Visual Mini-Schedules

I am sure if you have been around a special education teacher, parent or in a special education classroom you have heard or seen visual schedules. Visuals are a powerful tool and help with behavior management, academic performance, establishing routines and independence.

Think about how many visuals we have in our lives; calendars, sticky-notes, emails etc. There are hundreds of visuals we see throughout our day to help us process information. It is no different when in a classroom....especially when students with special needs are present.

In my classroom we use a wide range of visuals including class visual schedules, individual daily schedules, center rotations, supply box labels etc. Here is a picture of one of our daily wall schedules.

The visual I want to dive into today are mini-schedules. I use these all of the time throughout my day. A mini-schedule breaks down a broad topic into smaller more defined tasks. Some students need to know exactly what you mean when you say (or their schedule says) reading.

What does that mean, look like etc. Here is a picture of a reading mini-schedule I use with one of my students.

I will admit I do not use these for all of my students. Some of my kiddos are perfectly fine with their schedule saying reading and then me telling them what we are doing throughout the lesson. However, some of my kids need more structure. Having a mini-schedule in front of them allows them to see exactly what is expected from them, approximately how long it will take and whether or not a break/reinforcer is in their future.

So how do they work? I think about my student first and how much they need the task broken down. Some of my kids are okay with their mini schedule small with only 2-4 tasks being pictured. While other students need more of an outline (like the picture above).

After you set the mini-schedule for the lesson you have prepared be sure to state what you are doing. That way the kids can reference their schedule. You may have to give additional prompts by pointing or saying we are now working on the first step of your schedule etc.

Once you have completed that task have your student take off the first task.

I have my students store the completed tasks on the back. It is a quick way to "make it disappear" and you are less likely to lose the pieces.

The students flip their schedule back over and you repeat. Do this until your lesson is over.

Make sure to extend these great tools into other parts of your school. Look how this mini-schedule is set up for art.

When the students are finished they put their pieces in the envelope.

Since this schedule will most likely be outside of your classroom you could store all of the extra pieces on the back of the construction paper.

In closing, mini-schedules have really helped teach independence and functional life skills in my classroom. Instead of answering the question "what's next" over and over I just refer them to their mini-schedule. 

The kids also take ownership of their schedules and they are proud of them. I love over hearing my students say "check your schedule" or "my schedule will tell me". 

You can check out my mini-schedule pack here! There are schedules for reading, writing, math, P.E, music, art and a "general" schedule. 

Do you think mini-schedules would be helpful for students in your classroom?

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Choice Cabinet Organization (Promoting Independence)

Do you ever have that moment at the beginning of the year before students arrive when you look around your classroom and smile? Everything is put in its place, pencils are sharpened and your cabinets are organized!! I have those moments too, it makes me feel like a kid on Christmas.

But before we know it our students have entered the room and have made it their home. The pencils are now dull, nothing is put in its place and those cabinets just make you want to pull your hair out. Well friends not anymore. I have found a way to keep my choice cabinets neat and organized while still allowing the students to be independent.

I start off by organizing my cabinet how I want it. I put the math games together, I have a section for reading games, puzzles, fun stuff etc. I then start to label the shelves with different color stickers. I use yard sale stickers but anything you have multiple of will work. I then put the same color sticker on all of the games/toys in that section.

(puzzles are green)

(reading games are red)

(math games are orange)

Now when the kids take their choices out they can independently put them back in the correct spot. I love setting up my cabinets like this because it teaches my students about organization. I teach life skills so this is a perfect opportunity for my students to practice :). 

Now if you're like me you may have more sections of "stuff" than you do stickers. So I just switched the shape of the sticker. 

(green circle is Play-Doh)

Ahh! Doesn't this just make you want to smile :). Being organized not only helps my OCD but it makes for a nice calming environment.

(nice and organized...makes the teacher happy:))

How do you organize your choice cabinets? Does it promote independence? 

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