If you’re not using checklists as a visual support in your classroom yet, you’re going to want to after reading this! Checklists are super simple to develop and even easier to implement in the classroom. Using a checklist is such a versatile visual support that once you get started suing them, I bet you won’t be able to stop!
In this post, I’m sharing three ways I utilize checklists as a visual support in my classroom. Checklists are a great avenue for sequential tasks. It provides a sequence for our students to follow and really supports them throughout the school day.
1. Checklist Schedule
I love using a checklist schedule with my students. When my students are readers, I list out the activities throughout the day and we check in to cross or check off activities as they’re completed. Not only do students love to see things get checked off, but it’s a great way to reference when preferred activities will occur. If you have a student that loves recess, you can start pointing it out on their schedule and counting down the activities until it’s time for recess. This is also a great way to reference when a change is coming to a schedule. I will often star these special activities on our schedules. This allows students to see them coming throughout the day and can prepare for those changes.
Did you know that checklist schedules don’t just have to be written words. I love using simple graphic schedules in my classroom as well. This within activity checklist structured reading time during our centers. We have a routine that we follow, so I made a strip of those activities and ran it through the laminator. As we completed tasks, we would cross them off the task strip. Students saw when their choice time was coming and were better able to complete the required tasks.
2. Routine Checklists
Want your students completing a routine? Try a routine checklist to increase their independence! I’ve used routine checklists for a variety of activities in the classroom. Using a pack up checklist is a great way to build student independence during the routine. Students are able to reference the pack up list and check the items off as they are packed up at the end of the day.
You can use checklists for just about any routine in your classroom. The simplest way to develop them is to make a list of the steps that need to be completed in order to complete a routine (think task analysis!). Then cross them off as you go! One of my favorite ways to use these routine checklists is to jot them down on a post it so students can quickly reference it. You can also make it visual!
3. Material Checklists
Another fantastic way to use checklists is to utilize a material checklist. I have used these in my classroom for a variety of things. One of the simplest tasks to use a material checklist is when you’re completing an activity or packing materials for homework. To make a material checklist, all you need to do is list the items needed to complete a task (words or pictures work great here!). Then, students retrieve those items and check them off the list.
We used this homework checklist with a student in general education. It listed the things the student needed to pack in their backpack in order to complete their homework at home. Using this system, the student did not leave any vital materials at school.
These are three quick and easy ways you can start using visual schedules in your classroom. Do you already use checklists to support students? Drop me a comment and tell me about your favorite activities to provide checklists for! I’m always looking for ways to incorporate more checklists to build independence!
