Around Town Round Up-- Structured Work Systems

We love Structured Work Systems! They are a great way to make work expectations more predictable so students know what they will be doing in a given location or in a given time frame. This is a strategy we suggest regularly to our teams to build student independence or to increase classroom structure. Often, teachers spend a great deal of time planning wonderful activities for instruction but are frustrated when students engage in escape behaviors during work times. Structured Work Systems can be an effective way to reduce escape behaviors because students get a better understanding of how much work needs to be done, what work they will complete, when the work will be finished, and what comes next. The Structured Work System needs to be directly taught and once students have mastered the format, teachers have the flexibility to assign a variety of tasks. Students succeed because they know what to expect and teachers succeed because students are more compliant!

There are many different ways you can set up a Structured Work System in the classroom. Today's Around Town Round Up has gathered Structured Work Systems from throughout the Miami Valley to provide ideas for teachers as they implement this strategy.

Matching Structured Work Systems

Matching Structured Work Systems are a good starting point when implementing this strategy. Here is a great video illustrating this system:

Here are two examples of a Structured Work System for a student. The system on the left is in the general education classroom contained within a study carrel. The system on the right is in a resource room.

Traci Parker
Forest Elementary, Troy

Another example of a Structured Work System contained within a study carrel:

Jennifer McGowan
Smith Middle School, Vandalia

 This Structured Work System incorporates a student's special interest in football for their matching icons.

Carrie Prickett
 Jane Chance Elementary, Miamisburg

This structured work system makes great use of affordable plastic crates to create a shelf for the work and a finished basket. 

Christine Scarborough
Tecumseh Elementary, Xenia

Laurie Maravetz
Schaefer Middle School, Springfield

 We love how this classroom has multiple structured work systems and how they have used file cabinets to hold work and as a physical barrier between stations.

Incorporating reinforcement into a structured work system is a great way to keep students engaged and motivated. These teachers provide edible reinforcement after each work task is completed:

reinforcers in magnetic spice tins
Beth Young
Snyder Park Elementary, Springfield

reinforcers in pill box
Brittany Bush
Spinning Hills Middle School, Mad River Local Schools

This student uses a visual contract to choose reinforcement before starting his work. The colored tokens on the contract correspond with his work folders. For more information on visual contracts check out our post on Reinforcement Systems!

Lisa Bauer
Northmont Middle School, Northmont

For this Structured Work System, students choose a reinforcing item and place it in the bottom bin.

Taylor Ruef
Stevenson Elementary, Mad River Local Schools

For some students, an icon is used at the bottom of the Structured Work System schedule.

Rick Wical
Ankeney Middle School, Beavercreek

Christine Scarborough
Tecumseh Elementary, Xenia

This is a great use of IKEA's Trofast shelving system. Students complete the work presented on the First-Then schedule and place it in the shelf on the right when finished.

Carrie Prickett
 Jane Chance Elementary, Miamisburg

Forced Choice Structured Work Systems

For some students, choosing their activities can also be a way to help them with compliance and increase motivation to complete work. Using the forced choice method, the teacher presents the student with several acceptable options and the student chooses what they want to do. A variation of this method could be presenting students with a set of tasks and allowing them to choose what order to place them in the Structured Work System before getting started.

Jared Taylor
Simon Kenton Elementary, Springfield

Traveling Structured Work Systems

In some classrooms, teachers have students gather their tasks using an icon schedule. This helps students work on transitions and can also be an effective way to incorporate a Structured Work System even when a designated location is not available. Here is a great video example of a Traveling Structured Work System:

Marisa Calhoun
Fairbrook Elementary, Beavercreek

Brittany Sword
Valley Elementary, Beavercreek

Advanced Structured Work Systems

Older students or students who are ready to move beyond the Matching Structured Work Systems still benefit from the Structured Work System strategy but may need this support to grow with them. For these students, teachers can use an Advanced Structured Work System. Here is a video with some ideas: 

For some students, a sequence of activities can be laid out in order of completion. 

Vicki Gomes
Miami East Intermediate, Miami East

Toni Mallott
Jane Chance Elementary, Miamisburg

For some students, work may be contained in a binder, in folders, or in this example a plastic envelope.

Jennifer Jette
Vandalia-Butler HS, Vandalia

The concept of Structured Work Systems can be generalized to instruction during 1:1, small group, or large group times. These teachers use a Structured Work System to present activities to be done during direct instruction times. 

Christine Scarborough
Tecumseh Elementary, Xenia

Emily Ottmar
Stevenson Elementary, Mad River Local Schools

For more ideas of activities that can be done during Structured Work Systems check out our Taskbox Time posts!