Learning to Follow Directions:

The Fun and Easy Way

Mazes and Entertaining Activities that Teach

the Subtleties of Linguistic Cues

Samples of Beginner and Intermediate Workbooks

and Downloadable Documents

By Dr. Erica Warren

Copyright © Dr. Erica Warren www.goodsensorylearning.com Learning to Follow Directions 2

Copyright © by Erica Warren. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in
any form or by any means: electronic, mechanical photocopying, recording or otherwise, by
anyone other than the original purchaser for his or her own personal use without the prior
written permission of the publisher.

Erica Warren Publications

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845-528-6029
www.learningtolearn.biz
www.goodsensorylearning.com
[email protected]

All my fabulously fun and innovative products can be purchased at:

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I would like to thank my editors for their help and support: Mark Schiffman, Kelly

McMorrow, Zoë Holdorf, Eamon Murphy, Daniel Williamson, Griffin Reagan, Maddy Bergstrom,

Michael Viscogliosi, Chuckie Schemmer, Lindsay Cardaci and Danielle Klausner.

Copyright © Dr. Erica Warren www.goodsensorylearning.com Learning to Follow Directions 3

 Table of Contents

Topic Page #

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Vocabulary to Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Directions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Listen and Draw Samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Directions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

What am I Sample . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Directions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Maze Travel Sample . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

About the Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Copyright © Dr. Erica Warren www.goodsensorylearning.com Learning to Follow Directions 4

Introduction:
Subtleties in language can be a difficult thing to master. Many students struggle
with the wording in directions and multiple choice questions. This book was created
for students that need to learn how to follow directions, interpret questions and
understand the subtleties of linguistic cues.

Working as a learning specialist for many years, I have discovered that making the
learning process fun and entertaining is key. Consequently, these materials were
created for my students and others like them that enjoy learning through games. By
using these resources, students will strengthen the following areas of cognition:
! Language Skills
! Sequential Processing
! Spatial Abilities
! Memory
! Attention
! Executive Functioning
! Attention to Detail
! Visual Processing

Vocabulary to review:
• Rows: Think of rows of seats. Rows go from left to right like the “rows” of seats
in a football stadium.
• Columns: Think of columns in a building. Columns go up and down like the columns
that hold up many large structures.
• Prepositions: Review prepositions such as: between, next to, above, below, around,
beside, over, under, behind, beneath, in front of, through, past, down, with,
smaller than, nearest to, farthest from, closest to, bigger than, directly
surrounding, and on top of.
• Other qualifiers: Review qualifiers such as: more than, less than, left, right, first,
last, final, next to last, north, south, east, and west.
• Conjunctions: Discuss conjunctions like: and, but, or, and either – or.

Copyright © Dr. Erica Warren www.goodsensorylearning.com Learning to Follow Directions 5

Directions:

Follow the Directions and Draw

Follow the directions and draw. Read each direction aloud to students or have them
read them independently. As directed, students then draw in the boxes. Also, as
each task is completed, advise them to cross out the directions. Labeling the rows
and columns can be used as added assistance.

Sample:

1. Draw a line in the box between the frogs.

2. Write the name of the panda in the empty box next to him.
3. Make the circle in row three into a smiley face.
4. Place a bow around the cat’s neck.
5. Draw a nut in the open beak.

1 2 3 4

Fred
2

Copyright © Dr. Erica Warren www.goodsensorylearning.com Learning to Follow Directions 6

Follow the directions and draw:
1. Draw a mustache on the face in the second row, second column.
2. In the empty box below the basketball player, draw him a body.
3. Draw a box of tissues to the right of the sad face in row one.
4. Draw a Popsicle in the box with the face in the middle of the first column.
5. Draw a face that is yelling in the empty box to the right of the one asking for quiet.
6. Draw another face sticking its tongue out beside the one in the last row.
7. Draw a nose on the face with only two teeth showing.
8. Draw hair on the face that looks like he just won a lot of money.
9. In the empty box next to the worried face in row four, draw your own face.
10. In the empty box in the middle column draw a goofy body for the face above it.

