Special education students go on a field trip to a local diner to practice ordering and paying for a breakfast. Which of the following best characterizes such a trip?

• A. Direct instruction
• B. Community-based instruction
• C. Thematic instruction
• D. Multitiered instruction

Answer: (B)

Community-based instruction centers on teaching functional skills in real-world community settings so students can use them in everyday life. Taking special education students to a local diner to practice ordering and paying for a breakfast places the learning in an authentic context where they will actually perform the tasks—talk with staff, use money, handle change, and follow steps to complete a meal. This supports generalization of skills to other restaurants and similar outings, promoting independence and practical daily living abilities.

Direct instruction, by contrast, is typically classroom-based and teacher-led with explicit, structured lessons. Thematic instruction weaves a theme across subjects in the classroom rather than focusing on off-site practice. Multitiered instruction refers to a framework of supports across multiple levels to address learning needs, not the setting of the activities. So the field trip to practice ordering and paying in a diner best illustrates community-based instruction.