Creating a master schedule can seem like a daunting task, especially in self-contained special education classrooms. Many teachers are responsible for multiple subjects across the day. The big question is: how do you do it all? I’m going to give you some quick tips when it comes to creating a master schedule!
A teacher first needs to know what content areas they will be teaching. When you start a new school year, ask your administration if you are responsible for all academic content or just a few subjects. Your school may have multiple teachers that rotate through content areas.
If you’re like me, you teach it all! From life skills and academics to grooming and self care. Not to mention we also work on vocational skills, independence and communication skills! Just thinking about creating your master schedule for all those areas makes a teacher tired!
Answer the following question and write it down:
Next, a teacher needs to look at the student’s required classes and activities when they create their master schedule in special education. Consider when the students have lunch, specials, related services, etc. Many of those times are not flexible and need to be consistent every day or throughout the weeks. Once you have an idea of what the schedule has, you can plug in content areas throughout the day.
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In my district, we have a requirement for the amount of time a student needs Reading and Math instruction in their day. You may also find this information on each student’s Additional Services and Placement pages in their Individual Learning Plan (IEP). Make sure to include all required content in your master schedule.
For example, my students are required to receive 90 minutes of reading instruction daily and 45 minutes of math instruction daily. Legally, I need to make sure that throughout the day, those minutes are met.
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Master Schedule consideration: Take some time to consider a reasonable lunch break for your assistant(s), I typically start the lunch time around 10:45 and end lunch by 1:00. In my district, paraprofessionals get 30 minute lunch breaks and two 15 minute breaks. I try to space out the paraprofessional breaks as well. Aides get one 15 minute break before 10:30 and one 15 minute break after their lunch but at least an hour before the end of the school day.
Work with your aides when setting up their lunch and breaks. This will help them feel included in the process. Previously, I had an assistant that liked to call her family on the other side of the world, so she needed time to do that with the time difference. I respected that and let her choose an appropriate break to accommodate that. This needs to be in the master schedule.
Answer the following questions and write it down:
Teachers need to create a master schedule in special education, but you need to look for pockets of time! Once you have all of that information, you should be able to start plugging in academic and functional content into your schedule. This can also be flexible! I know that by 2:00, my students have a difficult time focusing, so I try to frontload my day with as much academic content as possible.
Also, you need to consider the time increments that you want your classes to be. I typically do 15 minute increments so that bathroom breaks and hygiene times can easily be embedded.
Here is an example of what my master schedule has looked like in past years:
In a couple weeks, I’ll have another post about how to decide the type of delivery of instruction when lesson planning! Hope you have learned how to create your master schedule for special education!
If you’re looking for how to create a scope and sequence, read this post!
Want to include stations and centers in your classroom? I got the post for you right here!
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