A
classroom schedule that includes photographs or pictures to represent
different activities is an example of good classroom organization that
benefits all children, but it is especially helpful to children with
limited language skills. For young children who are English language
learners, the schedule provides a pictorial view of how the day is organized.
It decreases the children’s reliance on verbal directions, which they
may not yet understand. It also benefits the child both socially and
emotionally. Socially, the illustrated schedule allows children to be
ready to participate along with their peers, while emotionally they get
the feeling of “I belong! I can do this!”
Be sure to include small group instruction as part of your daily schedule. Children with special needs or English language learners may need additional time and support in catching on to a certain concept or skill. And the English language learner may need even more one-on-one support to process information. Scheduling small group instruction ensures that all children have opportunities to respond to and interact with the teacher.
Adding pictures or illustrations to visually represent each activity block further supports English language learners. The visuals help connect the activity with the name used to describe that portion of the day. It may be helpful to use a “marker,” like a clothespin, to indicate which activity comes next in the day. This will further help children who are English language learners to visually learn the routine. Throughout the day, it is common to see children using the schedule to check on what comes next.
The next printable document provides you with graphics that could be used to depict your daily schedule.
Daily Schedule Labels
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