It is incredible how much power a simple punch card can hold! My students find them highly motivating, which is an excellent incentive for them! I see small groups throughout the day, and punch cards are a massive hit with kindergartners – all the way up through fifth graders!
HOW TO USE PUNCHCARDS FOR BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT
My students get a punch each day if they: 1 – tried their best and 2 – followed directions. Thankfully there are very few occasions where someone doesn’t get a punch! Punch cards can also be used in a large group, as well.
Here are some ideas on how you can incorporate punch cards into your day:
FOLLOWING EXPECTATIONS
Students can get a punch for something as general as following the rules or a more specific target behavior like keeping their hands to themselves or using kind words.
. Whether your students follow the rules, keep their hands to themselves, or use kind words, punch cards provide a compelling incentive.
The beauty of punch cards is that the possibilities are endless. You can customize them to align with your classroom expectations and the behaviors you want to encourage.
TASK COMPLETION
We’ve all had those moments when students drift into their own little world during independent work. It can be challenging to keep them focused and motivated. That’s where punch cards come to the rescue! Students can earn a punch on their cards when completing their tasks or assignments.
INCREASE READING STAMINA
Reading is an essential skill, and punch cards can help increase students’ stamina while reading or encourage them to read more at home or independently.
Students can get a punch after they read for a certain amount of time or finish a specific number of pages.
ACTS OF KINDNESS
Acts of kindness always make a classroom a better place! You can encourage these kind words or actions by offering a punch every time you witness an act of kindness. It can be done by individual students, or the whole class can work off of one punch card.
You can encourage acts of kindness by offering a punch every time you witness a student performing a kind word or action. This can be done individually, where each student has their own punch card, or as a class, where the entire class works together to fill one punch card.
MY CARD PUNCH CARD IS FULL. NOW WHAT?
There are endless possibilities!
- Some students are happy to bring their completed punch card home and get another!
- One of my teammates has a prize box for students to choose from when they have completed their cards.
I have reward cards that students can choose from. Some examples are:
- Think Ink (using a pen for the day)
- Teacher Helper
- Stinky Feet (taking their shoes off during our group)
- Teacher Chair (sitting in an extra teacher chair)
- Instagram Photographer (taking pictures during our group, and I will post one that night on our class account)
MANAGING PUNCH CARDS
I have a bin that students pick out. They are organized by theme, and the kids have gotten to the point where they know the routine and grab another card once they have filled theirs!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Thank you for stopping by! I hope that you were able to find a use for punch cards in your classroom! If you want punch cards, check out some of the choices below! The GoNoodle punch cards are a FREEBIE! Click on the picture to check them out!
And guess what? I’ve got some amazing choices for punch cards below! You can even get GoNoodle punch cards for free. Just click on the picture to check them out and embrace the transformation punch cards can bring to your classroom!
GRAB THIS FREEBIE
CHECK OUT THIS BUNDLE
OTHER IDEAS
Do you have any additional ideas on how to use punch cards in your reading groups? Let me know in the comments so I can add it to the list!
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