for how to build a functional room for all learners. Thank you!

[@theautismhelper]

Welcome! Thanks for watching!!

[@noritaappleby2779]

I’d love an additional video of you going through each of the boxes or a listing to give further details on the ones you’ve implemented.

[@theautismhelper]

That's a great idea! We'll add that to our list 😊

[@davidnewhouse9403]

I just got hired as a K-2 autism teacher. I’m super exited because I’m a forker autism student. None the less, thank you for making this. I’ll definitely be using this in my classroom.

[@theautismhelper]

Congratulations! I hope this is helpful for you! Thanks for watching :)

[@davidnewhouse9403]

@@theautismhelper I’ll be sure to use it. Thanks for uploading

[@phoebs50]

I love these task boxes. Such a great exercise i want to try. My daughter is non verbal 4 years old and struggles with fine /gross motor skills however shes begun to put things in her mouth - I'm hoping that phase will pass so she can try some of these.

[@theautismhelper]

Let us know how it goes!

[@phoebs50]

I've used your small containers with alphabet matching idea; the stick in the bottles; the shoebox with the lollipop sticks idea (which she enjoys more as they're rainbow coloured) I've used alternative peg idea using materials I already had! Thankyou so much

[@theautismhelper]

@@phoebs50 oh my gosh thank you for letting us know! That's so exciting to hear that she is enjoying the tasks - rainbow-colored things are always more fun! 🥰

[@phoebs50]

@@theautismhelper btw I live in the UK so your ideas are helping someone here on the other side of the 🌎

[@maggyt5605]

Really great ideas!!! Thank you

[@theautismhelper]

Glad you like them! Thanks for watching ❤️

[@mary-janelott1177]

This is AWESOME! I am a 3 year old teacher at a daycare. Seriously considering going color-coded.

[@theautismhelper]

You won't regret it! ❤️ So happy you found this helpful!

[@YvonneDuron-w1c]

So when the students put in the finished container, do you go back at the end of the day and undo everything they did, (if it's not a reverse activity) for the next students? Loved your task ideas.!

[@theautismhelper]

Thank you! I have a paraprofessional/multi-tasking hero reset the tasks throughout the day during centers time. The tasks are never reset in front of the student who completed them to show respect and value for their hard work. So my para will wait until the student moves to the next center to reset.

[@amymarie3218]

Love your system!

[@theautismhelper]

Hope this is helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@joshconover2719]

I am a prek teacher with a class of 16 and would like to implement something like this. What do students do if they have completed their task boxes ahead of their friends? I know you said yours can have some free time on he iPad but is there anything else you might think of that would help with these transitions? I can see some tasks taking longer to complete than others. I enjoy watching your videos. Thank you!

[@theautismhelper]

Hi Josh! Thank you so much for watching and commenting. Great question! You can customize downtime however you'd like according to your students' interests and needs! I can suggest things such as books, sensory bins, sensory breaks (trampoline, running, sensory sacks), toys, or music. Yes, some tasks do take longer than others to complete however, those tasks are usually given to students who work quicker than their peers. :)

[@SophieMcNamara-r4o]

I would love to set this up! Where did you purchase your boxes? Finding it so hard to find ones that are all the same size?

[@theautismhelper]

These are shoebox size bins! You can get at target or dollar store!

[@sherrilldegenovamsccc-slp]

How do you keep your students from pulling the activities apart?

[@theautismhelper]

Model and provide reinforcement when they don't!

[@mariag5102]

How do you track what task boxes student’s have completed so there not redoing the same task every time. Do you have a rotation system or are boxes assigned on educational need?

[@theautismhelper]

Boxes are assigned on educational need and I plan out which boxes are assigned to each student each day for a week at a time!

[@teachingthepetites4614]

What are the other students doing while some are at these independent centers? My students are grade 1-2

[@theautismhelper]

Other students are at one of four independent centers or at one of two teacher-led centers. My students are the same grades and do wonderful with independent centers after my staff and I take time at the beginning of the year to teach them how to use the independent centers!

