Time-Saving Independent Work Boxes for Special Education

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Work Task Series Part 2

I’m so excited to share another round of work boxes that I’m currently using in my classroom. If you’ve been following along, you know how much I love creating and discovering new work boxes to keep my students engaged and learning. This post is part 2 of my 5-part series on work tasks, so stay tuned for even more ideas!

This image says, "Time-Saving Independent Work Boxes for Special Education" and shows examples of various work boxes.

As I mentioned in the last workbox post, these tasks are a mix of my own creations and fantastic ideas I’ve picked up from other amazing teachers. Let’s dive in and explore these fun and effective activities for work boxes!

Benefits of Works Boxes for Autism Students

Work boxes have been a game-changer in my classroom, especially for my students with autism. They offer so many incredible benefits that make learning more accessible and enjoyable. One of the biggest advantages I’ve noticed is the structured learning environment they create.

This image shows a middle schools student celebrating doing a task correctly

Work boxes provide a clear, predictable structure that helps my students understand what’s expected of them. It reduces their anxiety and creates a safe space where they can thrive.

Another rewarding aspect of using work boxes is seeing my students develop their independence. They learn to follow instructions, complete tasks on their own, and feel a sense of accomplishment when they finish. The focus and attention my students show during these tasks is remarkable. The hands-on nature of the activities keeps them engaged and reduces distractions.

Each work task targets specific skills, whether it’s fine motor skills, cognitive skills, or social skills. This targeted approach ensures that my students are continually building and reinforcing important abilities. Seeing my students excited to work on their tasks is incredibly motivating for both them and me. The variety and creativity of the tasks keep things fresh and interesting, so they’re always eager to participate.

One of the most important benefits is the ability to personalize learning. I can tailor work boxes to meet the individual needs and strengths of each student. This means that every student is working at their own pace and level, leading to more effective learning.

Examples of Work Boxes for Autism Students

Now that we’ve explored the benefits of work boxes, let’s dive into some specific examples. I’m sharing a few of the work boxes that have been effective in my classroom. These tasks are fun, engaging, and tailored to meet the unique needs of my special education students. Let’s take a closer look at these practical work boxes that can make a real difference in your teaching toolkit!

Pattern Block Puzzles

I’m always on the lookout for simple yet effective work boxes, and Pattern Block Puzzles fit the bill perfectly. Setting this up was a breeze! I had a stash of pattern blocks already on hand. I found some fantastic pattern block templates online for free. These templates are a hit with my students. They love the hands-on activity and the challenge of matching the blocks to form the picture or complete the pattern.

This image showcases how pattern blocks can be used in work boxes to practice skills like patterning.

To make things easier for you, here’s a link to a Pinterest board loaded with similar pattern block images and ideas: Pattern Blocks. This board is full of ideas that will inspire you. You’ll find plenty of patterns to keep your students engaged and learning.

Print off the pattern block pictures or activities you want to use. I recommend the pictures where students can match the shape and color for those just starting. You can also find some that are black and white where students must match the shape. Those are a little more challenging. Whatever you choose, don’t forget to laminate the pages so you can use them for years to come.

Paper Clip Sorting by Color

Paper Clip Sorting by Color is one of my favorite, more advanced sorting tasks. It’s perfect for helping students fine-tune their color recognition and sorting skills. To set this one up, I grab a few small snack containers. I then place a small square of a paint chip in the bottom of each container. The paint chip colors match the colors of the paper clips I am using. This clever little addition ensures that my students have a clear visual guide for sorting.

Next, I add a variety of paper clips in different colors to really target their sorting skills and make sure they’re not just making lucky guesses. To further challenge my students and help them generalize the skill, I include variations of some colors, like both light and dark blue. This way, they learn to distinguish between similar shades and become more proficient in their sorting.

This task has been a huge hit in my classroom. I love seeing my students’ sorting abilities improve with each attempt. It’s such a simple yet effective way to enhance their learning experience!

Fine Motor Clothespins to Rulers Color Matching

This photo demonstrates how simple tools like clothespins and rulers can be used within work boxes to practice color matching.

This Fine Motor Clothespins to Rulers Color Matching task has been a fantastic addition to my work boxes. I stumbled upon these rulers at Walmart and couldn’t resist picking them up, even though I wasn’t sure what I’d use them for at the time. It turns out they were a perfect fit for this task! I also grabbed some colorful clothespins from the dollar store. You can easily use wooden clothespins in a pinch and just add a color dot to the clip. I’ve done that whenever one goes missing.

The task is simple yet highly effective. Students use their fine motor skills to clip the clothespins onto the matching colors on the rulers. This not only helps them practice color matching but also strengthens their fine motor abilities. I love work boxes that tackle two skills at once, and this one does just that. It’s been a hit with my students! It’s so rewarding to see their progress as they master both color recognition and fine motor control.

