A favorite article: "A model for problem solving in discrete trial training for children with autism."

While not a "VB" article, per se, I like to point this particular paper out to people when I can because I think it's very useful for thinking about how to teach and assess progress or, as may occur, lack therein in a logical and systematic matter. Don't let the "discrete trial" of the title throw you; there are other instructional strategies discussed, including incidental teaching and video modelling.

Ferraioli, S., Hughes, C., & Smith, T. (2005). A model for problem solving in discrete trial training for children with autism. Journal of Early and Intensive Behavior Intervention , 2(4), 224-246.

Note: As of 2010, the Journal of Early and Intensive Behavior Intervention is in the process of changing its name; it will now be known as the Journal of Behavior Assessment and Intervention in Children (JBAIC)
See the Journal website for more information.

----------

Best wishes!

Blog to the Verbal Behavior Wiki

DISCLAIMER: Personal opinion and blog, for information only and
not intended to be professional advice or endorsement.

A favorite article: "A model for problem solving in discrete trial training for children with autism."

Second Call for the Summer Direct Instruction Conferences in Eugene, OR & NEW Direct Instruction for Students with ASDs, Columbus, OH

Another reminder about two summer conferences of interest to those who use the Direct Instruction (Becker, Engelmann) model of instruction or are interested in learning more about it and specific curriculum packages-

• 36th National Direct Instruction Conference And Institutes, which will be held in Eugene, Oregon and
• Effective Programs for Learners With Autism Spectrum Disorders—A Direct Instruction Conference, Columbus, Ohio. (As a special note, the Columbus, Ohio conference is being hosted in cooperation with Haugland Learning Center).

For example, some of the language concepts taught in
"Language for Learning"
For more videos at Youtube

36th National Direct Instruction Conference And Institutes July 25–29, 2010
Hilton Eugene Hotel & Conference Center
Eugene, Oregon
Beginning and Advanced Training
College Credit
BACB® Approved Continuing Education Units available


"Join us for the longest running, most comprehensive Direct Instruction Training available.

This year we are pleased to present long time DI Consultant Carolyn Schneider along with Zig Engelmann as our keynote speakers.

We will have sessions for beginning and veteran users, as well as sessions designed for classroom teachers and parapros, coaches, and administrators. Special tracks for general, and special education and many others will be highlighted"

Please see the conference brochure for full information on events, registration and lodging.

Questions about the National Direct Instruction Conference should be directed to the Association for Direct Instruction



AND a new special focus Direct Instruction Conference in Columbus, Ohio

Effective Programs for Learners With Autism Spectrum Disorders—A Direct Instruction Conference, Columbus, Ohio
August 16–18, 2010
Hilton Columbus/Polaris
Columbus, Ohio

BACB® Approved Continuing Education Units available!
College Credit Available!
Training Designed for Teachers, Practitioners and Parents!

"Training on Reading Mastery, Language for Learning, DISTAR Arithmetic, Connecting Math Concepts and Corrective Reading Comprehension will be featured at this training tailored specifically for those that work with students with an ASD diagnosis."
[Blog author note - for information on these curriculum packages, see Signals, The Direct Instruction Community]

Please see the conference brochure for full information on events, registration and lodging.

Questions about the Effective Programs for Learners With Autism Spectrum Disorders conference should be directed to the Association for Direct Instruction

------------------------------
For More Background on Direct Instruction


Signals, The Direct Instruction Community 

Zigsite: The website of Zig Engelmann


Direct Instruction page at the Precision Teaching Hub & Wiki

[some links and info need updating]


An Introduction to Direct Instruction
Special Connections

Best wishes!

Blog to the Verbal Behavior Wiki

DISCLAIMER: Personal opinion and blog, for information only and
not intended to be professional advice or endorsement.

Second Call for the Summer Direct Instruction Conferences in Eugene, OR & NEW Direct Instruction for Students with ASDs, Columbus, OH

Interesting blog on Direct Instruction

I was looking for a Direct Instruction (Becker & Engelmann model) reference and ran across the blog,
D-Ed Reckoning. Very interesting, and some useful advice between the posts themselves and the comments.

