Teaching students to follow directions can be a real challenge. Below are some procedures and activities to help students understand and know what is expected when following directions. Enhancing these skills can significantly impact students’ academic performance and classroom behavior.
Begin by downloading the handout. It contains the printables for
- Activity #1 – Following Directions with Goofy – YouTube
- Activity #3 – Following Instructions using Classic Literature
Teaching Students to Follow Directions Procedures
Procedure #1 – Gaining Attention
The most important step for teachers is to focus students’ attention before giving instructions.
Voice Commands
Find a phrase or signal to let students know instructions are coming. Announcing ‘Look at me.’ can be a cue to focus. This procedure works well if used sparingly. Students begin to ignore it if teachers use it repeatedly during the same lesson.
Other Attention-Grabbers
Incorporate attention-grabbers such as a ringing bell, clapping a pattern students must repeat, or playing a short sound clip. These can be more engaging and break the monotony, making students more likely to pay attention.
Procedure #2 – Student Repeat
Have students echo short, precise instructions. This way, students not only hear them a second time but must listen carefully to repeat them.
Turning to a partner and explaining what you must do works well when the instructions are more complicated or have several steps.
Writing the instructions on the board for students to follow is also a great help if they contain several steps.
Use apps or classroom response systems where students can type in or select the instructions they’ve heard. Using apps reinforces listening and integrates technology, which can be highly engaging for students.
Procedure #3 – Routine
Students thrive on routine. Decide how you want students to head their papers, sharpen their pencils, ask for help, etc. Know what works best for you and stick to it throughout the year. Changing procedures can be confusing to students.
One routine I like to use is to ask students to head up their papers, put their pencils down when finished, and look at me. This procedure is a cue to ‘focus’ and ‘do it now.’ Also, I receive far fewer papers without headings.
Create visual aids and posters that outline daily routines and procedures. These can serve as constant reminders and can be especially helpful for visual learners and younger students.
Teaching Students to Follow Directions Activities
Activity #1 – Following Directions with Goofy – YouTube
Walt Disney created this educational video. Goofy shows various examples of directions being important and explains what would happen if there weren’t any directions. The video explains that directions come in three forms:
- visual, such as signs
- spoken, such as from a teacher
- written, such as those that help assemble items.
Finally, the film gives tips for following directions.
After watching the video, engage students in a discussion about what they learned. Follow up with a worksheet reinforcing the directions discussed in the video, with practical examples for students to complete.
Activity #2 – Teaching with Games
Games provide excellent learning opportunities for teaching many skills, and learning to follow directions while playing is a bonus.
Book Games
Book games help with word development. Select approximately seven words for students to practice. Print one word on each card of standard index cards. You will need three copies of each word.
To play, shuffle the cards and deal each player six cards. Place the remainder of the cards face down in the center of the table. The first player asks another specific player, “Do you have —?” The player cannot ask for a word unless they have one in their hand. The player asked must give up all the cards with that word. If the player asked does not have the word, the first player draws a card from the center of the table. Play then continues to the second player.
The game’s object is to collect a book—three cards with the same word. When they get a book, players lay their ‘book’ on the table before them. The player earns one point for each book. Play continues until all hands are empty and there are no more cards to draw from. The winner is the player with the most points at the end of the game.
Follow the Leader
Students stand in a circle with one player in the middle. The middle player closes his eyes while the rest choose a leader from the group. The middle player opens his eyes, and the game begins. The leader makes slow, specific movements while the rest of the students follow the actions precisely. The player in the middle of the circle tries to guess who the leader is. Once the leader is revealed, the game is over.
Simon Says with a Twist
Modify the classic Simon Says game to include academic instructions. For example, “Simon says underline the verb in this sentence,” or “Simon says point to the map where the capital city is located.” This activity makes the game educational and fun
Activity #3 – Following Instructions using Classic Literature
Preparation:
Six excerpts from classical literature are in the handout. Duplicate these excerpts, one for each student.
Teacher instructions follow the excerpts. Do not duplicate these, as the practice will be oral.
I recommend completing only one practice at a time so that students can concentrate fully.
Teacher Instructions:
Have students read one excerpt silently or aloud. Following this, explain to the students that you will give oral instructions. Let students know you will read the instructions, pause, and then repeat them a second time. You will not read any instructions a third time, so students must listen carefully.
The handout provides ten tasks for each passage. Tasks include simple instructions for the passage, such as drawing a box around the main character’s name, highlighting what the character did in a specific situation, drawing a line under the word that tells the time of day, and so on.
Interactive Reading Sessions
In addition to the activity using classical stories, incorporate interactive reading sessions where students follow along with you. Pause periodically to give specific instructions related to the text, such as highlighting key phrases or noting character actions.
Activity #4 – Following Instructions using Textbooks
To practice following instructions and learning how to use parts of a book, provide specific instructions like the ones listed below.
- Look in the index to find the Battle of the Alamo.
- Go to the article.
- Write down the dates when the battle took place.
You can vary this activity with maps or atlases. Here are some example questions.
- How many miles is Washington, D.C. from here?
- Write down the name of the largest lake on the map.
- Which direction do you travel to go from Seattle to San Francisco?
Scavenger Hunts
Create scavenger hunts using textbooks or other classroom resources. Give students a list of items or information to find within a set time. This activity encourages careful reading and attention to detail.
Activity #5 – Magic Tricks
Students love doing magic tricks. Have students try one of these tricks. They must follow instructions carefully to make the tricks work.
After practicing individually, have students perform their magic tricks in small groups. This activity adds a collaborative element where they must follow directions and work together to present the trick successfully.
Activity #6 – Crafts
Making crafts is a fun way to teach following directions. Because most students enjoy this activity, students tend to focus on the instructions.
Step-by-Step Video Tutorials
Provide step-by-step video tutorials for craft activities. Students can pause and replay the instructions as needed, allowing them to follow along at their own pace.
Teaching students to follow directions effectively is crucial for their success both in and out of the classroom. By incorporating a variety of procedures and engaging activities, teachers can help students develop these essential skills in a fun and interactive way.
