As a scaffolding strategy for moving students into work with contracts, Make-Your-Own-Schedule Days

can help students with time management, short-term goal setting, self-directed learning, and the pursuit of
areas of interest. This strategy is also an effective means of working individual and group conferences into
the school day without assigning busy work. This strategy does require providing a clear direction for students, modeling the tool, and reinforcing effect scheduling.
Steps in the Process:
1. Establish the non-negotiable elements that must be incorporated into the day. For example, a 10:00
AM-11:40 AM mathematics lesson, lunch, PE, peer conferencing on a draft, and completion of a science experiment and so on. Post these elements on the board.
2. The elements of the day may be differentiated for individuals or groups of students. For example, several students may need to work in a math flex group while others may need to complete learning station
tasks. Specify these elements for students.
3. Give students several options to consider in their day. For example, snack, a sign-up on the chalkboard
for a 15 minute visit to the library for book check-out, a sign-up to conference with the teacher, math
games time, reading for pleasure, independent study, interest centers, and so on.
4. Establish the goals for creating the schedule, time lines, and ways to assess the effectiveness of their
schedule.
5. Have the students record their schedules and post them on their desks. As activities are completed, students may check them off and move on.
6. At the end of the day, have students complete a Ticket-Out-of-the-Room reflecting on the effectiveness
of their schedule and their overall productivity.