Special Education Services
Plano Independent School District

Let’s Take Roll

Goal: Roll call is a function that occurs on a regular basis in many classrooms. It can be used as a great interaction and learning activity. It is also a very natural time to incorporate the use of voice output technology.

Materials:
Step-by-Step Communicator
Photos of each student and adult in the classroom
Index cards with each person’s name printed on one card.

Steps:

1. Write a list of each person’s name who will be participating in this activity. This list will be handy for programming the
Step-by-Step Communicator and getting pictures in the right order. It could also be used as a quick reference to know whose
name will be called next.

2. Program the Step-by-Step Communicator by following the directions on the back of the device.

3. Assign one student the job of activating the Step-by-Step Communicator.

4. Assign one student the job of locating the correct picture or name card.

5. Tell all students:

• “_______________ will say your name.”
• “When you hear your name, raise your hand.”
• “Keep your hand up until _____________ gives you your picture.”

6. Tell the student with the Step-by-Step Communicator:

“You are going to say everyone’s name by pushing here.” (Show them the Step-by-Step Communicator) “Push it once, the stop” (Demonstrate activating the Step-by-Step

Communicator.

“Wait until ______________ gives them their picture before you push it again to say another name.”

7. Tell the student with the pictures:

• “Listen for the name.”
• “When you here it, find their picture/card and give it to them.”
• “Then listen for the next name.”

If the person doing this job can read the names, then let them us the name cards or a combination of pictures and names cards.

Activity Variations:

Record the message, “Raise your hand when you hear your name”, before the list of names. One student activates the
Step-by-Step Communicator and the others listen for their names. The initial direction can change to a variety of actions
such as:

• “Stand up.”

• “Shake hands with your neighbor.”

• “Ring the bell.”

• “Stomp your foot.”

You could also have a different direction for each students name such as “Mary stand up” or “ Tom, close your eyes.”

Pass out his or her picture or name card to each student. When they hear their name they can pass the picture/card or drop
it in a bucket. It can be another child’s job to collect the pictures.

Pass out pictures/cards randomly (no one gets their own). When they hear the name that is on their card, they could do a variety
of things:

• Give it to the correct person

• Simply raise their hand

• Place it in a container or designated area.

The written name cards could also be displayed as a wall chart with a small piece of Velcro next to each name. Pictures are
passed out either randomly or to the person they belong to. When they hear their name, they must match the picture to the correct name on the chart.

Have the teacher be the person who passes out the pictures or cards. When the name is spoken, the child is given the wrong item
by the teacher. It is fun to see the reaction of the students when the teacher is wrong.

Have small boxes or sheets of paper marked “here” and “not here”. When the names are spoken, the pictures/cards must be
placed in the appropriate location.

Covering a child with a blanket to symbolize them being absent can also be a fun variation. Have the others listen to the names
and raise their hands when they hear the name of the “absent” child.

For addtional information: Adaptivation

Permission granted: 1-14-03

 

 

 

Plano Independent School District
Department of Special Education Services
2700 W. 15th Street
Plano, Texas 75075-7543
469-752-8240