Willard Elementary School

PBIS Cool Tool

Lesson Name: Following Directions: An Important Way to Show Respect Expectation: Students will be able to follow directions the first time theyre given. Setting: Classroom or large group setting Purpose: Following directions: Makes it possible to complete a required task Allows the teacher to see your best work/work habits Assures that students wont interfere with each others learning Introduction: Learning happens when you participate in an experience, whether you are involved in an activity or completing a task. Successful learning depends on every students ability to follow directions especially in a large group. It also helps the teacher give feedback when she/he sees every student respectfully following directions. Ask questions if you dont understand what to do. Do what youre expected to do.

Modeling: Please follow these expectations show respect for your teacher and classmates when you are following directions in the classroom: 1. Respond to the classroom signals in place to get your attention. 2. Listen to what the teacher is telling you to do. 3. Ask questions if you dont understand what to do. 4. Do what youre expected to do.

PBIS Matrix Lesson 1 8.26.08

Willard Elementary School

PBIS Cool Tool

Teaching Examples:

1. The music teacher is giving each student a ukulele to play for the first time. You get yours first. Youre very excited about playing but were told to hold the instrument in a particular way until the next direction is given. You know that if you hold your ukulele quietly you are showing that you respect the teacher and really want her to teach you and the rest of the class how to play. You set the example by following the teachers directions. 2. Your teacher has asked the class to work together on an assignment with a partner. Although you thought you were listening to the directions, youre still not sure you understand what to do. You raise your hand to ask a question that will help you and your partner complete the assignment correctly. 3. When the teacher gave the class the signal to be quiet and listen, you were drawing a picture in the corner of your notebook. You missed the next instruction and now you dont know what to do. You yell out, Whatre we supposed to do! The rest of the class reacts by laughing. The teacher is upset because you disrupted the class and were not following directions. You remember that you are supposed to respond to the teachers signal to be respectful.

Student Activity: 1. Role-play the examples above. 2. Try this very concrete example of a scenario that starts off simple but becomes more problematic, requiring the students to practice all the steps to following directions correctly. Adjust for your grade level. Give your students your signal for respectful listening. Say, Stand up. Then have them sit down. Say, Stand up and turn around one time. Have them sit down. Say, Stand up, turn around one time, pat your head two times. Have them sit down. Continue to add one physical activity to the list or mix up the order of the commands so that your directions become a little more difficult for the students to remember or follow. 3. Talk about classroom signals. What signals do you use? What do you expect to see when the signal is given. Practice with the class. Follow Up and Observe their reactions and when chaos ensues, debrief and talk about what Reinforcement: they could have done to understand your directions better. You can also ask, Who felt they were doing a good job of listening, who didnt; why? Important topics: communication between teachers and student; feelings of incompetence; confusion makes it difficult to know what questions to ask; class noise and movement contributes to inability to follow directions; starting to move before all directions are given.
PBIS Matrix Lesson 1 8.26.08

Willard Elementary School

PBIS Cool Tool

PBIS Matrix Lesson 1 8.26.08