How to Use This Template

1. Print on heavy cardstock and laminate if you plan to reuse with velcro picture cards.
2. For the full-day strip, fill each numbered box with a picture, symbol, or written word for each activity in sequence.
3. Teach the schedule explicitly: walk the student through it at the start of the day, pointing to each item.
4. Have the student interact with the schedule at every transition — tick off, remove, or turn over the completed item before looking at what comes next.
5. Show changes on the schedule rather than only announcing them: physically swap the card or cross out and replace the written item.
6. For students who become anxious seeing the whole day, use the First / Then / Next board instead and rebuild toward the full strip gradually.

Clinical Best Practices & Tips

• Interaction beats decoration: The schedule works when the student manipulates it, not when it hangs on the wall. Build the check-off step into every transition.
• Match the format to the learner: Photos for some students, line drawings or written words for others. Use the most abstract format the student reliably understands.
• Keep it boring to remove: Fade adult prompting of the schedule before fading the schedule itself. Many students benefit from keeping it indefinitely — adults use calendars for life.