MAIL DELIVERY PROGRAM IN A SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOM

A mail delivery program is a great way to help students develop essential life skills, including social interactions, pre-vocational skills, and organizational abilities. Plus, it’s a fun and engaging way for students to become more involved in the school community! My students LOVE delivering mail, and it also helps our faculty get to know them better. This structured classroom job provides real-world experiences while reinforcing IEP goals in a meaningful way. Ready to get started in your special education classroom? Here’s everything you need to know!

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What is a Mail Delivery Program?

A mail delivery program is a structured classroom job where students pick up and distribute mail to teachers and staff. Here’s how our program works:

• Students collect teacher mail from the faculty mailroom.

• They sort mail into designated folders based on teachers’ names or classroom locations.

• During scheduled times, students deliver mail to teachers, ideally during prep periods.

• If a teacher doesn’t have mail, students bring them a No Mail Treat instead!

• Students practice greeting teachers and engaging in short conversations when appropriate.

This program fosters independence, social communication, and responsibility while providing a predictable routine for students.

What You'll Need for a Mail Delivery Program

To set up your own mail delivery program, gather the following materials:

• A sturdy cart for transporting mail

• A crate to keep mail organized

• Hanging files to separate mail for different teachers

• A file folder for each participating teacher

• A container for No Mail treats 

• Visual schedules and task lists to support students with executive functioning challenges

• A data collection clipboard if you want to track progress

• Communication supports (AAC devices, Big Mac switches, visual communication boards) for students who need them

How to Get Started with Mail Delivery

1. Get Administrative Approval – First, check with your principal or administrator to get approval for your program.

2. Survey the Teachers – Send out a Google Form or a printed sign-up sheet to see which teachers want to participate. Include a space for them to indicate their prep period or preferred delivery time.

3. Set Up Your Mail Cart – Organize your cart with clearly labeled folders, a designated space for No Mail treats, and visuals to support students.

4. Create a Mail Delivery Schedule – Assign one student per class period to make deliveries. Keeping a consistent route allows students to build relationships with staff members.

5. Teach the Process Explicitly – Provide step-by-step modeling and role-play mail delivery scenarios in the classroom before starting.

6. Support Student Communication – If a student is non-verbal, pre-program greetings and simple phrases into their AAC device or use a Big Mac switch with recorded messages.

7. Provide Feedback & Adjust as Needed – Give specific praise and corrective feedback as students learn their routes and develop confidence in their role.

I assign one student per class period to deliver mail. This way, they learn their "route" and can build relationships with the teachers they deliver to. I plan on about 10 minutes for mail delivery, but it may be more or less depending on the size of your school and the ability of your students.

It's important to provide specific feedback when the student is learning their route, just like you would with any new skill. When needed, we also role-play and practice our greetings before we leave the classroom.

Also, fair warning, some teachers may need some training up front on how to interact with the students and what the goal of the program is!

How to Accommodate and Modify Your Mail Delivery Program

For students with low vision: Use tactile symbols on folders and mailboxes. You can also place tactile supports on teachers' mail folders and classroom doors to support navigation.

Tactile support on a teacher's file folder to support low-vision students.

For students with limited mobility: Assign a peer buddy or staff member to assist with pushing the cart. Use a modified folder system so students can sort mail from a seated position.

For students who need additional visual supports: Provide color-coded labels on teacher folders and mailboxes to match them easily. Use first-then boards to structure the routine.

For students with anxiety: Start with a familiar teacher or staff member and gradually expand their delivery route. Practice scripted conversations and role-play greetings in class.

For non-verbal students: Create picture-supported scripts or program greetings into an AAC device. If using a Big Mac switch, record a simple greeting like "Good morning, I have mail for you!"

Mail Delivery Starter Kit

Ready to implement a mail delivery program in your classroom? I’ve created a FREE Mail Delivery Starter Kit to make it easy! Inside, you’ll find:

• File folder labels for teacher mail

• A daily delivery schedule template

• A teacher sign up form

• No mail treat tags

• Visual schedules

• Pre-made mail delivery scripts for students

• AAC switch labels to support non-verbal students

👉 Download your FREE Mail Delivery Starter Kit in the resource library now!

This program has been a game-changer in my classroom, fostering student independence while building important social and vocational skills. Try it out and let me know how it works for your students!