Task Cards
Hard to believe today is the first day of March. Feels like February flew by. Here’s hoping the next 63 days of school fly by too. I’m definitely in spring fever mode and ready for summer! Since it is March, I’m linking up with Farley for March Currently. Be sure to link up with Farley at her blog Oh’ Boy 4th Grade.
ABC Station is one of the first stations I introduce. This station has a lot of simple alphabet activities, which might be a little simple for first grade, but it’s a great way to train kids on stations since the tasks are a little easier. Since this station isn’t the meatiest, I only use it through November ish.
Here are my Writing Station Task Cards. Writing Station is one of the last stations I introduce. Since we are still working on learning about letters, lists, etc -I tend to introduce this station later in September.
Here are my next set of task cards. These task cards are for the Handwriting Station.
Here’s my next set of task cards. Spelling Station is up year-round so this is a station where I change out activities every so often to keep things fresh. We have 10 spelling words each week and I have them up in a pocket chart at the spelling station table. The kiddos then can choose from the activities below…
I know these cards look kind of big in the pictures. I’m using cardstock from one of those packets and it’s about 4 1/2 inches by 6 1/2 inches so it’s not as big as it looks.
I add this station idea mid-year too. This is a great way to differentiate for those higher students who don’t really need to practice the words a billion times. Instead of just writing the words, they have to use them in sentences or in a story.
This is another mid-year station. We start talking about ABC order and alphabetizing at the beginning of the year, but it definitely takes some time for the kiddos to pick it up. I add this station in 3rd or 4th quarter.
Here are my Library Station Task Cards. For library station, I often offer all of these options from the get-go. Library tends to be the easiest station and the kids love having a chance to pick their own book and read together.
At library station, I have our two class “pets” (really stuffed animals). To fit in with my Suns theme, we have a stuffed gorilla named Steve Nash and since I went to ASU we have a Sparky stuffed animal too. The kiddos love taking turns reading to them.
Here is my next set of Literacy Station Task Cards. As I mentioned in a previous post, these will be laminated, hole punched, and put on a ring. Each set of task cards will be hanging by the station so that the kiddos know what they are able to do at each station.
There is an activity on the Smart Board where kids can stamp their spelling words. I put their weekly spelling words in a sheet protector next to the Smart Board and the kids can take turns using the Smart Board to stamp the words.
I left this task card vague because I change the additional Smart Board activities every few weeks. The stamping the spelling words activitiy is always an option, but I like to change things up so the kids don’t get bored with the rest of the activities. I have found a ton of great Smart Board Activities on Smart Board Exchange and through our district. Kids can work on activities that focus on alphabetizing, specific sound/spellings, Harcourt stories, poetry, writing sentences, etc.
Another great idea from Pinterest! One day while searching Pinterest, I found a teacher who had made task cards for literacy stations. I loved the idea. I used to do “I Can” statements on a piece of paper and then as stations changed I would re-print. The great thing about the task cards is I can make a task card for each possible activity at the station and change them out. I still need to laminate the cards and then put a binder ring on them. I plan to hang them by the station so that kids can always check on what they can do at each station. I just love how easy it will be to change the cards out!
Here are the cards for Listening Station –
Sorry for the horrible lighting and shadows in these pictures.