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Simply Special Ed

Resource Downloads & Teaching Advice

Academics Back to School Blog Organization Simple Classroom Task Boxes

How to Start a Task Box System

how to start a workbox system

Starting a Task box System is my number one suggestion to new teachers, or teachers who do not have enough staff (okay, so everyone…).

task box systems for independence in the autism classroom

Here is my QUICK guide to setting up the system and making the most out of everything you already have!

STEP ONE:

workboxes for special education

Gather materials. There are a few things you may need to buy (but not many!) to start up an effective system.

Here’s the list:

  1. Plastic bins in bulk (affiliate link)
  2. Labels for the bins
  3. Packing Tape (affiliate link)
  4. Velcro

That’s it, and some you may be able to find around your classroom to reuse! I Suggest starting with 12 bins and building from there. (link above is a 12 pack!)

STEP TWO:

task box storage

Make a designated space. It can be a shelf, a cart, a corner, or even a desk. BUT you NEED a designated space. That way, when your students are there… they know the expectations of that center. I honestly find this area of my classroom to be one of the absolute most important spaces. It helps my classroom run smoothly, effectively, and helps my students practice skills and generalize.

task box storage

STEP THREE:

Find activities. Do not go crazy over this… ANYTHING CAN BE A TASK BOX.

Sure there are some cool ideas out there, but you can make some really cool stuff with things you already have, or activities you have already bought on TPT.

Here are some links to some FREE Task box downloads:

Community Helper Matching

Back to School

Math Sorting

STEP FOUR:

Matching task box system

Setup your schedule system. My students match a picture on their schedule to the picture on their box. It’s easy to teach that way!

Real Picture labels are great for older kids!

Find Task Box Labels here!

work bin system schedule

You also want to figure out how to organize them. I like my labels to be functional and appropriate for all ages, so the system can continue with them as they get older. So I use things like numbers, shapes and letters, not pictures!

independent work schedules

This is another great place to utilize color coding. Students can easily identify their schedule!

task box schedule

The ways you setup your schedule can be different too. I like to have a schedule separate for each student in the independent work center right next to the boxes. Some teachers put it right on their main schedule, or have it in a student binder. Find what works best for you!

Example of how they match from their schedule to the bin.
Here is where they put the box when it’s complete, then staff can check it and take data.

When students are done with the bin, what do you want them to do? Some students may like to take apart the task and put them back, while I like to have students place the bin in an “all done bin” to mark completion and move to the next on their schedule. This way, as I put them away I can check their work.

STEP FIVE:

task box system

Prep your students. Once the space and materials are ready to go… you need to prep your students. I’m going to be honest here. This area is absolutely vital for my classroom survival. It frees up staff members and is an independently run center. Do you know how amazing that is in self contained? YUP. So I spend about 2 weeks straight teaching the skill. How to complete a schedule, put away, clean up, get access to reward. It is like a magical science that makes your life a million times easier.

Here’s some examples of classrooms that have used these labels:

This is a photo of labeled task boxes on two shelves.
This photo shows a center in my classroom. The center is clearly labeled as well as a clearly defined space.
task box library
This is where I implement the Fine Motor Centers- in my task box library!

You can grab the labels in my TPT store here! or in the shop here!

Get started with your workbox planning for next year NOW! Then you can add more and more as you got, watch how much easier your life gets!

Need help setting up your classroom this year?

Learn more about Simple Self-Contained Setup 101®: the bingeable online course made specifically for self-contained special educators! Reduce overwhelm and anxiety during back-to-school season with the proven methods I teach you in this course! Click here to learn more and join the waitlist now!

FREE DOWNLOAD

Don’t have room for a big task box shelf? You can use the 3 drawer system. Here are the FREE labels!

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Hi amazing teachers!
I'm Alyssa Shanahan -- a former Elementary Special Ed & Life Skills teacher. My classroom focus was always to keep things simple, increase communication, and build independence. Simply Special Ed's goal is to help teachers and students reach their full potential in and out of the classroom!

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