[@HeatherBerg-w6g]

I had someone come in my room and tell me to try this system. They never met my kids and assumed my school would buy things I needed. My school did not privide me with anything. I tried to set up a schedule and boxes in a 3 draw set up. I had 1 kid come in and eat my schedules and dump all the containers in a matter of 30 seconds. This happens every day all day long. That was last year. This year I have the same kid and 2 more similar. All they do is destroy. I can not have anything left out or its dumped, broken or one ate something. I only have 1 child who will sit down independently and do one of these boxes. Any ideas for help?

[@theautismhelper]

Start off working on this one on one so you can work on specific prompting and prevent things from getting destroyed. Make sure activities are things the student can do and that reinforcers are available.

[@tanyaansley8606]

Love these ideas, but I want you to honestly tell me if you are checking their box activities each day. If there are at least 3 per child and you have 15 students that is a great deal. Please share because I can't fathom where you would get the time to do this each day.

[@theautismhelper]

You have to reset the boxes for the next day. So this take about 10 minutes at the end of the day or while kids are in break time!

[@Emily-q8j]

I love the idea of using a work system to increase some independence in the classroom. Is it possible to do the task boxes if you are not using work systems in your classroom? I am interested in having a task box center for my students to work on functional tasks. Is it possible for them to all be working on this at the same time? Or do you recommend using some sort of rotation? If so, what could that look like?

[@theautismhelper]

They can absolutely all word at the same time. I highly recommend having a schedule of who is doing which boxes so they don't overlap!

[@theautismhelper]

Work Task System Visuals: www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Work-Task-System-for-a-Special-Ed-Classroom-280269

[@neetaramesh7512]

Really nice

[@theautismhelper]

Thanks for watching!

[@theautismhelper]

Michelle's Classroom Tour: kzbin.info/www/bejne/joecq4yMicyDq9k

[@mariaancalitz2841]

Hi, I am teaching learners with different disabilities and this year I have 4 ASD learners in my class - first year for teaching autism. Can I use these same methods for all my students? ages 4 - 7

[@theautismhelper]

Yes! I teach TK-1st grade, so 4-7 as well. This system works great because you can add various levels of tasks in each box. Highly recommended!

[@aprylhodge4920]

Yay!! I was hoping to see another video from you all!! These are soooo stinkin' helpful!! I do have a couple questions... 1. Are these ALL your FM, ELA and Math tasks or do you swap these out? If you do swap, how often does that occur? Do you do a huge swap/exchange of all of them or....? 2. When do you reset your boxes? I'm assuming end of the day but also, if they aren't done correctly, do you keep that child on that activity until they master it? Do you have/use and kind of tracking sheet? 3. Do you rotate their icons everyday? 4. How many students work in this area at a time? Thank you soooo much for any information!!! It is so appreciated!! Xoxo Apryl Hodge 😊

[@theautismhelper]

Hi Apryl! Thank you so much for your comment! 1. No, these are not all of our tasks. I do swap them out every month. We keep a lot of the fine motor/errorless tasks the same and swap out more of the Made for Me Literacy tasks. I have a huge collection of these that will be highlighted on Instagram on Wednesday :) 2. The boxes are reset throughout the day. My floater para tries her best to stay on top of them throughout the day. If they do not get reset in the AM when this center is being used, they get reset at the end of the day. As far as the student not getting a task correct, this center should only be task boxes they know or have mastered so that it is truly independent. Of course, errors do occur and in that case, we will try again with the same box or go back to reteaching the box at a teacher-led center. The tracking sheet is we use is the editable task list which is found in this work task system: www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Work-Task-System-for-a-Special-Ed-Classroom-280269 I cannot recommend this enough! 3. Yes, icons are rotated every day. 4. Depending on my student groups, I have anywhere between 1-4 students in this area at a time. The table I use is a large one but I wouldn't recommend more than 4. I am so happy that this information is helpful to you. Thank you so much for watching and asking questions! -Michelle

[@aprylhodge4920]

@The Autism Helper awesome!! Thank you so much for all this great info!! I actually did purchase both the work task starter kit and the other one that has a bunch of printable work tasks as well! I love the made for me literacy also and have started purchasing them and hope to use more budget money in August to buy more!! I love all the resources you all use,create and highlight! Thanks for taking the time to make these videos as I'm sure you are insanely busy too!! Xoxo

[@theautismhelper]

@@aprylhodge4920 You are very welcome!