A visual schedule is a display of the major subjects and events (e.g. morning circle, literacy) of the school day in chronological order, with a visual symbol accompanying each word to support understanding for emerging readers. Usually the schedule is displayed in a pocket chart or other large, flexible method. The schedule is reviewed by the class at the beginning of each day and children are assigned the role of turning over each subject upon completion as a way to track the events of the day and know what’s next.

Educators colored the flip side of each subject red to create a bold indicator that the subject was over. They used this practice consistently in our preschool through second-grade classrooms.

The team hoped to reduce student anxiety and stress and reduce student questions about the schedule.

• One of the educators realized she was forgetting to use the visual schedule; this practice increased her consistency. 
• Students reduced the number of questions they asked about the schedule.
• This practice was also very helpful for new students. It was simple, and yet it had a big impact on student behavior related to the schedule.

Aligning this practice across preschool through second grade reduced the need to teach and reteach schedule practices, freeing up more time for academic and social-emotional learning.

There were few barriers to change because preschool to second grade teachers decided on this practice together and they had their principal’s support.

• Coming soon!