Below is a general skill sequence for helping learners label common actions.
This skill area looks to introduce the labeling of common actions that have been targeted in the previous matching and receptive identification areas. It lis likely necessary for the learner to have a developed fluency in basic scanning, matching, receptive identification, and an ability to follow gestural prompts. This skill area may open the door for labeling these actions across multiple examples and the introduction of new more complex labeling as well.
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)
Tact, T 6-M, Tacts 25 items when asked “what’s that?”
Tact, T 8-M, Tacts 10 ongoing actions
AFLS (Assessment of Functional Living Skills)
Basic Communication, BC11, Labels common actions observed in home, school, or community setting
DSM-V Diagnostic Criteria for Autism
A1, Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, ranging, for example, from abnormal social approach and failure of normal back-and-forth conversation; to reduced sharing of interests, emotions, or affect; to failure to initiate or respond to social interactions.
CDC’s Developmental Milestones
30 months, Language/Communication Milestones, Names things in a book when you point and ask, “What is this?”
3 years, Language/Communication Milestones, Says what action is happening in a picture or book when asked, like “running,” “eating,” or “playing”
Treatment Plan Goal Ideas
This is a list of treatment plan goals. These are different from the goals you will find in the skill sequence below. Your treatment plan goals encompass any number of goals from the skill sequence. Sometime they will include multiple goals from the sequence (”Learner will label 5 toys”) and sometimes the treatment plan goal will be simply consist of a really important goal from the skill sequence (”Will label caregiver”). An analogy I like to use goes as follows: Each skill sequence goal (commonly known as a “target”) represent each stair in a flight of stairs. The treatment plan goal is the flight itself.
Treatment plan goal ideas for this particular skill area are as follows:
Learner will correctly label 5 common actions when presented to them in 2D or 3D.
Learner will correctly label 10 common actions when presented to them in 2D or 3D.
Learner will correctly label 15 common actions when presented to them in 2D or 3D.
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.
Below is a possible skill sequence for working on increasing your learner’s ability to label common actions. 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.
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#1 LabelsEating
How to Run
Gain the attention and motivation of the learner.
Hold up a picture of someone eating or point to someone eating.
Ask the learner “What are they doing?/What is happening?”
Learner should correctly label the corresponding picture.
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Make sure to be working on multiple tacting/labeling goals at once to ensure that the learner doesn’t develop a rote/memorized response that generalizes across all future pictures.
As the learner gains the ability to engage in multiple trials at once, have a stack of multiple pictures and cycle through them in a “flashcard” like process. This will increase trial rates, prevent rote memorization, and could expedite mastery and fluency.
Materials
A picture of someone clearly in the act of eating OR a 3D example of someone eating.
Hold up a picture of someone walking or point to someone walking.
Ask the learner “What are they doing?/What is happening?”
Learner should correctly label the corresponding picture.
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Make sure to be working on multiple tacting/labeling goals at once to ensure that the learner doesn’t develop a rote/memorized response that generalizes across all future pictures.
As the learner gains the ability to engage in multiple trials at once, have a stack of multiple pictures and cycle through them in a “flashcard” like process. This will increase trial rates, prevent rote memorization, and could expedite mastery and fluency.
Materials
A picture of someone clearly in the act of walking OR a 3D example of someone walking.
Hold up a picture of someone drinking or point to someone drinking.
Ask the learner “What are they doing?/What is happening?”
Learner should correctly label the corresponding picture.
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Make sure to be working on multiple tacting/labeling goals at once to ensure that the learner doesn’t develop a rote/memorized response that generalizes across all future pictures.
As the learner gains the ability to engage in multiple trials at once, have a stack of multiple pictures and cycle through them in a “flashcard” like process. This will increase trial rates, prevent rote memorization, and could expedite mastery and fluency.
Materials
A picture of someone clearly in the act of drinking OR a 3D example of someone drinking.
Hold up a picture of someone hugging or point to someone hugging.
Ask the learner “What are they doing?/What is happening?”
Learner should correctly label the corresponding picture.
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Make sure to be working on multiple tacting/labeling goals at once to ensure that the learner doesn’t develop a rote/memorized response that generalizes across all future pictures.
As the learner gains the ability to engage in multiple trials at once, have a stack of multiple pictures and cycle through them in a “flashcard” like process. This will increase trial rates, prevent rote memorization, and could expedite mastery and fluency.
Materials
A picture of someone clearly in the act of hugging OR a 3D example of someone hugging.
Hold up a picture of someone crying or point to someone crying.
Ask the learner “What are they doing?/What is happening?”
Learner should correctly label the corresponding picture.
