3 Steps to setting up a successful task box system

A well-organized and intentional task box system can help build independence and important life skills for your students.

1. Designate a space to store and for students to complete them

Using a bookshelf or cubby unit for organized task box storage can make the system easier for your students to navigate. It’s important that your students know where and how they will be stored in order to build their independence. Remember that your bins don’t all need to match. I’ve seen teachers used a mix of bin sizes, shoe boxes, and other creative ideas. As long as it’s organized and clearly labeled for your students, it’ll be effective.

Make sure your task boxes are stored close to the table or desk where they will be completed. The less students have to travel between retrieving the task box and completing them, the more successful and independent they’ll be!

2. all the visuals

Labels: Task box labels don’t have to be fancy. Simple shapes, colors, or even your students’ favorite character images work great, as long as they are easily recognized by your students.

Schedules: Use visuals to let your students know what task boxes need to be completed. In our classroom, we use a vertically sequenced schedule, similar to what they see in other schedule visuals within our classroom. Students have icons on their schedule, match the icon to the task box, and then move it to “finished” upon completion.

Task Box Activity: Possibilities for task box activities are endless. They don’t have to be fancy, just purposeful and intentional. If the goal of your task box system is to build your students’ independence, use visuals to help your students understand what to do. If you’re looking for new task box ideas, check out my #taskboxtuesday posts every week on my instagram.

3. teach, practice, and practice some more!

Just like any other routines or expectations, we need to teach our students (and staff) how to use a task box system. Practice and re-teach as often as your students need and then gradually step back to build their independence.

Make sure you teach your staff, too! They will be supporting your students, so it’s important they understand the system.

In addition to having visuals, I recommend directly teaching your students how to complete the task box activity. We keep our task boxes for 3-4 week rotations, with the first 3-5 days being dedicated to making sure our students understand what to do. Taking the time to teach and practice in the beginning helps your students build their independence and be more successful as time goes on.

Check out my Task Box Visuals in my TPT store!

Task box bins