Making and Keeping Your Own Appointments
Learner: Wyett, age 15
Goal: Wyett will practice making an appointment, recording the details, preparing for it, and using reminders so he can keep up with it.
Materials
- A phone, tablet, or paper calendar
- A pretend appointment card or notebook
- A clock or timer
- The sample information below
Lesson: 50 minutes
1. Hook: What could go wrong? — 5 minutes
Ask Wyett:
“Imagine you have an appointment tomorrow at 3:30 p.m., but you forget the time, arrive late, and do not have the information you need. What problems might happen?”
Discuss how making an appointment is only the first step. Keeping it means remembering the details, preparing, arriving on time, and changing or cancelling it properly if necessary.
2. Show it: The appointment system — 10 minutes
Explain that every appointment should be recorded with these details:
- What: What is the appointment for?
- When: What date and time is it?
- Where: Where will it happen? Include a phone number or video link if needed.
- Who: Who is the appointment with?
- What to bring or do: Forms, identification, payment, questions, or preparation.
- Travel time: How long will it take to get there?
- Reminders: When should reminders be set?
Model writing this appointment into a calendar:
| Detail | Example |
|---|---|
| What | Eye examination |
| When | Tuesday, October 15, 3:30 p.m. |
| Where | Bright Eyes Clinic, 18 Oak Street |
| Who | Dr. Lee |
| Bring or do | Glasses, insurance card, and questions about headaches |
| Travel time | 20 minutes |
| Reminders | One week before and one day before |
Demonstrate a phone reminder:
- Calendar title: Eye examination—Bright Eyes Clinic
- Date and time: Tuesday, October 15, 3:30 p.m.
- Location: 18 Oak Street
- Notes: Bring glasses, insurance card, and headache questions.
- Alerts: One week before, one day before, and one hour before.
3. Do it together: Make an appointment script — 10 minutes
Explain that Wyett can use a short script when calling. Read the script together, then let him practice saying it.
“Hello, my name is Wyett [last name]. I would like to make an appointment for [reason]. What days and times are available?”
When the office offers a time, Wyett should confirm it:
“Let me make sure I wrote that correctly. The appointment is on [day], [date], at [time], with [person or office]. Is that right? Is there anything I need to bring or do beforehand?”
To finish the call:
“Thank you. The best phone number to reach me is [phone number]. Goodbye.”
Practice with this situation: Wyett needs to schedule a haircut. The pretend office can offer Thursday at 4:00 p.m. or Saturday at 10:30 a.m. Help Wyett choose one, repeat the details, and ask what he should bring or do.
4. Learner practice: Schedule and record an appointment — 15 minutes
Give Wyett this pretend situation:
“You need to schedule a meeting with a school counselor to talk about choosing classes for next term. Call the school office. Available times are Wednesday at 2:45 p.m. or Friday at 8:15 a.m. The meeting will be in Room 12. It will take 30 minutes. You need to bring your current class schedule and three questions.”
Wyett should:
- Use the appointment script to choose a time.
- Repeat the date, time, location, and purpose.
- Write the appointment in a calendar or notebook.
- Record what to bring: current class schedule and three questions.
- Work out when to leave if it takes 10 minutes to reach Room 12.
- Set or write three reminders: one week before, one day before, and one hour before.
Ask Wyett to create three questions for the counselor. If he needs examples, offer:
- Which classes are required next term?
- Which classes fit my interests?
- What do I need to do before choosing a class?
5. Keeping the appointment — 5 minutes
Ask Wyett what he should do on the day of the appointment. Guide him toward this checklist:
- Check the calendar and reminders.
- Gather anything he needs.
- Allow extra time for travel or delays.
- Arrive or join the call a few minutes early.
- Tell a trusted adult if transportation or another problem may prevent attendance.
Explain that if he cannot attend, he should contact the office as soon as possible rather than simply not showing up:
“Hello, my name is Wyett [last name]. I have an appointment on [date] at [time], but I cannot attend. I would like to cancel or reschedule it. What other times are available?”
6. Brief recap and quick check — 5 minutes
Ask Wyett these questions without looking at the notes:
- What five or more details should be recorded for every appointment?
- Why should you repeat the date and time before ending a call?
- When could you set reminders?
- What should you do if you cannot attend?
- What should you do before leaving for an appointment?
Successful check: Wyett can use the script, record the appointment accurately, list what he needs, plan travel time, and explain how he will remember and attend it.
Make it easier: Use a printed appointment template and let Wyett read the script while practicing.
Make it harder: Give Wyett two appointments on the same week and ask him to enter both, check for conflicts, plan travel time, and choose appropriate reminders.