For example, the post from

June 27, 2008
Question 4: What to do after 100 easy Lessons

That's a common question, with some uncommonly good answers.
Hope it helps. Happy reading.

----------

Best wishes!

Blog to the Verbal Behavior Wiki

DISCLAIMER: Personal opinion and blog, for information only and
not intended to be professional advice or endorsement.

Interesting blog on Direct Instruction

WORKSHOP : April 12-13, 2010 - Leesburg, VA - Mark Sundberg, Ph.D., BCBA-D- A Behavioral Approach to Language Assessment and Intervention

A BEHAVIORAL APPROACH TO LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT AND INTERVENTION
Presented by Dr. Mark Sundberg, Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral

WHERE: The Aurora School,
420 Wildman Street, Leesburg, VA 20176

WHEN:  April 12-13, 2010, 8:30am-4:30pm*
*Coffee/Continental breakfast, water, and light snacks provided. Lunch is on your own.

Please visit The Aurora School for full details, costs and registration form

This workshop will teach participants how to use the VB-MAPP (the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program), to assess an individual’s language and social skills, and how to identify potential barriers that may inhibit a child’s development. The VB-MAPP is derived from behavior analysis, B.F. Skinner analysis of verbal behavior, and the developmental milestones of typical children.

• Identifying intervention priorities
• Using the VB-MAPP to determine an individualized language and social skills program
• Transition to a less restrictive environment
• Setting up a verbal behavior classroom or home program,
• Choosing augmentative communication systems,
• Data collection
• Reducing problem behavior 

----------

Best wishes!

Blog to the Verbal Behavior Wiki

DISCLAIMER: Personal opinion and blog, for information only and
not intended to be professional advice or endorsement.

WORKSHOP : April 12-13, 2010 - Leesburg, VA - Mark Sundberg, Ph.D., BCBA-D- A Behavioral Approach to Language Assessment and Intervention

WORKSHOPS: Levittown, NY: Elija School "Opening Doors Workshop Series"

The Elija School  "Opening Doors Workshop Series"

Workshops presented by Debora Harris, BCaBA*
Time: 7 PM- 8:30 PM
Fee:  $15 for Individual Topic
Location: Elija School  
100 Periwinkle Rd. Levittown NY 11756
To Register: jkaplan@elijaschool.org  or  call 516 216 5270

Dates & Topics

• March 18th, 2010 - Special Education Law and Advocacy      
• March 24, 2010 - Curriculum Development- How to effectively use the ABLLS and other assessment guides.  
• April 29, 2010 - Sensory Issues – Habit reversal and desensitization.
• May 20, 2010 - Intensive Toilet Training- Steps for teaching initiation and how to move away from schedule dependence.
• June 24, 2010 - Learning is Fun! Building a relationship with students and setting a positive environment for learning.
• July 29, 2010 - Problem Solving- Elements of good teaching.

* Debora  received her BA in Sociology from Hofstra University and is a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst.  She serves as the Co-Executive Director of The Elija School, is Co Founder of the ELIJA Foundation and Co Director of Effective Interventions Clinic, a behavioral clinic/agency serving the needs of individuals with autism. Debora has volunteered her time to numerous autism groups such as the Nassau County's Department of Health Early Intervention Coordinating Council, The New York State Association of Behavior Analysis,  Nassau County Autism Coalition run by the County Executive and currently serves as a board member of The Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®). For the past 8 years she has been providing advocacy to famlies and conducted training workshops to promote evidence based instruction for families and educators who have been touched by Autism. She has an 11 year old son with autism. 

----------

Best wishes!

Blog to the Verbal Behavior Wiki

DISCLAIMER: Personal opinion and blog, for information only and
not intended to be professional advice or endorsement.

WORKSHOPS: Levittown, NY: Elija School "Opening Doors Workshop Series"

WORKSHOPS: Dayton, OH area - DAFEAT workshop schedule for 2010

DAFEAT- Dayton [Ohio] Area Families for Effective Autism Treatment

Workshop schedule for 2010

DAFEAT notes that registration will be available one month before the event.

