As I mentioned in my post with examples of task boxes, people with autism tend to be very visual thinkers. File folder activities, like task boxes, provide visual structure and allow repeated practice on skills and concepts. File folder activities take up much less space, so I prefer them for "flat" activities. For students who are at an object-level of recognition/communication (i.e. don't associate a photo or drawing of an object with that actual object), task boxes are probably more appropriate but for a student who recognizes and understands pictures - file folder tasks are great.
Online sources for file folder activities (some are free printable, some are to purchase):
- http://www.filefolderfun.com/
- http://www.myffgames.com/
- http://www.filefolderheaven.com/
- http://www.preschoolprintables.com/filefolder/filefolder.shtml
- Use flashcards
- Cut out shapes
- Cut out pictures from workbooks/worksheets
- Little stickers for counting (for this particular one I used number stickers meant for mailbox numbers)
- For this one I just wrote letters on index cards for students to practice spelling their name
- This one uses library pockets to sort boardmaker pictures according to their short vowel sound
I write the skill addressed on the tab of the folder, clip the baggie with the pieces inside the folder, and store them in a plastic container.
