Schedules are versatile tools that can be used in different ways to help students gain independence, stay on track, or to set expectations for certain scenarios.
A classroom schedule should answer four basic questions for your student:
- what am I expected to do?
- how much am I expect to do?
- how will I know when I’m finished?
- what will I do after I’ve finished the expected task?
As an educator or parent, you may have a daily schedule that outlines more general tasks throughout the day, such as: 8:45a.m. Arrival & Snack, 10:00 a.m. Morning Meeting, 10:30 a.m. Teacher Time, 11:00 a.m. Independent Work, etc.
Adding Mini Schedules
However, if your goal is to encourage greater independence in your student or child, adding mini-schedules into the agenda helps break tasks down into more manageable chunks that a student could be expected to complete with little to no prompting.
For example, during Snack, you could add a mini-schedule that includes the following steps:
- wash hands
- select preferred snack
- take your seat to eat
- clean up after snack
- check schedule for next steps
The mini-schedule can be something as simple as a sheet of paper with each step written out as it’s listed above, or something more visual using pictures or graphics to portray each step in the mini-schedule.
Tailoring the mini-schedule to fit your student’s particular needs and communication preferences will ensure the tool is easier to use independently. Mini-schedules are incredibly versatile so you can get creative when incorporating them into your students’ daily routines to encourage their active participation in day-to-day tasks.
Check out our examples of mini-schedules and the various ways they can be used in the classroom as well as at home to help students navigate their day with greater independence and focus.
The special education resources on this page were authored by Watson Institute’s special education consultant, Abby Martello, M.Ed.
If you have questions or concerns about the Watson Institute’s use of this information, please contact us.