It is more than a chronological list of classroom activities Focus on: the schedule It is more than a chronological list of classroom activities

The daily schedule Is an essential component of classroom structure

STRUCTURE Structure provides security for our population of students by conveying what will occur, when it will occur, where it will occur and what can be relied upon. Structure entails letting the students know exactly what activities are planned for that day and what kinds of behaviors are expected.

Schedules… • Help students feel secure. • Help students understand expectations. • Result in higher rates of student engagement Help reduce behavior problems. Result in more effective use of time & resources Improve the educational climate

Help students feel secure. It is especially effective with students who lack internal organization by providing them with an external structure that guides their day The unknown is stressful The predictability helps students to feel safe and secure

Help students understand expectations by answering questions… Will I be working alone or in a small group or will it be a whole class lesson? Is it a quiet or a noisy activity? What materials will I need? Do I need a pencil? Will I be staying seated the entire time or will I be moving around? Will I have to walk down the hall to a new location? Which teacher or students will I be working with? Will the lights be on or off? Who will turn the lights off?

RESULT IN HIGHER RATES OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT Alternate preferred and less-preferred activities. Students are likely to put more intense and sustained efforts into challenging assignments when they know that the next activity is one that they find fun or interesting. Vary the pace and duration of academic activities. Incorporate an activity that involves movement following an activity of seatwork.

HELP REDUCE BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS Students must understand that they are responsible for working through their daily schedule. Items on the daily schedule are not skipped by any student unless they are officially cancelled by the teacher. This understanding is KEY!

HELP REDUCE BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS Prepare the students for transitions between every activity by giving them verbal cues. “ We have about 2 minutes left in Math and Ms. Monroe will be collecting your work.” “ We are about to move into our PE activity and for that we will be walking down to the Gym.” “ We are beginning Science now and after we review yesterday’s lesson, we will be watching a 10 minute video about the layers of the Earth.” “Because we had so much fun in Math today we used up a little too much time and so we will be taking the second independent reading time off our schedule today. “

HELP REDUCE BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS Susie-Q has a bathroom “emergency” everyday when it is time for math. Since she has to complete her schedule, she might not be ready for the next activity which is one of her favorites. Billy-Bob had to step to a TR with the Support Teacher during Reading. When they return to class, the class has gone to recess. Billy-Bob must complete his Reading before he can join the group.

Your Classroom By now, you have created a daily schedule that fits in the essential components of your day. How are we going to make that schedule the dynamic one we have been talking about?

ADD ONE THING TO YOUR SCHEDULE Make the “Schedule Review” the first thing on your daily schedule. During Schedule Review you will go over the day’s activities with more detail than the schedule can convey.

Refer to Your Schedule All Day Students who have a difficult time with change will be able to handle it better within the context of regular discussion of the schedule. A review of the schedule at the end of the day gives you an opportunity to give the students feedback on the success of the activity. “Wasn’t that fun!” “You all read better than ever today!” Put a check mark by completed activities.

Examples of Schedule Cards