A calm, structured start to the day sets the tone for everything that follows. In special education classrooms and homeschool settings, mornings can be a time of transition, and even stress. That’s where having a morning work routine comes in. With the right resources, teachers and parents can turn those first 10–15 minutes into one of the most powerful parts of the day.

Social stories, a term coined by Carol Gray in the early 1990s, are short, descriptive narratives designed to fill in gaps in social understanding with clear, reassuring information. Their goal isn’t to correct behavior directly, but to explain expectations in a gentle, predictable way. These stories break down social situations - answering the who, what, when, where, and why, through both text and visuals. They model social norms and contextual cues in a way that’s easy for learners to grasp.

Every special education teacher knows how valuable independence is for both students and educators alike. All in the same, teachers and parents both know how important systems, structure and routines can be in both the classroom and homeschool setting. Task boxes are not only a proven tool that spark engagement, ease transitions, and build crucial skills, they are perfect for establishing and maintaining systems and routines.