How to Use Visual Cues to Teach Children

Visual cues are pictures that trigger learning. Visual cues are very successful with autistic children, visual learners or children who have difficulty understanding oral language directions. Autistic author and speaker, Temple Grandin, wrote "Thinking in Pictures" which expresses the importance of pictures to an autistic person. Much like street signs, visual cues signal students that it is time to transition into a different behavior or to make an association from an abstract concept to concrete learning. Visual cues benefit non-autistic children, too. They can be used to teach children of all abilities reading, core subjects and social skills.

Things You'll Need

• Pictures from a magazine, newspaper ads
• Scissors
• Glue
• Cardstock
• Laminating machine

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Instructions

• 1

  Find pictures from old magazines or newspaper ads that represent a specific concept you are wanting to instruct. Find a picture of someone with a finger over their mouth, for instance, if you want to teach the class to be quiet by using visual cues. Find pictures that are non-complicated, showing only one action per picture.

• 2

  Cut out the pictures and glue them to the card stock. Use one picture per card to keep the visual cue message clear and not confusing to the student.

• 3

  Laminate the cards, if possible.

• 4

  Use the cards in the classroom to associate any abstract concept with a picture, such as learning the sound of the letter "M" by picturing stick figure mountain climbers on top of the letter. Hold up a card to signal action without raising your voice. Use visual cue cards to picture chores or assignments that need to be done.