How to Make a PowerPoint
Relationship Narrative
By Laura A. Riffel, Ph.D.
For more examples:
www.behaviordoctor.org
caughtyoubeinggood@gmail.com
Storyboard
• Draw out the behavior you want to change on
a piece of paper.
• When do these behaviors occur?
• What do these behaviors look like and sound
like?
• What behavior would you like to see instead?
• What will you do different when the new
behavior occurs?
Pictures
• Take numerous pictures of the child engaged
in the non-preferred activity and the preferred
activity throughout several days.
• Make sure the pictures are in the settings
where the behaviors may occur.
Get Microsoft PowerPoint or use
Windows Movie Maker
• Directions for both of these programs are
available online.
• A variety of backgrounds are availablehowever, it would be best if the background
were plain.
• The main idea of each frame is the child for
whom the story is being written.
Start with the child’s name and write
the movie as if the child were talking.
• I am Sam.
– Insert a nice friendly picture of the child here.
Continue with a bit of narrative…
• I go to Bethel Elementary and I’m in the fifth
grade.
– Insert a picture of the child somewhere in the
location that you just named.
Make a positive statement about the
child.
• I am one cool kid.
– Place another charming picture of the child here.
Give the negative behavior first.
• Sometimes I hit my friends.
– Show a picture of a friend upset or if you actually
caught the child hitting you can use that. Do not
stage this picture though. Only what you caught.
Insert one other non-behavioral
example if appropriate.
• Sometimes I yell and scream.
– I bet this picture was not hard to get.
Give a reason for “not” doing the
behavior.
• When I do hit and yell and scream it is hard for
my friends to be happy and learn.
– Insert picture of child with friends here.
– Depending on the level of the child and severity of
the behavior you may want to put in a negative
consequence besides not having happy friends.
• Example: When I do this I will have to sit on the
beanbag until I am calm.
Now give the replacement behavior.
• When I feel like hitting, I should get my koosh
ball keychain attached to my belt loop and
squeeze it hard until I don’t feel like hitting.
– Insert picture of child squeezing koosh ball
keychain attached to belt loop. This picture can
be staged from previous days.
Insert “proud” affirmation.
• My teacher is proud of me when I squeeze my
koosh ball keychain instead of hitting.
– Insert picture of child getting a high five or hug
from teacher.
Insert other replacement behavior.
• When I feel like yelling and screaming, I should
practice my yoga by doing the cactus and
breathing in and out slowly.
– Put picture here of child doing cactus and
breathing in and out slowly.
Insert second affirmation of being
proud here.
• My friends are so proud of me when I practice
my yoga and breathe in and out slowly instead
of yelling and screaming.
– Insert picture of child with friends cheering for
him. This picture can be staged from the day
before.
Insert intermediate pay off statement.
• When I use my koosh ball keychain and my
yoga, I can go put a sticker on my chart.
– Insert a picture of the child putting a sticker on a
chart. (This is self-monitoring the behavior.)
Insert statement of big reward.
• When I have 5 stickers I can sit in a special
area with a friend at lunch.
– Put in picture of child sitting at a special table in
the lunchroom with a friend. This picture can also
be staged.
End the story with a big “proud”
statement.
• My mom and dad, my teacher, and my friends
are so proud of me when I use my koosh ball
keychain and my yoga.
– Insert picture of child smiling.
Examples of PowerPoint Relationship
Narratives
Billy’s Free Play
Story
Put in a real picture of Billy here….
You will add pictures to this
•
Use real pictures of the child. You can narrate this story
by inserting movies and sounds and clicking record sound.
Save the PowerPoint as a rehearsed time show and the
child can watch the show without any help at all.
•
The child should watch this show
– Before he comes to school with the
parent each day.
– Before free choice with the teacher
each day.
– At the end of the day before the child
goes to after school.
– Before Sunday school.
– Before any free play activity time.
It’s okay to bite vegetables.
It’s okay to bite fruit.
It’s okay to bite sandwiches.
It’s okay to bite hot dogs.
It’s okay to bite cheese.
It’s not okay to bite computers.
It’s not okay to bite people.
Sometimes I get so mad that I
want to bite. When that
happens I should go tell the
teacher what I want.
My teacher is so proud of me
when I come to tell her instead
of biting.
I will earn a bracelet every time I
come tell my teacher instead of
biting.
When I have 5 bracelets I will
get to go to free play first.
My teacher will be so proud of
me when I get five bracelets.
• Put in picture of child here with five jelly
bracelets or pot holder loops on his or her arm.
Brandon and the
Bean Bag
A PowerPoint Relationship
Narrative to Help Learn
Appropriate Behavior to Replace
Tantrums
Turn up the volume on computer.
Sometimes I feel sad.
