Hello and welcome to this post where we will be discussing the importance of First/Then Boards in educational settings. As educators, we all have students in our classrooms who struggle with transitions, staying on task, and completing assignments. This is where First/Then Boards come in to play. A First/Then Board is a visual support system that helps students understand what is expected of them and what they will receive upon completion of a task. They typically consist of two images, one representing the task that needs to be completed (First) and another representing the reward they will receive upon completion (Then). One example of using a First/Then Board could be for a student who dislikes math. The First image could be of the math assignment they need to complete, and the Then image could be of a preferred activity, such as playing with Legos. By having a visual representation of what needs to be done and the reward they will receive, students are more likely to stay on task and complete the assignment. It’s important to note that First/Then Boards can be customized to meet the needs of each individual student. Some students may need a simple First/Then Board, while others may benefit from a more complex board with multiple steps. Now that we understand the importance of First/Then Boards, let’s take a look at some examples. First up, we have a simple First/Then Board from Seomra Ranga.
Math Assignment
Complete your math assignment
Play with Legos
Once you finish your math assignment, you can play with Legos.
As you can see, this First/Then Board is very basic and only consists of two steps. However, it’s a great starting point for students who are new to using visual supports. Next, let’s take a look at a more complex First/Then Board. Art Project
Create a painting using the watercolor paints
Clean up
After you finish your painting, put away the watercolor paints and clean up your workspace
Free Time
Once you have cleaned up your work space, you can have free time to play with blocks or read a book
In this example, we have a First/Then Board with three steps. This board is perfect for students who thrive with structure and routine. In conclusion, First/Then Boards are a great tool for educators to use with students who struggle with transitions and completing tasks. These visual supports can be customized to meet the needs of each individual student and can help create a more structured and positive learning environment. Thank you for reading and we hope you found this post informative!
