An Example of Backward Chaining

Jonathon, aged 15, lives at a residential facility. One of the goals in his residential IEP is to do his own laundry. In his facility, there is a two to one ratio of staff to students, so Rahul is the evening staff member for Jonathon and Andrew. Andrew is also 15, and also has a laundry goal, so Rahul has Andrew watch as Jonathon does his laundry on Wednesday, and Andrew does his laundry on Friday.

Chaining Laundry Backwards

Rahul completes each of the steps Jonathon will need to complete the laundry, modeling and reciting each step. i.e.

  1. "First we separate the colors and the whites.
  2. "Next we will put the dirty whites in the washing machine.
  3. "Now we measure the soap" (Rahul might choose to have Jonathon open the soap container, if twisting off lids is one of Jonathon's already acquired skills.)
  4. "Now we choose the water temperature. Hot for whites, cold for colors."
  5. "Now we turn the dial to 'regular wash.'
  6. "Now we close the lid and pull out the dial."
  7. Rahul gives Jonathon a couple of choices for waiting: Looking at books? Playing a game on the ipad? He may also stop Jonathon from his game and check out where the machine is in the process.
  8. "Oh, the machine is done spinning. Let's put the wet clothing in the dryer.""Let's set the drying for 60 minutes."
  9. (When the buzzer goes off.) "Is the laundry dry? Let's feel it? Yes, let's take it out and fold it." At this point, Jonathon would assist in taking the dry laundry out of the dryer. With assistance he would "fold the clothing," matching socks and stacking white underware and t shirts in the correct piles.

In backward chaining, Jonathon would observe Rahul do the laundry and would begin by assisting with removing the laundry and folding it. When he has reached an acceptable level of independence (I wouldn't demand perfection) you would back up, and have Jonathon set the dryer and push the start button. After that is mastered, he would back up to removing the wet clothing from the washer and putting it in the dryer.

The purpose of backward chaining is the same as forward chaining: to help the student gain independence and mastery in a skill that he or she can use for the rest of their life.

Whether you, as the practitioner, choose forward or backward chaining will depend on the child's strengths and you perception of where the student will be most successful. His or her success is the real measure of the most effective way to chain, either forwards, or backwards.