Tag: behavior reinforcement strategies

First-Then Boards & Token System for Autism

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Give your students clear expectations and motivating visual support with this First-Then Token Board System designed for autism, ABA therapy, and special education classrooms. This resource includes 10 printable First-Then boards, 7 token style choices, and 30 motivator visual cards—perfect for behavior reinforcement, task completion, transitions, and classroom routines.


These ready-to-use visual supports helps students understand what comes next, stay on task, and build independence. Ideal for autism classrooms, resource teachers, ABA therapists and SLPs.

Whats included

  • 10 First-Then Boards (clean, simple, easy-to-understand designs)
  • 7 Token Choices (large stars, small stars, smileys, colors, etc.)
  • 30 Motivator Choice Cards (classroom rewards, preferred items, activities)
  • First and Then Visuals for easy scheduling
  • Editable icons
  • Printable, low-prep format
  • Perfect for SPED, autism support, ABA, and behavior management

Perfect For

  • Autism support classrooms
  • ABA therapy sessions
  • Special Education teachers
  • Behavior intervention plans
  • Visual schedules and routines
  • Task completion and transitions
  • Reinforcement systems
  • Early childhood + Not Grade Specific

This printable First-Then Token Board is a must-have for autism support and special education! Visual schedules, motivator choices, and token options all included.

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✔ Supports communication for nonverbal or minimally verbal learners
✔ Reduces challenging behaviors by clarifying expectations
✔ Increases student motivation and independence
✔ Flexible use with ANY classroom routine
✔ Easy to print, laminate, and reuse

How to Use Social Narratives for Behavior Management

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Social narratives are always available in my calm down area! I keep them on the book shelf ready to remind my young learners how to respond in difficult social situations. This type of visual guide describes social interactions helps with understanding social skills and cues that they might of missed. 

Social supports help my young learners understand how to behave or respond in particular situations by using visuals to describe various social interactions, situations, behaviours, and skills.

The main goal of a Social narrative is to share social information that describes how to behave in them instances.

Reading these stories, one to one and as a whole class lesson has enabled me to reinforce these important social skills. I’ve displayed a poster on classroom rules as a quick reminder and added supporting activities to generalise learning.

“Class Rules and “Inside voice,” are the ones I often read within a class lesson, usually when a reminder is needed on how behavior affects the class and disrupts others.

I use a quick reminder booklet to reinforce outside, inside and class voices!

“Be Kind” or “Listen to your Teacher” Might be needed for individuals or to target a more tricky behavior that is reoccurring.

I use Social Strips to support the skills outlined in the stories

Self-Regulation strategies for Managing Behavior

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Being able to regulate behavior is an essential critical skill to learn, so I’ve designed booklets for my students with Autism, Special Ed and the Preschool students in my school. This visual tool is intended to help them identify how they feel and what they would need to be ready for work! They turned out to be a great asset in my classroom calm down area.

Each of my kiddos are constantly using the visuals to remind themselves on how to get in the “ready” for work area. They can choose the supports they need and attach them on the page if they find themselves wandering out!
There are some books with three area tabs and some with four areas identified and each have visual supports for students to check how they feel, what area they are in and what they would need to do to get back area ready to work.

I’ve also added a “Tool Book” to this collection, which my kiddos equally love using!

Using Powerful Reinforcers!

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How I use Fidget Toys as reinforcers in my Classroom

Sensory

Help your students focus and keep calm while keeping little hands busy. When collecting fidget toys make sure they’re robust enough to withstand the strains they’ll be under. I buy toys that are strong enough for my students to bite, squeeze or stretch safely but still benefit their sensory needs.

Learning to Wait

When student are learning to wait and have been given a “wait” card, having something to occupy fidgety hands will sometimes help. Using a “wait” box that is filled with fidget toys, can be offered during this time to allowing students to occupy themselves, and to gradually increase the “wait” time.

As a motivator

Teachers need to be clear on how to deliver a motivator for effective learning. When, where and how many reinforcers will determine how long the learning lasts and how rapidly they learn.

When I’m teaching something new the more frequently I reinforce. When presenting a new task or skill I arrange things so that every successful effort results in a powerful reinforcer.

I find the “Reward Board” works best! and I deliver it in a variety of ways, which I tailor with students individual interests.

Token boards – A token is used like an IOU and once collected can be exchanged for the actual reinforcer. Students can start off collecting 1 token before gaining their reinforcer and build up to 10 tokens once the concept is mastered and they’re ready to learn longer.

Reinforcer icons are placed along the bottom of the card, students choose one before the task begins and tokens are distributed throughout the task!

First and Then strategies and Reward Board choices are also a great tool. I sometimes use it along side this reward system!

Ultimate Calm Down Tools

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Id like to share some of the behaviour strategies I use with my young learners with Autism/Special needs. They provide support and structure in my behaviour support plans and run in conjunction with ABA management’. My students use these on a daily basis!

Behavior Reflection – For students to recognise their feelings and how it effects their behavior

Calm Down schedule – For students to remember the tools they can use to calm themselves.

Social Stories – To read and learn social skills do and don’ts!

Classroom Rules – To follow and remember what behavior is expected

CLICK HERE for MORE information on how to set up Calm Down Tools for your classroom