The ability to work independently is a skill that we want all of our students to learn. Although it doesn’t always come easy for our self-contained students, we can incorporate independent work into the self-contained classroom. It is a benefit to both the teacher AND the students! Read on to see how I make independent work happen in my classroom!
Building Independence
There are many reasons why building your students’ independence through independent work is important. One reason is that independence helps children become more self-sufficient, which means they will be less reliant on prompting. For another thing, helping students build self-sufficiency can prepare students for keeping pace with their peers in inclusion settings. And, building independence helps to grow student confidence!
Types of Independent Work
There are many types of work that can be utilized in the classroom. Here are some examples:
Worksheets: Once students have mastered a skill (such as addition facts or sorting), students can transfer their learning to completing worksheets. These No Prep Worksheets have a variety of skills that are perfect for differentiating independent work for your students!
Task boxes and file folders: These activities are great for reinforcing learned skills, fine motor development, and introducing real-life work tasks.
Games and activities: Simple games and activities like puzzles, lacing cards, and sorting tasks are great choices for assignments! An important thing to consider is making sure that these activities have an “ending.” For example, if you give students blocks, they may build and create things indefinitely. But, kids know that a puzzle is done once it has been put together.
Computer-based work: If you use an online learning program such as iReady or ST Math, students can work on their lessons as a work task.
Independent reading: For students who are resistant to reading books on their own, free online sites that offer narrated books (such as Epic or Storyline Online) are a great option!
Independent Work Centers
One of the best ways to add independent work to your classroom is through a work center. A work center is a designated area where students can find and complete their tasks with no (or minimal) assistance. A great advantage of setting up a work center system is that it allows for easy differentiation! All of your students are different, so they will all be doing different kinds of activities depending on what is appropriate for them.
Teaching Students to Work Independently
Student independence is not innate for our self-contained students; it must be strategically taught. When introducing independent work, take the time to model the expectations for your students. Make sure your students know the routines for how to access their work; what to d if they have a question; and what to do when they are done.
Taking data or using a task analysis can help you figure out exactly any areas where students need support with the routine. You will see that this effort is worth it when you watch your students navigate independent work on their own!
What types of independent work do you use in your classroom? Share your ideas in a comment!
And, looking to learn more about setting up independent work centers? Check out the Simple Centers System course!
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