5 Ways to Use Task Cards in the Classroom

Do you use task cards in the classroom??

I LOVE using task cards in my classroom. Over the years, I have collected, created, printed, laminated, and cut A LOT of task cards. My collection has grown quite large over the years.

Today I'll be sharing with you some of the reasons why I LOVE task cards and 5 ways to use them in your classroom.

Task cards are so great because they offer valuable practice, review, and reinforcement for students of important concepts. Being that we are a testing grade, students need lots of practice to ensure they have mastered the skills before that dreaded test. It kills me to see worksheets xeroxed, used, piled up on my desk (to be graded), returned,  stuffed into cubbies or desks, then dumped into the trash can. Task cards allow practice for students without having a gazillion worksheets to go through. The plus side of it though is that students love them too. My students often cheer when they find that it is time to work on task cards. 

The neat thing about task cards is that there are so many different ways to use them. 

Here are some of our favorite ways to use task cards in our classroom:

1: SCOOT

1. For a game of SCOOT, students are all seated at their desks. 
2. They each get one task card and a recording sheet. 
3. Assign the cards around the room in number order. 
4. Students record their answers on their recording sheet, then quietly wait until the teacher calls SCOOT. 
5. Once SCOOT is called, students will pick up their pencils, recording sheets, and SCOOT to the next seat to answer the next task card. 
6. Continue this rotation until all task cards have been answered.

Students LOVE SCOOT. They think of it as a game. I love it because it's a great formative assessment to see who knows what as well as to see misunderstandings they may be having. It's also a time for some peace and quiet :) 

SCOOT works best for skills that don't require much thinking time such as rounding, identifying parts of speech, fractions, etc. This would not be an ideal activity for things like word problems or elapsed time problems.

*If your desks are in an odd configuration, you will need to identify the movements around the room beforehand to avoid any confusion. 

2: SCAVENGER HUNT

Students also love hunting for their task cards. This is most often a center rotation.

I will tape task cards up around the room, and students will go around with a clipboard and their recording sheets. They find a card and record their answer on their recording sheets. For sake of time, I teach my students that they do not have to answer questions in number order. Find whatever card and record that answer in the correct box.

Since I use this as a center in my math workshop I also use these answers as a formative assessment for groups adjustments. Depending on the concept and how much the kids finished, I may or may not have them do ALL the cards. 

3: CENTERS

Task cards also work great as a center activity in both language arts and math. I will often lay task cards out on the carpet area and students work quietly there solving through their task cards. 

Another reason I love task cards so much is that once it's done and prepped for, you don't need to do it again! I use my task cards, again and again, year after year. 

4: WHOLE CLASS/SMALL GROUP REVIEW

Another way that I use task cards is for any review either whole class or small group. If I'm doing a whole class review, I just project the task card onto the board and have students solve on their whiteboards.

If I'm using it in a small group, I'll either show the task card to each student or I may give each student their own task card. 

If all students are solving the same card, I'll usually have them hold their answers on their whiteboard to themselves until I ask them to show their boards. When I do, the students all show their boards to one another and look at the answers. I then ask students if they agree or disagree with everyone's answer OR I might say something like "2 students think the answer is ABC but 3 of you think that the answer is XYZ, what are your thoughts?" and then we go into a discussion about how the problem was solved and ask any clarifying questions.

5: EXIT PASSES

Last but not least, I also like to use task cards as an exit pass. Once we are done with a lesson I hand out a task card and post-it note to each student. They write their name and answer on the post-it note, attach the post-it to the task card and turn it into me as they walk out the door to lunch. I'm then able to quickly sort the sticky notes based on who gets it and/or who needs extra reinforcement. 

ORGANIZATION

I used the mini Sterilite plastic drawers and just added labels. It makes it easy to find the task cards that I want. I can fit a couple of sets in each drawer. 

I purchased these Sterilite organizers years ago. There are 5 drawers in each organizer. Since it was so long ago, I couldn't find them on Amazon but I was able to find similar ones here. There are only 3 drawers but you could easily stack them. 

I have the editable labels available for these drawers in my TPT store here. 

I have a TON of math task cards that are perfect for your third-grade classroom. Check them out here. Many of my task cards also have a digital version available to help make your life easier with distance learning planning. 

What other ways do YOU use task cards in your classroom?

I'd love to connect with you! Head on over to my Instagram to say hello!. 

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Editor's Note: This post was originally published on October 20, 2014, and has been updated with additional information and resources. 

5 Tips for New Teachers!

This past school year I was asked to be a part of our school's mentoring team. It was the first year they had actual teachers mentoring our first-year teachers! Crazy, right?! I think they've made a move in the right direction ;) 

 I was asked to speak at a Summer Symposium for all of the new hires in our school's complex. I was asked to share some tips with them in opening up the school year and to answer any questions the teachers had. 

So today I would like to share with you the 5 tips I have for any new/beginning teachers. 

In order to have a successful school year, it is so important to establish routines and procedures for EVERYTHING. Know exactly what and how you want things done. 

Be sure to clearly communicate these expectations to your students so they know exactly what you expect! 

Creating posters with your students and modeling these expectations are extremely helpful. Examples of what it should and should NOT look like help your students to know exactly what you mean.

For me, I like to type out all of the things that might happen on a daily basis and make sure there are clear expectations for how things happen. I also include this in my substitute binder, so that subs know what is expected at all times. 

This is an example of some of my expectations.

You can access a copy of the template I use and see the things that I create procedures/routines for here.

It is important to remain consistent throughout the year! Be consistent in your expectations of behavior, routines, procedures, and consequences. Consistency is key when it comes to classroom management! 

If you don't follow through with what you say you'll do, your students will not follow through on what they are expected to do. 

 Always have a plan for how your day will go! Know what you need to teach and have the materials prepared for your day's lesson.

Students can pick up on when a teacher is

unprepared, and they will take full advantage of it! 

With this, also learn to be flexible! Things will

always come up throughout the day or a lesson may not go as planned….and it’s okay!!

 Reflection is an important key in order to help

yourself to become a better teacher! Some

great questions to ask yourself are:

• What went well during my lesson?
• What could I have done to make it better?
• What did the students have a difficult time with?
• How could I improve? 
• What will I do differently the next time?

Reflection at the ending of the school year is also important. 

Think about your year and choose one area that you feel you would like to really work on and improve in the upcoming school year. Find some professional development books, do some research online, and read blogs about that topic! 

Last, but above all, develop positive relationships with your students!

I will leave you with this video about the importance of relationships. 

Like Ms. Rita Pierson said in the video, "Kids don't learn from people they don't like". This could not be any more true!

I hope this post was able to help you prepare for your first year. 
Go out there and be a Champion for YOUR students. 

Give yourself grace. Don't feel that you need to do All the things you see on social media. Focus on these 5 tips and you WILL have a great year.

I'd love to connect with you via Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to stop by and say hello!

Good Luck, Keep Your Head Up and HAVE FUN! 

*You may also be interested in this post: 

What New Teachers Can Do to Prepare for the New School Year!

Aloha,

Editor's Note: This post was originally published on July 19, 2015, and has been updated with additional information and resources.