![]() ![]() Knowing what will happen next makes the unknown known. Schedules and routines are essential for young learners – and honestly, adults too! Routines provide a feeling of safety. It’s similar to a child scared of the dark using a flashlight or nightlight. Having a visual reminder that the children can reference gives them some control over any lingering anxiety about what might happen in the day. This predictability also helps reduce the number of problematic behaviors that stem from anxiety. Having that schedule follow a set routine adds predictability and stability. Having a visual schedulein the preschool classroom can help to reduce that “not-knowing-what’s-next” anxiety. It is a daunting experience not to know what to expect. Preschoolers can be anxious when going to school for the first time. Schedules are a great way to develop autonomy and set students up for a successful school experience. Providing students with a visual schedule to check throughout the day helps reassure them because they know what is happening next. For some students, a small copy of the schedule they can carry, or even a checklist on a clipboard, helps build independence alongside alternative communication. This is also excellent for many neurodivergent learners, who may have difficulty processing verbal instructions, but can interpret a visual cue with relative ease. Even for focused students, a visual schedule reinforces and supplements what the teacher has said, and children can refer to it over the course of the day. Verbal instructions might not be high on their list when they’re thinking about their friends, the toys they want to play with, and getting outside to that playground. “In one ear and out the other!” Often, preschoolers are distracted by all of the things around them. Reinforce and Supplement Verbal Instructions with a Visual Schedule This accommodates students that need a little more time to adapt to changes. During morning meeting or circle time, the teacher merely has to point out that addition or change. Visual schedules make it easy to alert students to a schedule change. A student who is anxious about their parent returning can see the time ticking down without even reading a clock! The teacher can even cover or flip schedule cards as each part of the day is complete. Phrases such as “When the timer goes off, what is next on the schedule?” Students have a clear reminder of what happens next. It also assists in giving students advance notice when it’s time to move to a new activity. It’s a natural part of development, but it also isn’t very helpful in the classroom environment! Having a visual schedule to reference eliminates arguments about if snack time will happen before or after outside time. Sometimes, preschool students can be stubborn. Words that express temporal relations, such as “before” and “after,” are also easy to practice with a visual schedule. Instead, focusing on sequencing words such as “first,” “next,” and “last” can be easier to understand. This can be overwhelming for most preschoolers. Sometimes, visual schedules have clocks or times listed next to the pictures and words. Time is a difficult concept for young learners. Students recognize the different words such as “Circle Time” and “ Snack,” even when the pictures are covered.Īdded to cart Sequencing with a Visual Schedule Used as another literacy learning tool, the visual schedule becomes a great source of environmental text. It is important to provide pictures and words with visual schedules. It also makes it easier to get through non-preferred tasks if a student knows that a favorite activity follows close behind. Having a visual schedule can help reduce the number of times a child asks, “Is it time to do centers yet?” Young learners can reference the schedule and see that they have to do circle time and music first. Preschoolers are, overall, not the best at waiting. There, students can add words such as “today,” “tomorrow,” and “yesterday.” This makes the concept of a calendar much more accessible for small children to comprehend. Begin small, with a daily schedule, so students can see the progress of time and put meaning to words such as “before” and “after.” As students get older, a weekly calendar is a step up. That large time period can be difficult for young students to grasp. Visual Schedule as Calendar TimeĬalendar time doesn’t have to focus on a monthly calendar. They can be a multi-tool for keeping students organized, encouraging independence, reducing meltdowns, and more. There are many benefits to using a visual schedule in the classroom. ![]()
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