If you don’t have colorful rulers like these, you could easily create a variation of this work box. All you need is something that has or comes in multiple colors and some clothespins. You might have students clip the clothespins around the edge of a colored plate or plastic cup. You could also use pipe cleaners twisted into a ring and students could match the color and then clip around the ring. Same skills just different materials.

Letter Sorting

Students can practice skills like letter recognition using simple supplies like letter tiles and an ice cube tray, as shown in this photo.

Letter Sorting is a task I whipped up in a pinch and it turned out to be a fantastic addition to our work task rotation. One day, I realized I had forgotten to put something in a work task box for a student. So, I got creative! I grabbed an ice cube tray from the Dollar Store and some leftover letter tiles I had on hand. I love when those quick thinking on-the-spot ideas work so well!

During this work task, students sort the letter tiles into the compartments of the ice cube tray. It’s a straightforward activity, but it’s incredibly effective for practicing letter recognition and sorting. I also love the flexibility behind this activity. For a student working on letter order, you can put the letters in order inside the tract. But for more of a challenge, you can randomly put the letters in like I did for this student. You could also extend the activity by having students first sort all the letters and then once done build a train of the letters in order. So many options – and that’s exactly what makes it a great work task for a special education classroom.

In addition, the small compartments of the ice cube tray are perfect for helping students with their fine motor skills as they pick up and place each tile. This quick and easy solution has become a staple in my classroom, and my students love it!

Number Matching Tasks

This image shows number cards and a number line that can be used in work boxes to practice skills like number order, number matching and number recognition.

Don’t you love it when you can find a new use for an old supply? That’s exactly what happened here! The Number Matching Task was a great way to repurpose some bulletin board borders I got from the Dollar Store and never found a use for. I decided to laminate the borders, leaving one part whole and adding hard Velcro strips. Then, I cut the other part into pieces and added soft Velcro to each piece, creating a fun and interactive matching game.

Students match the numbered pieces to the corresponding spots on the whole border. This task helps them with number recognition and also reinforces number words. It also enhances their fine motor skills as they attach and detach the Velcro pieces. It’s been a hit among my students, and I love seeing how engaged they are with this simple activity!

If you like the idea of this number matching activity but don’t have old supplies like I did, this would be easy to recreate. Grab some number tiles, number cards or print out some numbers. Then choose the method you want to use for matching. You can use velcro like I did here, or move this activity to a pocket chart. Have any of those library card pockets lying around? They would make a great sorting base too! Glue or write the numbers on a popsicle stick and have students sort the sticks into the pockets. The moral of the story here is to look for supplies you have on hand to create interactive work tasks for your students.

Independent Work Boxes Starter Kit

This image shows an example of how work boxes and independent tasks can be stored within a special education classroom.

I’m excited to share a resource that will make setting up independent work boxes in your classroom a breeze! Check out my Independent Work Task Starter Kit for Special Education. This starter kit is a game-changer for anyone looking to create an effective and engaging independent work system.

This kit includes everything you need to start, from detailed instructions to ready-to-use materials. There are labels for work boxes, schedules for students and staff, and descriptions for different work boxes. What I love most about this resource is its versatility. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just beginning to explore work tasks, this kit provides a solid foundation that you can easily adapt to fit the unique needs of your students.

With this starter kit, you’ll save time and energy that you can invest directly into your students. It’s a solution that will help you create a structured, predictable learning environment where your students can thrive.

Additional Resources for Work Boxes for Autism Students

I hope you found these work boxes for autism students helpful! There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing our students thrive with these engaging activities. But this is just the beginning! Make sure to check out the other posts in this series for even more creative and effective work box ideas that you can use in your classroom. Each post is packed with ideas that will keep your students excited and motivated to learn. Make sure to explore them below!

Increase Independence with Work Boxes for Autism Students

I hope you have enjoyed discovering how work boxes for autism students can increase their independence. I also hope you found these ideas as useful as I have in my own classroom. Incorporating these tasks has truly transformed the way my students engage with their learning. They truly do help them build essential skills and confidence. Remember, the key is to keep things fun, flexible, and tailored to the unique needs of each student. Stay tuned for more posts in this series where we’ll continue to explore innovative and effective ways to support our incredible students. Let’s keep empowering them, one task at a time!

Save for Later

Remember to save this post to your favorite special education Pinterest board to return to for new ideas for work boxes for autism students.

Looking for some time-saving independent work box ideas that you can use in your special education classroom? This post is full of engaging ideas that use simple and inexpensive supplies to create work boxes that are perfect for students with autism!

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