My independent work system is one of the pride and joys of my classroom. And quiet honestly it saved my butt this year being crazy understaffed and prepping for maternity leave. My kids can work independently on a wide range of tasks and it takes up minimal space. It’s amazeballs and I have been on a constant mission to continue to make it better and better.
We had some great updates to the system this year that make it even better!
Before we roll into the updates, get yourself familiar with the basics. Check out the video tutorial of this system here. And snag some more info here and here. Want this system for yourself – get it from TpT in this download so lovingly named The Most Space Efficient and Organized Work Task System.
The most major change was with my higher functioning guys – we switched to a dry erase marker list of the tasks they will be doing instead of the velcro letters/numbers. Some of my guys still have the velcro letters/numbers to match to the task bin.
When students complete the task – they cross it off with a dry erase marker. See the velcro-ed dry erase marker in the pic above 🙂
My biggest advice with this system is to make a schedule for yourself! This can ensure that students aren’t doing the same tasks every day (or way too often). This year before making a schedule I wrote out a list of all of the tasks and then color coded them according to level.
Not only did this help make the task schedule but it helps me keep track of which tasks I want to teach to my students next!
The task schedule is KEY to this system. I have a different schedule for each day of the week to ensure that students only do each task once a week. I plan it out so they are doing each task once a week and only doing tasks that are at their level (not too easy, not too hard… just right!).
If you have students who are high functioning enough – make this a student job! I have two students who work together each morning to set this up. It’s adorable to see how well they work together, saves my understaffed classroom a little headache, and teaches independence!
Since all of my students don’t match the velcro letter/number to the tasks – it does make it harder to know which tasks to undo. To make it simpler on my paraprofessional, I made a list for her to see which needs to be undone each day. Makes the end of the day much simpler – where every minute counts!
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I love this system. Are the updates available for purchase? I would love to have the leveled list of tasks.
Yep! Here is the work system: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-MOST-Space-Efficient-Organized-Work-Task-System-for-a-Special-Ed-Classroom-280269 and the work tasks: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Work-Task-Mega-Pack-1267526.
Enjoy! 🙂
Hi! I started using this system this year. I am currently up to 120 tasks, about 30 hands on, the rest file folder tasks. We have laminated all our file folder tasks and the kids do them with the wipe off markers. They love the ones where there is a blank comic and they have to fill in the dialog. Anyway, I have designed a chart that has every numbered and/or lettered task on it and I am able to check off and place the date of when I had the student do it. I haven’t however, thought about color coding the difficulty–going to have to try that! The only thing we will probably keep is the velcro numbers/letters for the name tags. We have numbers 1-28 Blue, 1-28 purple and 1-28 green. Then letters blue, purple and green. It’s easier to do the velcro deal than write in different colored markers. Also, some of my younger/lower kids need to hold the number/letter to compare and make sure they are selecting the right task. Anyway, thanks for the great idea, it has been working wonders this year, and I started with your 40 mega pack! Keep up the good work!
I love this system too.
I already have it, can I just purchas updates?
What do you mean by “tasks to be undone?”
Also, for those who have finished, and are using Velcro cards, do you get them to leave the Cards on the boxes, or move them to blank schedule?
I have been getting my students to do the latter. Then the box is available for another student. I have several boxes with the same letter/number. Not exactly the same task, but same activity (e.g. Sequencing) but different pictures.
Tasks to be undone are the ones that need to be taken apart by a teacher or paraprofessional so another student can do the task the next day. For students using velcro cards – I have them leave it on the box so we know to check the work and their schedule is empty once they are finished. I have a prewritten schedule of tasks for each day so overlap doesn’t happen. Hope this helps!
Very organized. Well done!
Sounds amazing!!
Hi Sasha,
I was wondering if you can provide your colored schedule of tasks color coded by levels? Please? I have bought both mega packs of work tasks and the system set=up. Thank you for all your amazing work!
Hi Sasha,
I love your work task system! Are you able to provide a PDF of your color coded ‘levels; of your tasks and the schedule template that we can fill in for the week for the students’ tasks?
Thank you.
Just emailed it to you! 🙂
HI Sasha,
I was wondering how you made your “Table Time Setup Schedule”? I have 10 kiddos this year and I think my survival and their progress is centered around me being as organized as possible
Hi Sasha,
I just love these work tasks. I purchased the mega pack and was wondering if the weekly student task schedule and editable color coded task document I s available? I am working on setting up my system for the start of the year and think this will help my new parapros.
Just emailed you 🙂
Hi Sasha,
I was wondering if there is anywhere to purchase schedules for the task systems?
I think I just emailed you with it!
I just purchased the advanced work tasks. Do you have the weekly student task schedule and aditable color coded task document available? 🙂
Hi!!
I just purchased the advanced work tasks. I want to begin organizing them before I purchase the 40 work task bundle. Do you have the task schedule available?
Yep! Just emailed it to you!
Hi, I have prchased your advanced work task, do you have the weekly task schedule and the colour coded schedule? I am nearly finished with all the tasks and can’t wait to use this system in my class.
Hey Sasha
I am trying to organize my task boxes differently for next year…I have a lot of file folder’s we use as tasks. How do you organize those into your task boxes. Seems like a waste of space to put them in their own box (plus they don’t really fit!). Any suggestions to make it easy for my students and I? I want to organize my tasks by math, fine motor, literacy etc. Thanks!
Hi Corey, Great question! I tend to use file folders at different centers like direct instruction, fluency, morning meeting etc for extra work, guided practice, and independent work. I like to have a bin of file folders at almost every center so if one student is having a hard time, the other students in the group can do something independently. Also we use them a lot for teaching as well!
Hi Sasha,
Is the the Table Time Setup Schedule included in any of your products? I’ve looked through my purchases and didn’t find it.
Hi June! It’s called – The MOST Space Efficient & Organized Work Task System for a Special Ed Classroom. Let me know if you find it 🙂
Do you have the Table Time Set-Up Schedule and Table Time Tasks (the one colored by level) in your store? I could really use these! I’ve bought so many of your awesome products, thank you!
Yes! It’s part of this resource (recently updated to add those two components and the list is editable!) https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-MOST-Space-Efficient-Organized-Work-Task-System-for-a-Special-Ed-Classroom-280269
Hi Sasha,
Do you have the Table Time Set-Up Schedule and Table Time Tasks already filled out available for purchase? I thought it would be included in the purchase of “The most efficient organized work task system” but, I don’t see it.
Janeya, the editable versions are included in the zip file. There are no completed versions because you will need to add your students’ names and alternate the task numbers/letters (however you have it set up). The Table Time Tasks will also depend on what tasks you have and how you level them.