Chaining: Backwards & Forwards

What is it?
Chaining is a teaching method
for teaching a certain skill in a
process of smaller steps. It is
taught with prompts until
student masters each
individual step. Can be done
either forwards or backwards
(meaning last step is
reinforced first).

Who uses Chaining?

Best for Students learning
social/life skills (AU/LD)
Helps remember process
focus/stay on task
Allows them to break down
task & be independent with
no prompts
Can be used by all students

Forward Chaining:
Break behavior being taught
into individual steps (task
analysis)
Beginning with first step,
prompt child & even provide
hand over hand instruction
Reinforce students correct
response
Once first task is mastered,
have student perform first
and second task together
(adding links)
Proceed until all tasks are
completed

Backwards Chaining:
Student does not learn
behavior in reverse! Rather it
involves reinforcing links in the
chain beginning with the last
link & working toward the
beginning
Model all steps except last for
student & then prompt them
to complete last step
Once mastered, model all steps
except last two then prompt
student to complete last two
steps
Repeat until you have backed
all the way up the chain

Fetko, K., Schuster, J., Harley, D., & Collins, B. (1999). Using Simultaneous Prompting to Teach a Chained Vocational
Task to Young Adults with Severe Intellectual Disabilities. Education and Training in Mental
Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 34(3), 318-329
Wolery, M. (1991). Teaching Chained Tasks in Dyads: Acquisition of Target and Observational Behaviors. The Journal
of Special Education. 25(2), 198-220.