Resources Guide:
Social Stories:
I love social stories because they give students a clear, consistent way to understand the world around them. They break down challenging situations into simple, predictable steps, helping students feel more confident, prepared, and successful. They are also easy to use and provide meaningful connection and bonding opportunities with students.
Labels:
Instead of carrying multiple copies of schedule boards and pieces for each area, I would often create one or two sets and place them in a designated location where they were needed. I frequently stored them in folders and used storage labels to keep everything organized and easy to find.
“Do Not Touch” visual cards:
The music teacher loved using the “Do Not Touch” visual cards to support clear expectations and help students keep their hands off materials until it was time to use them. They are extremely easy to use—just print and place where needed. Students from kindergarten through upper elementary quickly understood their meaning.
Notes and Tips:
I also recognize that some staff may be new to using these types of visuals, so I included notes and implementation tips to help guide use. My goal is for these supports to be as helpful as possible. You can always email me if you need additional ideas or support—I am happy to help!
Individual Visual Schedules:
Almost all of my students used an individual visual schedule. Visual schedules are wonderful for showing what is next, but they also support students in navigating the many parts of the school day. Even when students “know” their schedule, a visual provides an added layer of support. It helps reduce anxiety, removes unnecessary cognitive load, and boosts independence and confidence. I included three different options so you can choose the level of structure that best meets each student’s needs, whether they benefit from a full visual overview, a simplified sequence, or a first-then format.
One-Pagers:
One-page communication boards are included in many bundles because they are so helpful! These pages bring the most important information together in one place for quick access and easy use. Staff can use them to prompt students and ask questions, while students can use them to express needs and wants more independently.
Calm-down area visual and teacher tips:
I included a calm-down area visual and teacher tips to support self-regulation skills. Using consistent visuals across settings is especially helpful, so I included this in most bundles. Consistency supports our Superbrains!
Comprehensive Schedule Pieces for Bundle Areas:
I included all the schedule pieces I used across 25 years of teaching, covering a wide range of materials and activities used in each setting. The pieces are approximately 1 inch in size, which is the standard I typically used, but they can easily be adjusted in size. I also knew how important it was to save time, so I intentionally designed them to be easy to cut and prepare.
Daily Schedule/ Door Visuals:
Some students benefit from matching their daily schedule pieces to specific locations within the classroom or school. Several bundles include matching door visuals to help students connect routines to real-world spaces.
Visual lunch pieces:
Visual lunch pieces are included in the lunch bundle. Lunch is an anticipated part of the day for many students, but it can also increase anxiety. These supports help students understand what is for lunch so they can prepare for their choices. They also support communication, independence, and decision-making during lunchtime.
Other Supports:
Some bundles also include interactive activities, additional visuals specific to the setting, and lanyard-ready visuals to support easy access throughout the day.