I get very excited when discussion in the No Time For Flash Cards community about how to create a peaceful classroom environment brought up the idea of visual schedules. As a teacher, I have used visual schedules in the past, but for whatever reason, I haven’t used a visual schedule in my current classroom. A visual schedule for those of you new to this term is simply a schedule that is made up of pictures. These are fantastic tools for children to understand what to expect and to prepare for transitions. Transitions are by far the time when teachers notice the most disruptive and defiant behavior, and it’s not because children are naughty, it is because children aren’t prepared for the transition. One way we can help children with transitions, with behavioral expectations, and even separation anxiety is to have a visual schedule available. You can see the Facebook post here:
Tips for using visual schedules:
- Keep it simple. I have a lot of choices in my free printable schedule download, but that was to hit all the important parts of the day for a variety of my readers. Make sure you have all the important transitions you need but no extra. For example, if you read a story and do music at circle time you don’t have to have both photos on the schedule. Too many pictures will be just as overwhelming as not knowing what to expect.
- You don’t need to have it labeled. I labeled mine because I don’t have a ton of print in my class and I would like to add more. I have two versions of the printable for you with and without labels. You can print out the schedule with my labels, use the blank one or write in your own classroom’s terminology. Maybe you call circle time rug time or music song circle. Make this your own. See all the photos and labels here.
- If you don’t have room on a classroom wall after you laminate you can turn it into a flip book using binder rings. Make sure this flip book is accessible and in the same spot daily so that children can access it as needed.
- If you have more than one snack or mealtime, use one of the food pictures for every eating time in my unlabeled download. The consistency is comforting.
- Replace the stock photos with photos of your own students to make it that much more familiar. I will be doing this in the next week or two!
How to make a visual schedule.
Print the cards out here.
Labeled <— click to print free pdf
Unlabeled <— click to print free pdf
Cut so that each page makes three long rectangles.
Laminate.
Add to a pocket chart or sentence strip chart in your class. You may need multiple charts for your schedule.
Do you use a visual schedule in your classroom? Share how it works and any tips you may have in comments.
Delina says
Thank you! I worked at a developmental preschool and so having routine with REAL pictures is so important for them (although I really like cutesy ones) These are perfect! Thank you!
Allison McDonald says
Yes – they really help to have photos. Glad to be of help!
Tonya vazquez says
I love your schedule cards with the photos. I wish you had morning activities, and a few others so they would all be neat and match.
Allison McDonald says
Which activities are you looking for?
Patricia says
a labeled picture for bathroom would be awesome!
Elizabeth says
Hi love your visual schedule, do you happen to have arrival time and breakfast, those are the only two I need to complete the set
Andrea says
I hope I go to my walmart
Danell Hammer says
Could you add some like table time, Bathroom break, gym time field trip, music, free play, puzzles, blocks, house, …
Jul says
I really love these cards. Thank you for sharing! Is there a way to edit these cards? I didn’t think I could edit a PDF and after downloading these, am having trouble doing that. Thanks!
Allison McDonald says
They aren’t editable – so sorry. You could probably print out and then edit them old school with a photo copier.
Sonja says
Any possibility you could add just the pictures sized for individual schedules in a 2×2 size? We are trying to make a child’s individual schedule that matches the teachers schedule on the wall.
Thanks for any help.
Sonja
Kristen says
This is great! Thank you! We have a few new 3-year-olds that this will really help.
Darla Kruschke says
I would love to be able to see an additional schedule card that showed arrival at school with possibly a child by cubby/locker and another with reading time with a child reading a book. Love and use them all.