Teaching Procedures
Everything you need to get started with the Essential for Living curriculum — ordering materials, conducting assessments, training options, and recommended resources.
Introductory Course
The Essential for Living Curriculum and Teaching Procedures: An Introductory Course
This online course travels on-site with Dr. McGreevy and Troy Fry, BCBA as they deliver an 8.5 hour overview of how to utilize the EFL and its conception. Venture along with them as they visit Upstate Caring Partners (UCP), located in Utica, NY, USA. They observe the unique implementations of the tool occurring at UCP, talk to parents of children with moderate-to-severe disabilities, and tour the facility to help consult on unique cases utilizing the EFL.
Enroll NowEFL Overviews
An overview of Essential for Living is provided in several languages:
Overview
(English)
Overview
(Spanish)
Overview
(Italian)
Overview
(French)
Overview
(Mandarin-Chinese)
Overview
(German)
Overview
(English)
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(Spanish)
Overview
(Italian)
Overview
(French)
Overview
(Mandarin-Chinese)
Overview
(German)
Overview
(English)
Overview
(Spanish)
Overview
(Italian)
Overview
(French)
Overview
(Mandarin-Chinese)
Overview
(German)
Overview
(English)
Overview
(Spanish)
Overview
(Italian)
Overview
(French)
Overview
(Mandarin-Chinese)
Overview
(German)
Overview
(English)
Overview
(Spanish)
Overview
(Italian)
Overview
(French)
Overview
(Mandarin-Chinese)
Overview
(German)
Overview
(English)
Overview
(Spanish)
Overview
(Italian)
Overview
(French)
Overview
(Mandarin-Chinese)
Overview
(German)
Overview
(English)
Overview
(Spanish)
Overview
(Italian)
Overview
(French)
Overview
(Mandarin-Chinese)
Overview
(German)
Overview
(English)
Overview
(Spanish)
Overview
(Italian)
Overview
(French)
Overview
(Mandarin-Chinese)
Overview
(German)
Ordering Materials
From This Website
The Essential for Living curriculum includes:
Essential for Living: A Practitioner’s Handbook [EFL]
Available in English and Spanish (Esenciales para la Vida [EPV]) as a paper book and an e-book.
The AMS Selection Tool
A free APP for selecting an alternative method of speaking. Spanish version coming soon.
Essential for Living: The Teaching Manual
Currently available only in English and only as a paper book.
Data Sheets
Can be downloaded from this website and are currently available only in English.
Essential for Living All Skills Learner Scoring Manual
Available in English [ARP] and Spanish [ERP] as paper manuals.
Essential Eight Skills Learner Scoring Manual [EARP]
Currently available only in English as a paper manual.
The EFL APP
Includes electronic data sheets and functions as an electronic progress monitoring manual. Available in English; Spanish coming soon.
From Other Sources
EFL materials are also available from these distributors:
Coming Soon
Italian (2nd printing) and Simplified Mandarin Chinese versions. Plans for Arabic and Hebrew translations are also underway.
Getting Started
There are several ways to begin using Essential for Living. Choose the path that works best for you.
Watch Introductory Videos
If you are new to Essential for Living, we suggest going to our YouTube Channel, which contains several introductory videos.
YouTube ChannelRead the Handbook
Many people begin using Essential for Living without any formal training at all. They read the first four chapters of the handbook and, referring to pages 28, 29, and 39, begin conducting their first Quick Assessment of skill deficits.
Quick Assessment Forms (PDF)Use the Reference Guide
Some people use the page facing page one of the EFL Handbook as a quick reference for what to do and how to do it.
What and How Reference (PDF)Try the EFL APP
Conduct assessments, record learner progress, summarize progress, and prepare reports — all from the EFL APP.
Visit eflapp.comWatch Video III
EFL Video III: Conducting An Assessment of Skill Deficits and Tracking Learner Progress with Essential for Living.
Watch on YouTubeRead the Getting Started Guide
A comprehensive document: “Getting Started with Essential for Living: What, Why, and How.”