Sometimes I feel mad.
Sometimes my stomach
feels “ow”.
When I feel like this I go
sit on my bean bag.
Everyone is proud of me
when I go to my bean bag.
I point to a picture that tells
everyone what’s going on.
I can lay on my bean bag.
I can drink juice on my
bean bag.
I can rock on my bean
bag.
It is good to sit on my
bean bag.
If I am still upset and try to
get off my bean bag I will
have to sit back down.
I stay on my bean bag
until I feel better.
When I feel better I can
get off my bean bag.
Mikey McFadden Rides the Bus
Example of a PowerPoint Relationship Narrative to Introduce to Student
This will be my new
school.
I will ride a bus to school.
I will ride the lift up into
the bus. My Mom will kiss
me goodbye.
This is Mr. Bob. He will
drive my bus. This is his
truck.
Mr. Bob will drive me to
school.
I will enter the school
through these doors.
Billy will push me in the
building. He’s my friend.
I will look for the frog flag
and turn down the
hallway.
I will go to my classroom.
Inside my classroom, I will
hang up my coat and
backpack.
I will find my seat.
I will keep my supplies in
a bin with my name on it.
My class will have center
time.
My class will go to the
playground.
There is a special
playground area for me
and my friends.
My class will go to the
library.
My class will go to the
cafeteria for breakfast and
lunch.
We will have calendar
time.
I will help with the
calendar.
We will write board
stories.
We will do math.
We will learn new words
and put them on the word
wall.
My friends from McKinley
Street Preschool will be
coming to Bethel
Elementary.
Here are some of the
people I will see at Bethel
Elementary.
Dr. Drew Barrymore is one
of the assistant principals.
This is Mr. Fiddle. He
helps us keep things clean
and tidy.
This is Ms. Shay. She will
be our counselor.
Ms. Stithem is the
principal.
This is the Mrs. Humes.
She sits at the front
window.
These are the Second
Grade teachers.
This is Ms. Warford.
This is Ms. Pennington.
This is Ms. Aiken.
Mr. Bob will drive me
home.
My mom will be waiting to
give me a kiss.
It will be fun to be a
Bethel Elementary Bear.
Monday for Mikey
Example of a PowerPoint Relationship Narrative to help a child with their schedule.
Each day would be similar – but different to match the day.
Today is Monday.
I will ride the bus to
school.
I will ride the lift up into
the bus. My Mom will kiss
me goodbye.
This is Mr. Bob. He will
drive my bus. This is his
truck.
Mr. Bob will drive me to
school.
I will enter the school
through these doors.
Billy will push me in the
building. He’s my friend.
I will look for the frog flag
and turn down the
hallway.
I will go to my classroom.
Inside my classroom, I will
hang up my coat and
backpack.
I will find my seat.
Billy will bring me my
supplies to the table.
During center time today, I will
feed the turtle and then go to
the computer center.
After center, we will go to
the playground.
I will play on the bridge
with my friends.
After recess, we will go to
the library.
After library, we will go to
lunch.
Dr. Barrymore, the
principal will be in the
lunchroom.
After lunch, we will do the
calendar.
I will help with the
calendar.
Mrs. Eggleston will have
us help write the board
story.
After the board story, we
will do math.
We will learn new words
and put them on the word
wall.
Mr. Bob will drive me
home.
My mom will be waiting to
give me a kiss.
I’m going to have a great
day.
Molly McFadden Goes to
Kindergarten
Example of a PowerPoint Social Story to
Introduce a Big Change in a Child’s Life
Molly’s New School
Bethel Elementary
This will be my new
school.
I will enter the school
through these doors.
I will look for the frog flag
and turn down the
hallway.
I will go to my classroom.
Inside my classroom, I will
hang up my coat and
backpack.
I will find my seat.
I will keep my supplies in
a bin with my name on it.
My class will have center
time.
My class will go to the
playground.
My class will go to the
library.
My class will go to the
cafeteria for breakfast and
lunch.
We will have calendar
time.
We will write board
stories.
We will do math.
We will read in the reading
loft.
We will learn new words
and put them on the word
wall.
My friends from McKinley
Street Preschool will be
coming to Bethel
Elementary.
Here are some of the
people I will see at Bethel
Elementary.
Dr. Drew Barrymore is one
of the assistant principals.
This is Mr. Fiddle. He
helps us keep things clean
and tidy.
This is Ms. Shay. She will
be our counselor.
Ms. Stithem is the
principal.
This is the Mrs. Humes.
She sits at the front
window.
These are the
Kindergarten teachers.
This is Ms. Flack
This is Ms. Peters.
This is Ms. Warford.
This is Ms. Pennington.
This is Ms. Aiken.
It will be fun to be a
Bethel Elementary Bear.