Benefits of Using Task Cards in ELAR
- simplyaaronni9
- Jun 27
- 4 min read
As teachers, we never have enough time. I'm not sure if it's always been this way, though. I recall seeing my teachers relaxed anc calm growing up. Yes, there were tests and expectations, but school seemed so enjoyable back then. Twenty-five years later I'm not a teacher and the different between past teachers and current teachers are different.
Teachers are creative because we have to be, so when setting up a successful school year you have to think about the method you will teach with. I don't mean the text books or assigned curriculum, the passages and questions. I'm talking about how will breakdown what you teach; how you will scaffold to the different needs of students. It takes time to know how to do this innately, but if you don't know how to do this yet, you are in the right place.
I'm not sure when I learned about them, but task cards are mini assignments that break complex ideas into bite-size pieces. Look below for an example:
If the visual doesn't help, picture this. You have a 3 page long passage that students wilt at when they see it. You have to teach the passage, though, so you buckle down and try to find the best way to get the information to the students. You can use gradual release with your students, but that will need whole group (I do not often use task cards in whole group). You know that having your students sit still for 20+ minutes reviewing a passage is not enjoyable, nor is it what's best for students. You brainstorm again and you realize there's an easier way to tackle the passage. You can divide the passage into 10 mini pieces, match the questions for the passage to the section in the passage, and have students work in pairs. You've both reviewed the passage you need to, decreased the stress of teaching the passage, and allowed your students to avoid the anxiety of long passages!
Benefits of Task Cards
They allow students to practice specific skills in a low-stress, self-paced environment.
They are fairly easy to grade and usually have a digital version, as well.
They don't look as intimidating as a long passage.
The goal in the ELAR classroom is for students to feel safe enough to both succeed and fail. When you use task cards, you even out the playing girl. Now, of course, you'll have to tailor the material to ALL of your learners, but task cards can make choosing who does what easier.
How To Use Task Cards
There are many ways to use task cards. You can work on them as a class, assign them in pairs, have them completed individually, or you can use them in small group. There are benefits to most of the methods.
Whole Group
Task cards can be used whole-group, though I rarely do this. To use them as a class, you can project them on the board and read each passage, as well as answer each question. You can also use gradual release. You can review a card with your class observing, have students help you with a second card, and you can have them work independently on the rest of the task cards. Again, this is a way to use task cards whole-group, but I do not do this often.
Pairs
This is my favorite way to use task cards! In my classroom, every student has an assigned partner. I usually have one student who's comprehension skills are higher than that of their partner. I do this because it helps to develop both students: the higher learner can help their partner, while the learner with possible gaps can give another perspective to a higher learner. From there, I assign the task cards and have them work on them independently. I monitor the classroom, walking through the pairs, assisting as needed. When time is up, we come together, share answers, and reflect. Task cards truly can make your day easier.
Individually
I rarely have students use task cards individually. Task cards are meant to make longer assignments either easier to complete or easier to understand. Working with another person or group can make the process of learning even easier. If you have a student work on task cards independently, there is no one to "check" their learning. They can complete all the task cards incorrectly, and only learn of their mistake way after the assignment is complete. This is not what's best for kids and not the best way to manage your time.
Small Group
I don't use task cards in small group often. The purpose of task cards is to allow students to work at their own, individually pace. To me, task cards are something that are done in groups or pairs; I feel this way because small group or whole group task cards are further watering down (for lack of better words) an assignment that has already been cut into many pieces. It is not a good use of time going over small passages and diagrams with a small group. I feel using mentor texts, passages, guided reading, and things of that nature to inform my small group. Task cards don't always fit that bill.
In Closing
As teachers, we never have enough time, but task cards can make the work we assign students that much more accessible. Let Sweet Penelope Resources make that easier for you!
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