These monthly workshops are FREE for DAFEAT members and at a nominal cost for non-members, which includes a year-long membership to DAFEAT. Please see the DAFEAT website for information.

March 20, 2010
Ask for Anything:  Mand Training with Signed Responses
Amber Valentino, Ph.D, BCBA-D
Registration currently open

Other workshops

April 17, 2010
Ask for Anything 2:  Mand Training with Vocal Responses & Advanced Requesting Skills
Amber Valentino, Ph.D., BCBA-D

May 8, 2010
Natural Environment Training
Carl Sundberg, Ph.D, BCBA-D

June 19, 2010
I Want to Learn!  An Intro to Beginning Structured Teaching
Amber Valentino, Ph.D., BCBA-D

July 17, 2010
Show Me The Data! An Intro to Data Collection, Analysis & Graphing
Amber Valentino, Ph.D., BCBA-D

August 28, 2010
Just Go Already! An Intro to Toilet Training
Amber Valentino, Ph.D., BCBA-D

September 18, 2010
Dealing with Challenging Behaviors
Carl Sundberg, Ph.D., BCBA-D

October, 2010
18-Hour VB Intensive 3-Day Training Workshop
Lisa Flake, BCaBA

November 20, 2010
Why ABA?
Amber Valentino, Ph.D., BCBA-D

December 11, 2010
VB-MAPP Language Barriers
Carl Sundberg, Ph.D., BCBA-D

----------

Best wishes!

Blog to the Verbal Behavior Wiki

DISCLAIMER: Personal opinion and blog, for information only and
not intended to be professional advice or endorsement.

WORKSHOPS: Dayton, OH area - DAFEAT workshop schedule for 2010

The Pennsylvania Verbal Behavior Project

I would like to share this video from the PaTTAN (Pennsylvania Training & Technical Assistance Network)  Pennsylvania Verbal Behavior Project which I believe is one that gives a reasonable and realistic slice of what Applied Behavior Analysis and Verbal Behavior looks like - and to counter what I see as unfair and misrepresentative stereotypes that applied behavior analysis is not considerate or caring to the children being taught and assisted under this method of intervention. I might add that often times these misrepresentations are made by those who have their own commercial reasons for making such statements.

Please note that many of the behavior analysts in this video are themselves parents of children with autism and, naturally,  have a personal interest in their own children receiving effective and ethical treatment, as well as the children that they serve and instruct.

Verbal Behavior Project

Related resources from PaTTAN/Pennsylvania Verbal Behavior Network

PaTTAN generously makes these materials free of charge.

 Pennsylvania Verbal Behavior Network Family Handbook,
Includes,

• What is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)? . 7
• What is Verbal Behavior (VB)? . 8
• How Do We Implement VB in the Classroom? . 10
• What is the Behavioral Language Assessment Form (BLAF)? . 11
• What is the Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills (ABLLS)? . 12
• What is the VB-MAPP? . 13
• Important Terms to Know . 14
• Behavior Reduction . 15
• Resources . 17
• APPENDIX 1. – BLAF . 18
• APPENDIX 2. – ABLLS. 21
• APPENDIX 3. – VB-MAPP Milestones Master Scoring Form. 22
• APPENDIX 4. – VB-MAPP Barriers Scoring Form . 23
• APPENDIX 5. – Reinforcement Assessment Form . 24
• APPENDIX 6. – Glossary of Terms . 26

The Pennsylvania Verbal Behavior Project
A Beginning Guide to the Intensive Teaching Process of the Verbal Operants

Advanced Verbal Behavior Principles and Approaches for Developing Language in Children with Autism
December 9, 2005
Workshop Materials

Other Training materials from PaTTAN

----------

Best wishes!

Blog to the Verbal Behavior Wiki

DISCLAIMER: Personal opinion and blog, for information only and
not intended to be professional advice or endorsement.

The Pennsylvania Verbal Behavior Project