Getting Started Guide (PDF)Attend Training
If you prefer to participate in one of our in-person or online training options, several options are available.
View Training OptionsThe Quick Assessment
The Quick Assessment is located on page 39 of the EFL Practitioner's Handbook. It provides a rapid overview of a learner's current skill repertoire and helps identify priority areas for instruction.
The Quick Assessment can also be completed on the EFL APP for convenient electronic scoring and progress tracking.
Quick Assessment
Available as a downloadable PDF form and on the EFL APP for electronic completion.
EFL APP Capabilities
- Conduct assessments
- Record learner progress (skills and problem behavior)
- Summarize the extent of progress
- Prepare reports
The EFL APP
The EFL APP allows you to conduct assessments, record learner progress on both skills and problem behavior, summarize the extent of progress, and prepare reports — all electronically.
For a free trial of the EFL APP, contact Liz Maher at liz@eflapp.com.
AMS Selection Tool
The AMS Selection Tool has been revised and is now available as a separate free APP for selecting an alternative method of speaking.
Get the Free AMS Selection ToolA Sample of the 3,100 Skills in EFL
Essential for Living is composed of over 3,000 functional skills. The first three domains contain 1,900 Speaking and Listening Skills. The remaining four domains contain 1,100 Daily Living, Leisure, Vocational, Functional Academic, Tolerating, and Component Skills.
View a sample of the skills included in the EFL curriculum to understand the breadth and scope of the assessment.
View Sample SkillsThe First Five Skills
If you are just getting started with one child or adult, we suggest beginning with The First Five Skills. This provides a focused starting point for new practitioners.
The First Five Skills planning form helps you identify and prioritize the most critical skills to teach first, giving you a clear and manageable path to begin implementing EFL.
Download First Five Skills FormStart Here
A focused starting point for new practitioners working with one child or adult.
Scope and Sequence
The Scope and Sequence document describes the full breadth and organization of the Essential for Living curriculum, outlining how skills are structured across all seven domains.
Download Scope and SequenceThe Speaker Initiative
Chapter 6 of the Essential for Living Practitioner's Handbook [EFL] is dedicated to making certain that as many individuals with moderate-to-severe disabilities as possible become effective speakers and remain so for their entire lifetime.
If you are working with a child or an adult who currently does not have an effective method of speaking, and you are able to select a method for them that becomes effective, send us their story at office@essentialforliving.com. With respect for their privacy, we will celebrate your and their achievement on this website.
Recommended Reading
Science and Human Behavior
B. F. Skinner
Verbal Behavior
B. F. Skinner
About Behaviorism
B. F. Skinner
Learning
A. Charles Catania
Verbal Behavior Analysis: Inducing and Expanding New Verbal Capabilities in Children with Language Delays
Greer, R. D., & Ross, D. E. (2008)
Pearson Education (Allyn and Bacon): Boston, MA.
A Review of Interventions to Teach a Mand Repertoire
Shafer, E. (1994)
The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, 12, 53-66.
The Chart Book: An Overview of Standard Celeration Chart Conventions and Practices
White, O.R., & Neely, M.D. (2012)
Seattle: University of Washington, College of Education.
Video: Disadvantages of 'Core Vocabulary'
Featured Experts
Dr. Vince Carbone
Workshops and publications on applied verbal behavior.
Dr. Greg Hanley
Practical Functional Assessment resources.
Behavioral Observations Podcasts
Podcasts on behavioral research and practice.
Dr. Dennis Reid
Books on staff training and motivation in human services.
Carl Binder — Fluency Resources
Collection of articles and resources on behavioral fluency.
EFL in Spanish
Essential for Living is available in Spanish (Esenciales para la Vida) for North America and Europe through our store.
For Latin America, EFL is available through our distributor Diversitad. Spanish workshops are also available — contact miguel@essentialforliving.com for details.
Browse Store
Get the Materials
Order the Essential for Living handbook, scoring manuals, and more from our online store. Digital and physical formats available.
Visit the Store