At ABA Works, we believe that effective treatment starts with a strong foundation. When it comes to helping children make meaningful progress, one of the most powerful strategies we use is teaching Learning to Learn goals first. These foundational skills often determine how well a child will respond to future interventions—and whether academic, social, and daily living goals will be successful at all.
If you’re a BCBA in Long Beach, Los Angeles, South Bay, Norwalk, or Lakewood, and you want to work with a clinically focused team that prioritizes meaningful outcomes, we invite you to apply to join ABA Works today.
What Are Learning to Learn Goals?
‘Learning to Learn’ refers to a set of behaviors that allow learners to acquire, process, and retain new information. These are the critical pre-requisite skills that make all other goals possible. Without them, more advanced learning can’t take root.
Core Learning to Learn skills include:
- Engagement with materials and people.
- Attending to instructions and stimuli.
- Waiting and tolerating delays in reinforcement.
- Discriminating between different instructions.
- Following directions and changing responses based on prompts or feedback.
- Staying on task for progressively longer periods.
- Compliance and observational learning (e.g., imitation).
These goals are particularly essential for learners who show minimal engagement, low attending, noncompliance, or challenging behavior following demands.
Recognizing When to Start with Learning to Learn Goals
You may encounter learners like:
- A 2-year-old who runs away after being given a simple instruction.
- A 7-year-old with no prior ABA therapy who struggles with compliance.
- An 8-year-old failing in school, unable to follow classroom expectations.
- A child with limited attention, no interest in others, and difficulty tracking reinforcers.
Before we introduce goals like object identification, labeling, or peer play, we ask ourselves: Does this learner have the behavioral foundation needed to acquire this skill?
If the answer is no, we take a step back and begin with targeted Learning to Learn goals.
How We Teach Learning to Learn Goals
At ABA Works, our clinical teams use a variety of proven teaching strategies, including:
- Discrete Trial Training (DTT): Clear, structured teaching using prompts and reinforcement.
- Natural Environment Teaching (NET): Real-world learning in meaningful contexts.
- Prompting and Fading: Systematic support that gradually reduces over time.
- Modeling and Imitation: Demonstrating desired behaviors.
- Shaping: Reinforcing successive approximations.
- Chaining: Teaching tasks in steps for better retention and generalization.
Our BCBAs individualize every plan and consistently monitor data to make sure these foundational skills are mastered—not just introduced.
What Comes Next?
Once Learning to Learn goals are in place, learners are better equipped to acquire:
- Academic skills like reading, writing, and math.
- Social skills like cooperation, communication, and shared play.
- Self-management skills like self-regulation, goal-setting, and independence.
Starting with these essential building blocks accelerates future learning and reduces frustration—for both the learner and the team.
Join Our Team of Clinical Leaders
Are you a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in the Long Beach, South Bay, Norwalk, Lakewood, or Los Angeles area looking to join a passionate, clinical-first team?
ABA Works is a clinician-owned ABA agency where you’ll have the freedom to individualize programs, receive ongoing mentorship, and make a difference in the lives of the children and families we serve. We focus on quality over quantity—giving you the support and time needed to create goals that matter.
