Simple Ways To Create Classroom Visual Supports
Visuals, also called cue cards or ❎ signs, are everywhere in our modern world and are a top item in my classroom visual supports behavior management tub.
They are especially useful for students with autism but so common I’ve seen a handful already 🗓 today.
The picture and word on the public 🚻 restroom door tell me if I’m walking into the proper facility; however, if I ignore the gender sign, I could find myself in an 🫢 embarrassing situation!
Why Use Visual Supports
Classroom visual supports in the manner of cue cards give me the freedom to express myself to my students without missing a beat.
I can be in the middle of a lesson and show a student a visual cue card. I do not have to 🛑 stop talking or ruin the flow of my rocking lesson.
The ❤️ cue card ❤️ is all I need.
I also love using cue cards because I no longer have to sound like a broken 🎤 record saying the same thing over and over again.
Instead, I turn to the card I want and I drop it on the student’s work area or I show it and 👉 point.
If I’m having one of those days (sped teachers I know you feel me), then I also don’t have to worry about my 🗣 voice tone either.
It’s just a picture with words not a nagging teacher. I mean, I’m not and I’m never a nagger and I KNOW you aren’t either but still…
Examples of Visual Supports in the Classroom
Classroom visual supports can be made 😌 easily with several programs. Two you are probably familiar with and another is more of a speciality program.
- Microsoft Office Word
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Maye-Johnson’s Boardmaker
My go-to program is Mayer-Johnson’s Boardmaker, “a design program that lets you make and adapt curriculum materials for students who need symbols.”
To make visual cue cards for my classroom, all that’s needed is a list of phrases or directives I often hear myself say aloud to my class.
For example, I know I’m telling my class to line ⬆️ up, to sit on the carpet, keep their 🤲 hands to themselves, or wait their turn.
Yeah, so many times.
So, I made my list and 💻 typed the word list.
Then, I added a matching picture.
I find it easiest to use clip art, but there are situations where I need to take a 🤳 digital picture of a certain person, place, or thing and insert the picture into the card.
This is especially helpful for my students with autism who are very literal and need as close as a visual representation as possible.
How to Accommodate Autism in the Classroom
Highly effective teachers are able to use classroom visual supports with cue cards throughout their lessons to minimize disruption while maintaining the flow of the instruction.
Imagine yourself presenting the ⭐️ perfect ⭐️ lesson where all the students are excited and engage; unfortunately, they are so excited that they begin shouting out answers.
I hold up the “raise your hand” ✋ cue card and without even saying a word.
Just like that I have effectively managed my class’ behavior and returned to my instruction. 😉
What is a Visual Classroom?
I support my students in as many ways as possible.
Having classroom visual supports is one of my ❤️ favorites.
This simply means that I have a text rich classroom that is integrated with visual pictures.
This includes cue cards, visual monitoring scales, classroom control cards, visual rules, and so much more.
Students with special needs also rely on visuals appropriately paired with words to assist them in their daily quest for knowledge.
Oral directions are used throughout the school day which can be challenging for many visual learners including those with and without IEPs – Individual Education Plans.
Teachers can enhance their instruction and classroom management by utilizing visual cue cards.
Free Autism Visuals To Print
Do you want to download some 🆓 free autism visuals to print?
Of course, you do! Visit this link to get eight printable visual free cue cards.
Keep them in your behavior management supply kit and watch the behavior problems plummet while your energy soars!
So, what are you waiting for???
Go grab your classroom visual supports and help your students (and you) ❤️ love learning.
