Visual schedule cards: today, in pictures

Set it up before they arriveStick today's cards in a row, in order, before the children come in. Read the row together after hello: first a song, then new words, then a game.

Take down what's finishedWhen an activity ends, a child moves its card to the Finished box. Everyone can see what is left, and “Is it snack time?” becomes a look at the board.

Now and Next for the hard momentsSome children only need two cards at a time: what we do now and what comes next. Put them on the Now / Next board and say it together: “Now story, next game.”

Warn them about changesA visitor, a fire drill, no snack today? Put the Something new card in its place before it happens. Laminate the set once and it lasts the whole year.