Free Daily Routine Chart Templates - Online Schedule Maker

Daily routine charts, or schedule boards, are great for students who need a visual summary of their day, especially if they need to anticipate what's coming next. Routine charts can also be used in the classroom to show the schedule for the day. Creating your own daily routine chart template is a good way to add some creativity and engagement for students in the classroom setting.

How To Make A Daily Routine Chart Template Stand Out

Decide which activities you want to include on the daily routine chart template and then create a printable with activity-referencing, pre-made images that can be used as stickers or in another way that makes them reusable.
Layout the chart with the routine and relevant activities in the order in which they need to be done.
Double-check the layout of your graphics. Make sure that your design takes into account the child’s ability to interact. One way to do this is to create the routine chart on one page, making space for the activity stickers, if that is the design you choose, then organize the activity stickers on another sheet for printing.
Allow for checkboxes for each activity or, if you want to be creative, a pouch that holds the stickers for completed tasks once they are complete.

Tips For Making A Daily Routine Chart for the Classroom

There are several factors to consider when creating a visual schedule for young students. These considerations can greatly improve the functionality and effectiveness of the chart. They can also enhance the overall experience of using the chart based on the level of interactivity, and ease-of-use.

Use pictures representing the activity to be completed- The pictures should be clear, without distracting props.
When creating visual aids for children, keep in mind that children normally view pictures from top to bottom rather than from left to right.
It is advisable to make sure that the activity progression has a clear beginning, middle, and end. When children don’t have to guess, they are able to complete their tasks faster with less need for clarification and instruction.
When designing daily routine/DIY routine charts, their function as a visual aid should be a priority. For instance, consider using activity stickers or materials like velcro so that students can add and remove, reorganize and gain some autonomy over their own schedule and activities.
Routine charts should also include some type of confirmation mechanism to indicate that a task has indeed been completed. If stickers or materials like velcro are used, then a ‘done’ pocket can be included for completed tasks.
Color coding different activities can also help to make the chart more visually appealing and easier to follow.
Be prepared to make changes to the routine chart as needed. As children grow and their activities change, the routine chart should be adjusted accordingly.
Keep the chart simple. A routine chart should be easy to understand and follow so use clear headings and minimal text.

Classroom Routine Examples

Teacher greeting or arrival routine
Putting away personal items like coats and backpacks
Putting away school items in lockers, folders, or desks
Sharing news and announcements and reviewing the day’s activities
Taking assigned seating and other transitionary activities
Using classroom resources like pencil sharpeners, glue sticks, and pencil boxes
Submitting completed assignments
Cleaning up work areas
Reviewing homework

Other Printable Routine Chart Ideas

Printable morning routine chart
Daily routine checklists
After-school daily routine template chart
Nightly and evening routine checklist for kids
To do checklist for kids

Even More Storyboard That Resources and Free Printables

Happy Creating!

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Frequently Asked Questions About Routine Posters

Why create a routine poster for kids?

Routines are important in keeping life organized, from working, to carrying out household chores and meeting appointments. It is no different for children. They can feel safer, happier, and have better behaviors when they know what to expect, when to expect it, and what is expected of them. A daily routine chart for kids’ activities will help them to be more hands-on with their routine experience. The actions of checking what they need to do, when they need to do it and then noting that they have completed the task is a hands-on experience that will ingrain a routine building behavior into their psyche.

Is a behavior chart different from a routine poster?

Behavior charts are different from daily routine/DIY routine charts in that behavior charts are designed to help track, manage and reward encouraged behavior in children. The behaviors tracked range from general taught behaviors like handwashing, to more specific behaviors to be tracked like the completion of specific tasks, following particular rules and procedures, attitudes and avoiding particular challenging and poor behaviors. In contrast, routine posters are a good tool for teachers because they help to save time and make the teacher’s job easier. Both teachers and students get to have the stability of what the routine provides.

Why are routine posters better than digital tools and calendars?

The benefits of having a set routine for your child are clear. Children benefit from the sense of security, independence and confidence made available to them when they have a routine they can periodically and consistently reference. When it comes to tracking that routine, digital planners are not necessarily the best option for your child although they can function well as daily schedule makers. If you create a visually appealing routine poster, for example for your child’s morning routine, then they actually get to interact with their schedule more than in just a typically visual way. They also get to do so physically and the visual representations are also usually more clear. Depending on the design, routine posters can even be kept as keepsakes. In a classroom setting, routine posters are clear, shared physical experience between classmates.

How do routine posters help children with special needs?

Routine posters can help children with special needs because they lessen the overwhelming feeling that children typically get from even familiar daily activities. Another way routine posters are beneficial specifically to special needs children is because they offer consistent cues to alert that there will soon be a transition in the activity. If the designed routine poster also includes stickers and removable visual cues, this makes the design for the activity even better.

What features make for an effective routine poster for kids?

Making a poster can be fun and they can be quite engaging and useful in the classroom. There are some tips you can follow on how to make a routine chart that is even more fun, engaging, and informative.

Use bright colors for the materials
Use clear pictures with nothing interfering in the background
Display the poster in an easily accessible area for all students
Make sure it's visible and readable from a distance

Routine Chart Poster Templates

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