5 Strategies for Teaching Feature, Function, and Class in Special Education

Teaching feature, function, and class in special education (FFC) is a key part of language development, especially for students with autism and other communication challenges. These foundational skills help learners understand relationships between objects, their purposes, and their categories—critical for building vocabulary, receptive identification, and conversation skills. Here are five strategies to make teaching FFC engaging and effective, with examples from our comprehensive Feature Function Class IEP Progress Monitoring Bundle to support your lessons.

1. Sorting Games for Early Learners

Sorting is an excellent hands-on activity to teach feature, function, and class in special education. By physically moving objects or pictures into categories, learners start recognizing patterns and relationships.

Example Activity: Use the bundle’s printable Match & Sort activities, which include cut-and-paste options, sorting cards, and interactive books. These activities help students identify similarities and differences based on specific features or functions.
Pro Tip: Pair sorting activities with verbal prompts like, “Which one goes with this? Why?” to encourage expressive language.

2. Use Interactive Flashcards

Flashcards are a versatile tool that can target multiple skills at once, including receptive and expressive identification.

Example Activity: The bundle’s Feature, Function, and Class Flashcards can be used for identifying categories (e.g., “Which one is a fruit?”) or answering functional WH-questions (e.g., “What do you use to cut paper?”).
Pro Tip: Use these cards in small groups for games like “Flashcard Bingo” or “Find the Match” to keep sessions dynamic and interactive.

3. Incorporate Adaptive and Busy Books

Adaptive and busy books are fantastic for 1:1 instruction, independent workstations, or even as calming activities for students who need a sensory break.

Example Activity: The Feature Function Class Busy Books from the bundle allow students to match, point to, and discuss items based on their features, functions, or categories. These are reusable and perfect for scaffolding learning.
Pro Tip: Start with matching or pointing tasks and gradually introduce verbal prompts to build expressive vocabulary.

4. Go Digital for Interactive Learning

Digital resources are perfect for engaging students who thrive with technology or need more interactive elements in their lessons.

Example Activity: The bundle includes Boom Cards, Google Slides, and Easel Activities for receptive and expressive FFC practice. For example, students can match items to their categories with audio prompts or answer WH-questions with instant feedback.
Pro Tip: Use digital tools for independent practice or remote learning sessions. Many activities also support self-correction, encouraging autonomy.

5. Group Games for Social Interaction

Group activities not only target FFC skills but also build social interaction and turn-taking skills.

Example Activity: Use the bundle’s Intraverbal WH-Question Board Game to encourage students to answer feature, function, and class questions in a fun, low-pressure setting.
Pro Tip: Use games as a warm-up or reward activity to motivate students while reinforcing critical language skills.

these are all the resources in the bundle!

Why This Bundle Works

The Feature Function Class IEP Progress Monitoring Bundle was designed with diverse learners in mind. With over 1,000 pages of digital and printable activities, it includes everything you need to teach these vital skills effectively. From sorting games to adaptive books, flashcards, and interactive digital tools, you can tailor lessons to meet the needs of every student—whether they’re working on receptive identification, expressive language, or intraverbal skills.