Reduce student anxiety with routines and visual schedules

Predictable classroom routines can help to alleviate anxiety in students who become stressed or anxious about classroom expectations and the sequence of upcoming events. You can structure your lessons by repeating the sequence of activities in the lesson even when the content of the lesson or the instructional format alters. Consistent routines also reduce the need for frequent prompting. When combined with embedded visual schedules, these become a powerful means to facilitate student independence. Visual schedules communicate the sequence of upcoming activities or events – keeping you on track as well as them.