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Make sure to be working on multiple tacting/labeling goals at once to ensure that the learner doesn’t develop a rote/memorized response that generalizes across all future pictures.
As the learner gains the ability to engage in multiple trials at once, have a stack of multiple pictures and cycle through them in a “flashcard” like process. This will increase trial rates, prevent rote memorization, and could expedite mastery and fluency.
Materials
A picture of someone clearly in the act of crying OR a 3D example of someone crying.
Hold up a picture of someone washing/cleaning or point to someone washing/cleaning.
Ask the learner “What are they doing?/What is happening?”
Learner should correctly label the corresponding picture.
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Make sure to be working on multiple tacting/labeling goals at once to ensure that the learner doesn’t develop a rote/memorized response that generalizes across all future pictures.
As the learner gains the ability to engage in multiple trials at once, have a stack of multiple pictures and cycle through them in a “flashcard” like process. This will increase trial rates, prevent rote memorization, and could expedite mastery and fluency.
Materials
A picture of someone clearly in the act of washing/cleaning OR a 3D example of someone washing/cleaning.
Hold up a picture of someone giving/handing or point to someone giving/handing.
Ask the learner “What are they doing?/What is happening?”
Learner should correctly label the corresponding picture.
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Make sure to be working on multiple tacting/labeling goals at once to ensure that the learner doesn’t develop a rote/memorized response that generalizes across all future pictures.
As the learner gains the ability to engage in multiple trials at once, have a stack of multiple pictures and cycle through them in a “flashcard” like process. This will increase trial rates, prevent rote memorization, and could expedite mastery and fluency.
Materials
A picture of someone clearly in the act of giving/handing OR a 3D example of someone giving/handing.
Hold up a picture of someone tickling or point to someone tickling.
Ask the learner “What are they doing?/What is happening?”
Learner should correctly label the corresponding picture.
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Make sure to be working on multiple tacting/labeling goals at once to ensure that the learner doesn’t develop a rote/memorized response that generalizes across all future pictures.
As the learner gains the ability to engage in multiple trials at once, have a stack of multiple pictures and cycle through them in a “flashcard” like process. This will increase trial rates, prevent rote memorization, and could expedite mastery and fluency.
Materials
A picture of someone clearly in the act of tickling OR a 3D example of someone tickling.
Hold up a picture of someone opening or point to someone opening.
Ask the learner “What are they doing?/What is happening?”
Learner should correctly label the corresponding picture.
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Make sure to be working on multiple tacting/labeling goals at once to ensure that the learner doesn’t develop a rote/memorized response that generalizes across all future pictures.
As the learner gains the ability to engage in multiple trials at once, have a stack of multiple pictures and cycle through them in a “flashcard” like process. This will increase trial rates, prevent rote memorization, and could expedite mastery and fluency.
Materials
A picture of someone clearly in the act of opening OR a 3D example of someone opening.
Hold up a picture of someone breaking or point to someone breaking.
Ask the learner “What are they doing?/What is happening?”
Learner should correctly label the corresponding picture.
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Make sure to be working on multiple tacting/labeling goals at once to ensure that the learner doesn’t develop a rote/memorized response that generalizes across all future pictures.
As the learner gains the ability to engage in multiple trials at once, have a stack of multiple pictures and cycle through them in a “flashcard” like process. This will increase trial rates, prevent rote memorization, and could expedite mastery and fluency.
Materials
A picture of someone clearly in the act of breaking OR a 3D example of someone breaking.
Hold up a picture of someone throwing or point to someone throwing.
Ask the learner “What are they doing?/What is happening?”
Learner should correctly label the corresponding picture.
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Make sure to be working on multiple tacting/labeling goals at once to ensure that the learner doesn’t develop a rote/memorized response that generalizes across all future pictures.
As the learner gains the ability to engage in multiple trials at once, have a stack of multiple pictures and cycle through them in a “flashcard” like process. This will increase trial rates, prevent rote memorization, and could expedite mastery and fluency.
Materials
A picture of someone clearly in the act of throwing OR a 3D example of someone throwing.
Hold up a picture of someone playing or point to someone playing.
Ask the learner “What are they doing?/What is happening?”
Learner should correctly label the corresponding picture.
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Make sure to be working on multiple tacting/labeling goals at once to ensure that the learner doesn’t develop a rote/memorized response that generalizes across all future pictures.
As the learner gains the ability to engage in multiple trials at once, have a stack of multiple pictures and cycle through them in a “flashcard” like process. This will increase trial rates, prevent rote memorization, and could expedite mastery and fluency.
Materials
A picture of someone clearly in the act of playing OR a 3D example of someone playing.
Hold up a picture of someone looking or point to someone looking.
