I teach second grade. I planned on introducing the practice card system with the scoreboard the first day of school, but waiting a while before introducing the purple and green cards. Is that appropriate? Also, I had planned to tell the kids that once I put a practice card in the pocket chart, they are now independent. They have to earn the reward themselves. I thought that their goal could be for an extra recess at the end of the day. I do not want to assign extra homework because I have a very difficult time with students returning it. The way my schedule works, I cannot take away recess time because of another recess period right after ours. The independents (ones with practice cards)would have to earn it also. I did this because I have a difficult time letting the students who had practice cards participate in the class reward.

I would use balls and jump ropes as something they need to earn back. That way you don't even have to mess with recess. Or for a reward use the mind soccer as a reward if they earn more points on the score board. Foe those who have practice cards, I think you should have them earn balls back as well. Just a thought.

hamil2005 wrote:


I wouldn't put kids in the independents when they get a practice card; let them practice the behavior you need to run your class in a positive way for a while. If they are not making any progress after a few months, then choose your independents that way. I understand about the reward; it could be as simple as a few minutes of an organized class game, superspeed, or extra PE (principals don't like free recess, but if we can tie it into a standard; even better.) If class wins scoreboard game, only those kids without practice cards can play. Kids with practice cards must rehearse the rules they broke and join the activity a little later if you wish. On days the class loses, there is no game or pe, just classwork to the end of the day (try to make it extra dry).