Community based instruction: practice a store purchase, grades 6–8

1. Break the purchase into steps and post them with simple drawings: choose an item, check the price, wait in line, put the item on the counter, greet the cashier, pay, wait for change and receipt, say thank you, take the bag.
2. Model the whole purchase while students watch. Think out loud: "The price is $3.49. I'll give one more dollar than the dollars I see. That's $4."
3. Teach the next-dollar strategy. Students look at the dollar part of the price and give one more dollar. Practice with three prices: $1.75, $2.10, $4.99.
4. Students take turns as customer and cashier. The cashier says the total, and the customer counts out the bills.
5. Add real-life moments one at a time: the cashier asks "Do you want a bag?", the line is long, or the item costs more than you have.
6. Plan the outing. Visit a store the class can walk or ride to, ideally at a quiet time. Give each student one item to buy and the money or card needed.
7. Afterward, talk through what went well and what to practice next, and record which steps each student did on their own.

Differentiation: for students who are starting out, practice one step at a time, such as handing over money, while an adult does the rest. For students ready for more, add a shopping list of two items, a budget or a debit card purchase. For English learners, practice greetings and questions in English and allow a phrase card. For students who use AAC, program "Hi," "How much?" and "Thank you" on their device. For students with sensory needs, bring headphones and plan a quiet spot to take a break.

Quick check: give a price card ($5.25) and watch whether the student hands over the correct next-dollar amount without prompting.

If you try it, tell us which practice step made the biggest difference on your outing.