The Impact of Using Signals

Step 1: Teacher Samantha is teaching a small group of students during a maths lesson at her table. As she scans the classroom for activity with her other students, she observes one of her students having difficulty controlling her body. She knows this student benefits from movement breaks to help with sensory regulation.

Step 2: Samantha has established a non-verbal signal with this student for movement breaks. Samantha makes direct eye contact with the student, taps her nose three times and waits for the student to echo this signal. This signal also indicates to the student that Samantha has noticed she has gotten off task and is a reminder to get back on task.

Step 4: The student returns to her desk and can continue working through her task. Samantha makes eye contact with the student and gives her a thumbs up to indicate she is on the right track. She then continues with her instruction.

Step 3: The student taps her nose three times back to Samantha and knows from an earlier conversation that this means she is allowed to step outside the room to take a short walk. Samantha could continue instructing the students at her table and simultaneously address the misbehaviour that she witnessed.