Priming

Preparing learners in advance to increase their chance of success

Goal

Increase the learner’s success with an upcoming activity or event by preparing them for it in advance.

How

Prior to a situation that may be difficult for the learner, the teacher will inform the learner about what is upcoming.This can be through the use of a time countdown(“Five minutes until bedtime”) or a verbal reminder of expectations prior to a new situation (“We’re going to a birthday party tomorrow; remember we will sit and watch Eva open her presents”). Priming can be used in the classroom by showing the learner the materials and modeling what to do prior to asking them to complete a new task.Context

• Transitions
• Changes in schedule
• New situations
• Starting a task
• When preparing your learner for an upcoming event, remind them to use their coping skills if needed.

Tip

Try using the visual schedule in our Resources!

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