Schedules and Routines

Schedules are essential for students with self regulation difficulties. Schedules allow for structure and predictability which helps to decrease stress and anxiety throughout a student's day. Schedules can vary from a hand written list of expectations to a visual schedule outing their day.

Daily schedules outline a student's activities throughout the day:

1.Morning meeting 4. Math

2.Calendar 5. Art

3. Recess 6. Lunch

Embedded task schedules outline what is expected in a given task .

1. First write your name 1. Name

2. Complete problems 1-5 2. Color

3. Check your work 3. Cut

4. Put paper in your blue folder 4. Glue

Many children struggle to initiate, follow through with a task, stay focused and successfully complete classroom activities. Visual schedules provide organizational supports for the student. They also help to build independence with tasks as students learn to "check their schedules" rather than continually seek out an adult for assistance.

When you establish a schedule and routine the more predictability and structure you provide for the child which creates a framework and foundation for their learning.

Keep it simple:

If your child can read, you can simply make a schedule by creating a check list. We also use picture symbols to create schedule for students.

Here is a link for free visual supports on how to create a schedule at home:

https://teachingmama.org/visual-routine-cards-for-before-and-after-school/

Below are more examples of routine schedules for home and school.