VIDBE-Q Volume 69 Issue 2
trust. Complete a small portion of the activity, then pause and re-invite them.
During this phase, as you continue to teach them how to participate through hand
under hand, offer praise each time they reach forward and touch you or the
materials. You will continue in this phase until a student is reaching out more
consistently and maintaining contact. This can take anywhere between one activity
to several activities or weeks, it just depends on the learner. Take your time, the
payoff is worth it.
Role Release
Finally, the magic happens, and we get to the point of increased
independence and participation. Role release is when the students get to shine and
show us what they can do on their own, with us right there to support them as
needed. In this final phase I use three main strategies to increase independence and
participation: partial participation, backwards chaining, and slowly moving my
hands out of the activity.
Partial Participation. I have defined partial participation as an adult
accepting a student participating in any way that they can. Partial participation can
be demonstrated by a student holding on to your arm as you complete the task, or
touching your hand quickly to indicate that they want you to continue. This is
accepting any level and form of participation.
