How to Plan for Community Based Instruction in Special Education Classes

Community based instruction planning can be nerve wracking! Believe me, nothing scares teachers more than taking my students out of their familiar classroom! However, there are so many skills and goals you can work on in alternative environments! Here are a couple of tips to get you started!

Tip 1: Start Small

When I started planning community based instruction, I planned trips that I felt comfortable enough to handle. When I started community trips, we started walking trips to local parks, the walking trail and Mariano’s. This way, it wasn’t an extra cost for a bus (for the school), and I was close enough to the school for any emergency (which never happened, but made me feel safer).

Previously, I have done walking trips to work on crossing the street safely, community sign identification and scavenger hunts. When all else fails, start with something you feel comfortable with and build from there!

Tip 2: Add Some Spice

Once you feel that you can handle a walking trip, try taking a short trip to a fast food restaurant. The name says it all — FAST FOOD. When all else fails, you can always order your food to go! Whether you are concerned about behaviors, medical needs or bathrooming during community trips– fast food restaurants is the way to go.

Once you truly feel you can master these community based instruction, try to change it up! I try not to take the students to the same place every week or every month. One month we may go bowling, the next month to the library. Add some variety so that you and your students do not get bored of McDonalds every week. Try Wendy’s, Burger King, Subway, etc. 

Tip 3: Use Your Student Interests

Find out what places your students like!!

Previously, I had a student that loved the public library. Students will work harder knowing they have a favorite place that they will be going to!

Plus, watching a student’s face on the trip is absolutely priceless. Overall, students will have more fun when their interests are included! 

Before you go into the community, you can use any of these resources to help get your students prepared!

Tip 4: What to bring

What do I bring on my community based instruction? Teachers should bring the same things they typically would for their students if they were in the school. Here is a list of a few things I recommend:

• Fidgets
• Rewards
• Schedules
• Social Stories
• Communication Devices (your SLP will thank you)
• Laminated 1-2-3 task strips and a whiteboard marker
• Gloves
• Baby Wipes / Napkins
• Extra changes of clothes for each student (diapers)
• Emergency phone numbers for each student (and the school number programmed in your phone- trust me)
• Medications that may be needed in the event of an emergency (check with your school nurse for medical needs)

I promise these will be a life saver for you! Learn from my mistakes. I typically pack a backpack and bring it all with me or assign an aide to be responsible for it.

Need a template to get you started community based instruction? Grab this resource below!

Need more life skills ideas? Read this guest blog post! Read more about how to run a classroom business and tips to get started!

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