Ask the learner “What are they doing?/What is happening?”
Learner should correctly label the corresponding picture.
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Make sure to be working on multiple tacting/labeling goals at once to ensure that the learner doesn’t develop a rote/memorized response that generalizes across all future pictures.
As the learner gains the ability to engage in multiple trials at once, have a stack of multiple pictures and cycle through them in a “flashcard” like process. This will increase trial rates, prevent rote memorization, and could expedite mastery and fluency.
Materials
A picture of someone clearly in the act of looking OR a 3D example of someone looking.
Hold up a picture of someone splashing or point to someone splashing.
Ask the learner “What are they doing?/What is happening?”
Learner should correctly label the corresponding picture.
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Make sure to be working on multiple tacting/labeling goals at once to ensure that the learner doesn’t develop a rote/memorized response that generalizes across all future pictures.
As the learner gains the ability to engage in multiple trials at once, have a stack of multiple pictures and cycle through them in a “flashcard” like process. This will increase trial rates, prevent rote memorization, and could expedite mastery and fluency.
Materials
A picture of someone clearly in the act of splashing OR a 3D example of someone splashing.
Hold up a picture of someone riding or point to someone riding.
Ask the learner “What are they doing?/What is happening?”
Learner should correctly label the corresponding picture.
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Make sure to be working on multiple tacting/labeling goals at once to ensure that the learner doesn’t develop a rote/memorized response that generalizes across all future pictures.
As the learner gains the ability to engage in multiple trials at once, have a stack of multiple pictures and cycle through them in a “flashcard” like process. This will increase trial rates, prevent rote memorization, and could expedite mastery and fluency.
Materials
A picture of someone clearly in the act of riding OR a 3D example of someone riding.
Hold up a picture of someone sliding or point to someone sliding.
Ask the learner “What are they doing?/What is happening?”
Learner should correctly label the corresponding picture.
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Make sure to be working on multiple tacting/labeling goals at once to ensure that the learner doesn’t develop a rote/memorized response that generalizes across all future pictures.
As the learner gains the ability to engage in multiple trials at once, have a stack of multiple pictures and cycle through them in a “flashcard” like process. This will increase trial rates, prevent rote memorization, and could expedite mastery and fluency.
Materials
A picture of someone clearly in the act of sliding OR a 3D example of someone sliding.
Hold up a picture of someone shutting or point to someone shutting.
Ask the learner “What are they doing?/What is happening?”
Learner should correctly label the corresponding picture.
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Make sure to be working on multiple tacting/labeling goals at once to ensure that the learner doesn’t develop a rote/memorized response that generalizes across all future pictures.
As the learner gains the ability to engage in multiple trials at once, have a stack of multiple pictures and cycle through them in a “flashcard” like process. This will increase trial rates, prevent rote memorization, and could expedite mastery and fluency.
Materials
A picture of someone clearly in the act of shutting OR a 3D example of someone shutting.
Hold up a picture of someone holding or point to someone holding.
Ask the learner “What are they doing?/What is happening?”
Learner should correctly label the corresponding picture.
Reinforce accordingly.
Additional Notes
Make sure to be working on multiple tacting/labeling goals at once to ensure that the learner doesn’t develop a rote/memorized response that generalizes across all future pictures.
As the learner gains the ability to engage in multiple trials at once, have a stack of multiple pictures and cycle through them in a “flashcard” like process. This will increase trial rates, prevent rote memorization, and could expedite mastery and fluency.
Materials
A picture of someone clearly in the act of holding OR a 3D example of someone holding.
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.
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.
Follow the link below to better understand component-composite analysis.
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Research and Resources
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Disclaimer
Consistent with ethical obligations outlined by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BACB), users acknowledge that goal selection/direction is the responsibility of the BCBA. Users understand that goals should be tailored to the learner while ultimately involving the input of clients/stakeholders. Users understand their ethical obligations to the client/stakeholder concerning the selection, implementation, design, and minimization of risk regarding behavior change interventions as outlined in BACB Code. As such, this skill sequence serves as a general framework for generating ideas around this particular skill area and not as an assessment or curriculum.
Problem? Question? Suggestion? We want to hear from you!
Email us at bxmastery@flatrockadvice.com
We’ll try to get back with you as soon as we can!
Intro to Scanning 
Intro to Matching (Visual Perception) 
Following Gestures
Matches Common Items in 2D Array 1.0 (Identical)
Receptively IDs Common Items in 2D Array
Labels Common Items 1.0
Matches Common Actions in 2D Array 1.0 (Identical)
Receptively IDs Common Actions in 2D Array 1.0 
Labels Multiple Examples of Common Actions 1.0
Labels Own Behavior