In forward chaining, which step is targeted first for fluency?

• A. Last step
• B. First step
• C. Middle step
• D. All steps simultaneously

Answer: (B)

In forward chaining, you start by teaching and ensuring fluency on the first step of a multistep task before adding the next steps. This approach builds the task from the beginning, so the learner can perform the initial action reliably and then proceed to the next step in order. Once the first step is fluent, you keep it in place and add the second step, requiring both the first and second steps to be completed before moving on, and so on until the entire task is fluent.

Why this works best: starting with the first step establishes a solid foundation and a clear, repeatable sequence. It helps reduce prompts over time, promotes independence, and ensures the learner can complete the task in the correct order without skipping steps.

Starting with the last step would leave earlier steps unlearned, making it impossible to complete the task in sequence. Beginning with a middle step ignores prerequisites and breaks the chain. Teaching all steps at once prevents focusing on fluency of each component and can overwhelm the learner, undermining the reliability of the full task.