Signal Slides Communication Power
Asking for Help or a Break
How do I feel?
Stuck?
"I don't know what to do."
Tired?
"I need a rest."
I Need Help
Use Your Signal:
"HELP"
"It's okay to ask when you are stuck!"
I Need a Break
Use Your Signal:
"BREAK"
"Taking a rest helps me do my best!"
Time to Practice!
Show me your signal when you need help or a break.
Help
Break
Request Cards Request Cards
Cut these out to use at your desk.
HELP
BREAK
Help please
Break please
For Teachers
Laminate these cards and attach them to a student's desk, lanyard, or communication board. Encourage the student to point to or hand the card to an adult when needed.
Help Match Worksheet Communication Match
Name: ____________________
Draw a line to the correct signal.
I am stuck
Help
I am tired
Break
Hard work
Help
Show me your signal right now!
I did it
Wait
My Signal Worksheet My Power Signal
I can say what I need.
Name: ____________________
1 One thing that is hard:
MATH
READING
WRITING
Something else:
2 When it is hard, I will choose:
HELP
BREAK
3 Show me your signal:
Draw yourself using your signal!
Communication Coach Guide Communication Coach Guide
Strategies for teaching self-advocacy and signaling
Learning Objectives
Students will identify internal states (stuck, tired, overwhelmed) that require support.
Students will use a visual signal (card or point) or verbal prompt to request a break.
Students will use a visual signal or verbal prompt to request assistance (help).
IEP Link
"When presented with a difficult task, [Student] will use a visual or verbal prompt to request help or a break with 80% accuracy over 5 consecutive days."
Teaching Steps
1. Visual Introduction
Use the Signal Slides to introduce the concepts. Focus on the high-contrast icons. Model your own behavior: "I am stuck on this math problem. I will use my HELP card."
2. Explicit Modeling
Place the Request Cards on the student's desk. Use "Errorless Teaching" initially: hand the card to the student when they look frustrated, then immediately provide the reward (the break or the help).
3. Guided Practice
Use the Matching Worksheet . For students with minimal text skills, focus on the icons. Help them draw lines to pair the feeling with the correct solution.
4. Generalization
Use the My Signal Worksheet to identify specific subjects (Math, Reading) where the student frequently struggles. This builds self-awareness.
Data Collection Tip
Frequency Count
Mark each time the student uses a signal independently vs. with a prompt. Aim for a "fading" of prompts over several weeks.
Antecedent Analysis
Notice if the student asks for a break before a "meltdown" occurs. This is a primary success indicator for self-regulation.
Help Match Answer Key ANSWER KEY: Communication Match
Correct pairings for the matching activity.
I am stuck
Help
I am tired
Break
Hard work
Help
Teaching Note:
Reinforce that "Hard Work" can often lead to needing "Help" before needing a "Break." The goal is to keep the student engaged with support.
Signal Lesson Script Lesson Script
Use this to facilitate the Communication Power slides.
Slide 1
Title & Hook
Say: "Today we are learning about our Communication Power. Sometimes work is hard, or we feel tired. We can use our power to tell others what we need."
Action: Tap the Request Cards on the student's desk to show where they are.
Slide 2
How do I feel?
Say: "Look at these faces. This person feels STUCK. They don't know what to do next. This person feels TIRED. Their brain needs a rest. How do you feel right now?"
Action: Wait for the student to point to a feeling or provide a verbal response.
Slide 3
I Need Help
Say: "When you are stuck, you can say Help. You can also show your orange card. Help means I will come over and show you what to do. Let's practice: show me your help card."
Action: Prompt the student to lift the Help card. High-five them when they do!
Slide 4
I Need a Break
Say: "When you are tired or your brain is full, you can say Break. You can show your teal card. A break means you get a 2-minute rest. Let's practice: show me your break card."
Action: Prompt the student to lift the Break card.
Slide 5
Practice Time
Say: "You did it! Now, while we work, I will look for your signals. Remember: you have the power to ask! Let's start our work."
Action: Distribute the worksheets and monitor for signal use.
