Description
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a highly effective, rigorously researched intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders—but most teachers don't get the training they need to put it to work in their inclusive classroom. That's why every K–12 educator needs this practical guidebook, packed with teaching plans and plain-English guidance on using ABA to improve outcomes for students with autism and behavior challenges.
Teachers will start with a systematic, start-to-finish guide that demystifies the entire ABA process, from assessment and goal setting to data collection and analysis. Then they'll get fifty sample teaching plans that clearly demonstrate how to use ABA to support students across social, communication, behavioral, academic, and independent functioning domains. Ready to adapt to the needs of individual students, these concise sample plans give teachers specific ideas for helping children develop critical skills such as
- participating in cooperative learning activities with peers
- transitioning from class to class independently
- responding positively to peer initiations
- using simple sentences to make requests
- raising their hand to answer a question
- waiting for a turn during structured activities
- protesting appropriately using a calm voice and positive language
- communicating needs using augmentative communication
- staying in line and remaining quiet
- using the restroom without adult support
Using concrete examples every teacher can relate to, the teaching plans show how to get results using a combination of effective ABA strategies, such as explicit instruction, positive reinforcement, prompting and fading procedures, video modeling, peer-mediated interventions, social stories, and self-monitoring tools. Teachers will also get helpful guidance on developing their own ABA teaching plans to resolve their students' classroom challenges.
With this much-needed blueprint for "quick and painless" ABA, teachers will have research-proven strategies for effectively meeting the needs of children with autism spectrum disorders—and ensuring the best possible learning environment for all their students.
Reviews
Review by: Michael P. Brady, Professor & Chair, Department of Exceptional Student Education, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton
"Taps a rich research base while communicating directly and clearly with educators . . . A refreshing perspective mixed with technical precision, this text is a creative and interesting alternative to the drab references to standardized curriculum and assessment so frequently found in modern teaching literature."
Review by: E. Gail Kirby, St. Mary's College of California
"Dr. Leach has bridged the gap between research and practice with her book . . . It is a toolkit that no parent or teacher should be without."
Review by: Michael Alessandri, Clinical Professor, Department of Psychology; Executive Director, Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, University of Miami
"Truly a book for our times . . . the principles and practices of ABA continue to represent our very best practices in educating students with autism spectrum disorders in any setting."
Review by: Christina Whalen, Co-Founder, President, and Chief Science Officer, TeachTown
"The best guide for a step-by-step approach to inclusion using data-based decisions. Every teacher should read this book . . . The teaching plans and other tools included in this book make it a must-have!"
Review by: Mary Jane Weiss, Clinical Director, Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center, Rutgers University
"An excellent way to bridge the teaching strategies of Applied Behavior Analysis and the educational environment of inclusive settings . . . will help teachers create meaningful goals, foster independence, assess progress in systematic ways, and program for the generalization of skills."
Review by: Jack Scott, Executive Director, Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, Florida Atlantic University
"All members of the collaborative team—behavior analysts, special and general educators, and parents--will find this book to be an excellent resource for planning and implementing a high-powered ABA program in the inclusive classroom."
Table of Contents
About the Author
Introduction
- Students with Autism in General Education Classroom
- Understanding ABA
- Assessment for Planning ABA Interventions
- Goal Setting
- Developing ABA Teaching Procedures
- Data Collection and Analysis
- Putting It All Together
References
Resources
Study Guide
Appendixes
Study Guide
Appendix
- Academic Teaching Plans
- Behavior Teaching Plans
- Social Interaction Teaching Plans
- Communication Teaching Plans
- Independent Functioning Teaching Plans
- Blank Forms for Assessment, Goal Setting, and Data Collection
Index