More Ideas for Task Cards

For related posts, click on the 'Task Cards' label in the right-hand column.

I've been using task cards for a long time now, and I've come to love them. For some reason, students never tire of them and the fact I can get students physically moving as they learn is an additional bonus to the differentiation, student choice and variety they allow for.


In a previous post I outlined some ways I've used them but I realised an update was well overdue. So, in no particular order, here are some other ways you can use task cards in your classroom.

Try this!
Give one card to each student to face down on the table. The first student turns over the card, reads it aloud, and each team member takes a turn to respond. When the card has been thoroughly discussed, the next student turns another card over.

Or this!
Give the cards to students who are early-finishers.

Or this!

Give each student one card. If your class has more than 20 students, divide the class into 2 groups so each student within a group has a unique card. Students individually complete their card producing a written response. When done, they partner with another student and swap cards. Repeat the activity. When both students have completed their responses, they then compare and discuss. Repeat the activity until all cards have been explored, or the time limit has been reached.

Or this!
Print off the cards 2 or 4 sets to a page (i.e. 8 or 16 cards to 1 sheet of paper). Give the miniature cards to students to stick into their notebooks and respond beside / under.

Or this!
Use one of the cards as a whole-class starter activity at the beginning of a lesson.

Or this!

Create stations around the room with the different task cards. In partners, students spend a specific time (e.g. 3 minutes) discussing the prompt on the card. When the time has elapsed, they move on to the next station and repeat.

Or this!
Leave a set of cards printed and ready-to-go in case of sickness or absence.

I hope this has given you some ideas, and if you come up with more, do share.

Happy teaching!

Learning to Learn with Zombies

In a previous post, I raved about the Coursera 'Learning to Learn' MOOC I took,  and also set out my intention to create a start-of-year unit for my students that would address their readiness to learn, while helping them understand how to work with their brains to maximise learning success.

I'm not sure why it took me so long to settle on a way in, but I finally decided to engage the students with zombies. After all, my son regularly wanders around monotonously repeating the word 'brains' with one trouser-leg rolled up, and the students often talk of their zombie fascination, so why not?

To that end, I am still determined to maintain the integrity of my subject - English - so I've decided to make it a unit on reading, and the final assessment will be a research task.

I got so excited about the idea that I pulled together my tried-and-tested 'learner training' materials to start transforming them for the unit, and I'm pleased to say I'm well on my way. Already, I've created materials for reading, writing, and speaking, and I have been digging up articles on mindset, organisation, memory and inspirational learners so I am sure I will have plenty to draw upon.

Watch this space for updates, or check out my shop for previews and promotions.