Visual supports can help reduce frustration by giving non verbal students a way to Communicate. Having a variety of activities that are available in class and being able to ask for what is wanted can help reduce behavior throughout the day.
This is why I always keep a selection of visual choices handy in my calm down area, ready for when problems arise! Struggling students are able to find the visual displayed on a board that will help them reduce these emotions to carry on learning.
I display only the visuals that are available to the students on given days and a wider choice throughout the week.
Keeping an organised class has been much easier since I created My daily planner for my young learners.
On Page 1,2 – About me
Pages 3-4 include days of the week and seasons
pg. 5-6 schedules
pg. 7-8 working for
pg. 9 -10 When I’m feeling angry
Once laminated I gave out dry wipe markers for my students to jot down their name, grade and class, followed by teachers name, their friends name, things they like and things they don’t.
There are pages with the days of the week for my student to practice and tick off what day it is and same for seasons.
I’ve added pages for them to write out their daily schedule and tick off as they go though it.
Working for cards and reward choice were a exciting addition!
What to remember when you feel angry, “first and then” when frustrations grow and what I need visuals has made “My Daily Planner” a valuable resource for any pre school, Autism or Special Ed Classroom.
My Centres are the tables that my students rotate around to learn, practice and master skills. I’ve colour coordinated each table and in this post I’ve listed some resources I use for these Independent work areas.
Binder Games
Binder Games have become popular in my Math Center stations, they provided the extra support to students with the practice they need with new skills and working independently . I use 2 types of Binders, both are valuable resources.
Binders with detachable visuals were quick and easy to make up, I laminated, added Velcro to the visuals and placed them in a binder.
Printable Binders that I printed off and put in plastic sheets as a drywipe activity.
I listed what my students needed to practice in maths and came up with these skills to concentrate on and make the resources I needed. Matching numbers to 10, Count and Match numbers to10 , Ordering numbers to 10, Order numbers to 10, Find the missing number to 10, Find the missing number to 10, Counting to 10, Sequencing summer items.
At the moment we’re Practicing counting forward beginning from a given number within a sequence and adding more to find the amount. My students use a dry wipe marker at their station to access this activity and like that they can wipe off any mistakes and start again.
Matching File Folders
These games are quick and easy to make up, Print out, laminate and Velcro and pop in a file folder and you will have great number games to use over and over again.
Task Boxes
I’ve broken these type of activities down with one question to answer on each card as not to overload the learner. They enable the child to focus not only on the basic academic skills in front of them but strengthen fine motor skills, help the student develop self esteem and promote the independence of the task.
These type of activities can be easily made up from classroom resources and stored in individual boxes ready to use as a Task Box activity on any centre.
I started jotting down what visuals my students needed to help with frustration and classwork until I realised what a big task! So I decided to cut down my list to a manageable workload and think about what things they wanted and needed the most. Here are the categories I thought would be good to start off with –
Things in the class, 2.Tasks in class, 3. I’m feeling, 4. fidget toys, what I need
1. Classroom Things
I wanted some visuals to include basic everyday class things so they could point out what they needed or having trouble finding.
2. Tasks
I wanted visuals of the tasks available so my students could indicate a choice and find things they liked doing.
3. Feelings
These are important visuals to understand, practice and use to communicate how they are feeling.
4. Fidgets
A selection of fidget toys could also be used as motivators to regulate themselves, calm down emotions, which I’ve found very handy.
5. Me
Things for themselves, such as their bag, the toilet, a tissue, time to relax and reduce some of their frustration using these visuals to support stress and anxiety.
