Following Directions Task Cards for Special Education Job Skills

Following work directions task cards for high school special education and vocational job skills classes. Students practice 1 step, 2 step, and 3 step work directions on a printable work mat before anyone tries the same steps on a job site.

Why I made this: The student who can do the task but loses a step is the one job coaches worry about. We start with the direction words mini lesson so first, next, then, last, before, and after are clear. Students practice the 36 cards on the work mat with the color item tiles (boxes, bags, cups). Later we swap the paper tiles for real bins and bags.

What's included:

• 36 direction cards: 12 one step, 12 two step, 12 three step

• Direction words mini lesson

• Printable work mat: Bin A, Bin B, Cart, and Shelf

• 12 color item tiles to cut out

• 6 blank cards for your own job sites

• 2 data sheets to track accuracy across trials

How I use it: I read a card once and then hide it for listening practice, and I track accuracy on the data sheets. Once a student is steady on the mat, we move the same directions to real bins and carts at a school job.

Who it is for: vocational and work skills classrooms, students working on IEP goals for following directions, task boxes, and independent work stations. Grades 9 to 12 and transition programs.

Pairs with my Following Directions on the Job Task Box, which adds picture supported one step cards and work orders with numbers and if rules. All directions in the two products are different.

What you download: one printable PDF, 15 pages, US Letter.

Created and classroom tested by Jeremy Gooch, special education teacher, with AI drafting help.