More On Task Cards.

Using task cards in math is one of the suggested ways of providing differentiation.  You can always pop onto a paid site to find them or you can make some yourself.  Although making them yourself may take more time, you get cards that have the problems you want.  So today, we'll look at the different ways task cards can be used in class. It is always nice to have a variety of ways they can be used.  

A task card is a card about the size of a index card with one problem or task written on it. A set has between 10 and 20 cards and each student has a sheet to write answers on and access to the answer key so they can self check their work. Later on, I'll explain how to make task cards on power point.  In addition, task cards are a good way to have students practice what they've learned and provides independent practice.

One way to get students up and walking around is to place the task cards on the wall around the classroom or in the hall. Students can either work in pairs or alone for this activity. Pass out one answer sheet to each student or each pair of students.  Students can start at any place they want but if students need a bit more structure, assign them a starting number.  So they start at one card, work it, and move on to the next.  Eventually, they will end up back where they started. Once they are done, they can either check the answers with the answer key or they can turn it in for a grade.  It is up to the teacher.

Another use is to have sets of task cards in small baggies.  These task card are for the students who finish first and need something to do.  The material on the task cards is either what they have already learned (a review) or it is composed of problems for the material they are currently learning. They work through the problems, write the answers on the answer sheet, and either check it with the answer key or turn them in for extra credit.

Of course, task cards can be used as the warm-up or bell ringer as something different. They write their answers on the warmup paper and if you don't want to deal with 10 to 20 task cards, settle on between three to five to use.  Again, have the answers available for students to check their work.  Furthermore, task cards can be used as exit tickets so the teacher can do a quick assessment of where they are. If you don't want to collect all the exit tickets, have students write their answer to the task card on a sticky note and pop it on a piece of paper by the door. This way, you can check the answers later.

Remember, if your school is a one to one school, you can make all the task cards be digital so students can pull them up via google classroom or other learning management system.  They can do their answers on the computer or on a physical answer sheet.

If you use stations, you can place 4 to 6 task cards at each station for students to do. So what if you don't have tables in your room, you can group student desks into clusters of 3 to 5 desks so you have stations.  Students begin at one station and work on the problems.  The teacher has a timer going and when the timer goes off, students rotate to the next station and work on those problems.  This continues until students have completed all the stations or the time is up.  One thing, if you allow students to work together at the stations, they get to practice cooperative learning.

Task cards can also be a nice part of direct instruction.  Show a task card on the board or digitally.  Allow students to complete the problem, and when they are all done, work the problem so students can check their work. You can have students work the problems on white boards and show the answer to you when they are done.  On the other hand, if you want to use only physical task cards, spread them out on a table, have students come up and take one card to work on. When they are done, they return the card to the table and choose another one.  After a certain amount of time, go over the answers with the class.

What about doing Quiz, Quiz, Trade with your students.  Give each student a task card and they work that problem out.  After everyone is finished, they partner up so person 1 asks the other person the question on their card.  The other person either works it out and shares the answer or is allowed to say "I don't know" if they don't. Person 1 either says good job if the other person got it right or explains how to do the problem.  Then person 2 asks the question on their task card and person 1 answers it. Person 2 praises the correct answer or explains the answer if it was incorrect.  Then students trade cards and find a new partner and do this again.  10 to 15 minutes is a good amount of time to schedule for this activity.

Make a Jeopardy game out of the task cards.  In addition, if you complete your lesson and there is time left at the end of class, think about pulling out the task cards so students can practice working problems.  So now you have a variety of ways to incorporate task cards into your math classroom.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear. Have a great day.

Using Task Cards In Math.

One of the new teaching strategies I've run across is the use of task cards.  Task cards are defined as a card that has an activity or question on it and is the size of a small card no larger than a 3 by 5 index card.  Some task cards have pictures on them to show what is to be done or they might have written instructions.    Task cards come in two types.  The first asks a question that requires an answer from the student while the second suggests an activity the student should do.

Question task cards are found in several variations.  These cards may be multiple choice, long or short answer, or fill in the blank while the activity cards ask students to do something.  The activity cards require that the teacher have extra materials available for the activity.

Task cards are considered superior to worksheets since they can be more motivating.  They also require less reading which for students who have trouble reading, this means they are more comfortable in completing the task.  Worksheets can have more words than struggling students are willing to read at any one time.

In addition, students feel a sense of accomplishment by completing the task when these same students struggle to finish a worksheet.  Task cards are much easier to differentiate than worksheets and students are able to choose a task they can complete.  For instance, if you have task cards, some with multiple choice, some with long answer, students can select the one they are better able to finish.  Another possibility is to create cards with different levels from easy to hard so students can choose the card they want.

Furthermore, task cards can be designed for individuals, small groups, whole groups, learning centers, or even as part of a game.  When task cards are used for individuals, each student gets a card to do or students can take the task card home to do it at home after school.  Another way is to give every student a card to answer.  Once they've written the answer down on a white board, or paper, the teacher tells them to move one over and they to a new location where they answer a new card.  They continue the movement until they've done every card.

Another use is to divide the class up into pairs who sit or stand back to back.  The teacher reads the task card to the class.  Each student answers the question on a whiteboard and when they both have answers, they compare to see if they came up with the same answer.  Or divide the students into two groups.  Have one group sit in chairs facing inward while the other group faces out so they are face to face.  Pass out one task card to each set of two and they work on the answer together.  After a couple of minutes, ask students to move, one group goes left while the other goes in the opposite direction.

When used with small groups, the teacher can read one card and have all the students work on the same problem.  The ability level of the card is determined by the level of the group.  Furthermore, the tasks can focus on specific skills as needed.  

Task cards are also great bell ringers or warm-up questions, exit ticket tasks, or if your students finish the assignment earlier than expected, have them do some task cards. Keep extra sets in the classroom for anytime you need a filler.  Task cards are handy.

Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.