Below is a general skill sequence for helping learners complete simple repeating patterns.
Patterns are everywhere in early learning: songs, counting, the ABCs, calendar time, and the color patterns found on classroom walls and worksheets. A learner who can spot "what comes next" in a simple pattern is building early math and reasoning skills, and the same "fill in what's next" response shows up in your fill-in skill areas. This sequence starts with copying a pattern using real objects, moves to finishing a pattern, and ends with saying the next part of a pattern out loud.
How this skill area relates to your assessments!
This skill area aligns with various assessments and their respective domains, with milestone and domain codes provided for reference. Additionally, DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Autism are included to help clinicians identify how this skill area potentially supports medical necessity in relation to the diagnosis.
VB-MAPP (Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program)
- Visual Perception/Match to Sample, VP-MTS 5-M, Matches any 10 identical items (e.g. inset puzzles, toys, objects, or pictures).
- Intraverbal, IV 6-M, Completes 10 different fill-in-blank phrases of any type (e.g., song fill-ins, social games and fun fill-in, animal or object sounds)
AFLS (Assessment of Functional Living Skills)
- Basic Communication, BC1, Follows instructions
- Fixed Activity Skills, FA1, Sorts items
DSM-V Diagnostic Criteria for Autism
- A2, Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, ranging, for example, from poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal communication; to abnormalities in eye contact and body language or deficits in understanding and use of gestures; to a total lack of facial expressions and nonverbal communication.
CDC’s Developmental Milestones
- 5 years, Cognitive Milestones, Pays attention for 5 to 10 minutes during activities. For example, during story time or making arts and crafts (screen time does not count)
Treatment Plan Goal Ideas
Select treatment plan goals that accurately encompass what you think the learner can accomplish in this skill area over the course of an authorization period (usually 6 months).
Treatment plan goal ideas for this particular skill area are as follows:
Learner will copy an AB pattern of 4 objects across 3 different types of objects.
Learner will complete the next 2 items in an AB pattern using objects or pictures with no more than 1 gestural prompt.
Learner will say the next part of a spoken AB pattern (e.g., "red, blue, red, ___") across 5 different patterns.
Component Skills
Your learner may need to be fluent in these component skills first before introducing this goal/skill area. Component skills for this skill sequence may include skill areas that are fundamental to other areas. Fluency in the skill areas listed below may increase the likelihood that your learner will succeed in this skill sequence and those afterward.
Start at the top. Each indent is the next step.
Intro to Reinforcer/Preference Expansion (RD-010)
Intro to Scanning (RD-020)
Following Gestures (RD-030)
Intro to Matching (Visual Perception) (MT-010)
Filling In Common Phrases (IV-030)
📍 YOU ARE HERE: Intro to Simple Patterns (AC-060)
Skill Possibilities
Below is a possible skill sequence for working on increasing your learner’s ability to complete simple patterns. Note that every learner is different and that you likely will need to tweak and vary some programming to their needs. Click the triangle icon to view the full description for each skill in the sequence/area.
Concurrent Skills
Working on these skills at the same time could help with goal mastery. Maybe your learner has mastered these skills already. Perhaps they are already listed as component skills above. That’s okay! Targeting other learning channels might help your learner.
Composite Skills
These are the possible next steps for learners who have mastered, or are mastering, the skills listed above. Note that new skill areas may require fluency in other component skills not listed above. Also, you can introduce composite skill sequences prematurely to keep your learner progressing, as generativity may occur earlier than expected.
Picture/Event Sequencing (Coming Soon!)
Advanced Patterns (Coming Soon!)
Follow the link below to better understand component-composite analysis.
Problem? Question? Suggestion? We want to hear from you!
Share it with us using our Suggestion Form
We’ll try to get back with you as soon as we can!
Want Your Employer to Pay for BxMastery?
Your organization may be able to provide access for your entire clinical team. Click above to fill out a quick form, and we’ll handle the rest.
Want BxMastery Inside Your Data Collection Software?
Tell us which software your organization uses with this quick form, or Want BxMastery in Your ABA Software?.
Ⓒ 2022-2027. Flatrock Advising, LLC. bxmastery.com.
Licensed for individual professional and/or clinical use only. Copying, scraping, or loading into other software is prohibited. See BxMastery Terms of Service.