If you like this activity you can get more at: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Language-
Arts-Following-Directions-the-Fun-and-Easy-Way-Beginners-1

Copyright © Dr. Erica Warren www.goodsensorylearning.com Learning to Follow Directions 7

Directions:

What Am I?
Have your students read or listen to the directions and cross out the boxes as
directed. Be sure to have the students cross out the directions, too, as they
complete the task. Rows and columns can be labeled for added assistance. The
remaining box at the end of all the tasks, answers the question: What am I?

Sample:

1. I am below the 1st row.

2. I am in any of the columns to the left of the last column.
3. I can see.
4. You can see my legs.
5. I am not in the second to last row or the last row.

1 2 3 4

Copyright © Dr. Erica Warren www.goodsensorylearning.com Learning to Follow Directions 8

What am I?
1. I do not have an identical twin.
2. I am any animal but the snake.
3. I am in column 1, 3, 4 or 5.
4. I am in neither the 2nd or 3rd row.
5. I am an animal that you can see on this planet.
6. You can see my ears.
7. I am any animal but a pig.
8. I have what I like to eat with me in the picture.
9. I am closest to the last column.

If you like this activity you can get more at: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Language-Arts-
Following-Directions-the-Fun-and-Easy-Way-Beginners-1 or
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Following-Directions-Intermediate-1
Copyright © Dr. Erica Warren www.goodsensorylearning.com Learning to Follow Directions 9
Maze travel
Follow the directions and make a continuous line through the maze from the start to
the finish. Be sure to have the students cross out the directions as they complete
the task and rows and columns can be labeled.

1. Follow only two koalas.

6.
2. Jump over the panda to the empty box.
7.
3. Jump up onto the bird and travel.
4.
8. Fall through the clouds and ride on all the apes.
5.
9. Jump down to the empty box and then over the dog.
6. Run to the finish.

start

1 2 3 4

Finish

Copyright © Dr. Erica Warren www.goodsensorylearning.com Learning to Follow Directions 10

Follow the directions to get through the maze:
1. Fall through the clouds and land on 6. Jump left and ride in the monster
the trampoline. truck through the clouds.
2. Bounce to the right and land on the 7. Slip all the way down the water slide.
horse. 8. Chase the mouse.
3. Ride the horse North only one box. 10.
9. Jump to the right onto the ski lift
4. Step right to the empty box and jump and ride it North, then East.
over the flames. 11. Jump right and ski to the finish.
10.
5. Ride the hot air balloon all the way up.

Start

Finish

If you like this activity you can get more at:

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Following-Directions-The-
Fun-and-Easy-Way-Intermediate-2

Copyright © Dr. Erica Warren www.goodsensorylearning.com Learning to Follow Directions 11

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 !

!
About the Author: Dr. Erica Warren!
Dr. Warren has always aspired to empower the spirit of those
who struggle with learning. So after finishing a bachelor’s degree in fine
arts, Dr. Warren tailored a special degree program that
combined course-work and research in Educational Psychology, Special
Education, School Psychology, and Adult Education.!

In 1999, Dr. Warren opened the doors of Learning to Learn in Ossining

NY. What started as a private practice to help individual students
maximize their learning potential and find joy in the learning process,
blossomed into a place where students, parents, teachers and schools
can receive educational support, materials, training and advice. Her
website, www.learningtolearn.biz offers an ever-growing wealth of
information, links, materials and support. Learning to Learn now offers:

! One to one educational support

! Teacher training and workshops
! Educational materials
! Cognitive therapy
! School consultations
! Learning profiles and reports
! Technology & software advice
! Student advocacy

In 2005, Dr. Warren unveiled Good Sensory Learning and Dyslexia

Materials where student-inspired, fun, multisensory teaching materials
are created and available to the public.

Dr. Erica Warren, Learning Specialist and Educational Therapist

http://www.dyslexiamaterials.com/
http://www.goodsensorylearning.com/
http://learningspecialistmaterials.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/goodsensorylearning
http://learningtolearn.biz/Home.html

You can contact Dr. Warren @ [email protected] or

845-528-6029