Write a letter that your students will take home to their parents, describing why and how you will use Practice Cards. Pages 114-123 Full credit: 25 WBT Certification Points Partial credit: 10 WBT Certification Points
Our year is going great with Whole Brain Teaching and our classroom is definitely powered by Funtricity! If you haven’t made it by to visit I hope you can come soon. Here’s our newest addition to our Super Improvers Team…Level 2 PRACTICE CARDS. As you’ll remember, we have five rules for our class that we practice several times a day. The rules are an important reason why our class runs so smoothly and why the students are learning so much. After being in school for two months the students are using the rules very consistently but occasionally a student may have more trouble remembering to follow one or two rules. When this happens, I simply place a white card with the rule number in your child’s slot in our pocket chart and keep right on teaching. At recess or lunch, she will practice the rule for two minutes and that afternoon she will bring home a note telling you that she needs to rehearse a rule and what that rule is. Help your child practice the gestures and words for this rule several times tonight in two-minute snatches of time. Remember, this is not punishment and we never tell a child that he was being “bad”. For example, simply say that you see she needs to practice Rule 2-Raise your hand before speaking. Allow her to do this while you time her. She should say, “Rule 2—(while raising her hand and giving the hand sign for talking) Raise your hand for permission to talk”. Allow her to do it over and over for two minutes and then stop. Later, give her another 2-minute opportunity. Be sure to give her positive praise for this practice such as “Susie, you can sure do Rule 2 perfectly. I know you are going to remember to raise your hand tomorrow in Mrs. Lamb’s class every time you speak.”
Remember to sign the note that your child brings home. It is important because the white practice card will remain in your child’s pocket chart slot until she brings back the note with your signature and this means she will continue to practice each day at school for two minutes during recess or lunch. This note is both so you will know how to help your child be even more successful in school and for me to know that she actually practiced the rule at home with you. It is wonderful to have parents who reinforce at home what the students are learning at school. It keeps the Funtricity flowing for learning!
Great job! Remember that the SIT is level 2 of the Scoreboard, and practice cards are level 3. Here are 25 Certification Points for your efforts! Also, be careful with long sentences; the second sentence in your last paragraph could be successfully broken into smaller pieces for more clarity.
I cannot believe we have been in school for six weeks now! Time will just keep on flying by. I am so very thankful for each and every one of my students. They are treasures, and I thank you for entrusting them to me.
I want to take the opportunity to share some exciting news! Our class has been making such excellent progress with the Scoreboard and our Super Improvers Team that it’s time we move onto the next level: Practice Cards.
Practice Cards are incredibly helpful tools designed to assist students in the rehearsal of our classroom rules. They are in no way a punishment. They are designed only for practice. Here’s how they work:
White Cards: If a student receives a white card, he or she gets to practice the gestures and the recitation of the words accompanying a rule he or she needs to rehearse. For example, if Student A forgets to raise her hand for permission to leave her seat (Rule Number Three), she receives a white card with Rule Number Three written on it. At recess, she spends two minutes whispering the rule to herself while doing the gestures to the rule. At the end of the day, she will receive a note to take home so her parent knows which rule she practiced that day. When the note comes back to school signed, the white card is removed. Students can receive no more than two white cards per day.
Purple Cards: Purple cards may be given to a student if he or she has received a white card. Purple cards cancel out white cards. For example, Student B blurts out the answer to a question. He forgot Rule Number Two: Raise your hand for permission to speak. He gets a white card. However, the next time Student B wants to speak, he remembers to raise his hand. He gets a purple card, and now he doesn’t get to practice Rule Number Two at recess. In fact, if Student B receives only purple cards in one day, he gets a congratulatory note home!
Green Cards: Sometimes students get to practice the rules in class. If this is the case, they receive a green card. Green cards have a rule written on them that a student needs to rehearse. For example, Student C is being a snail one day. He cannot seem to remember that Rule Number One is to follow directions quickly. I will place a green card with that rule written on it on his desk. For the rest of the day, every time he follows Rule Number One, he will mark a tally on the green card. At the end of the day, he will present the card to me. If he has received enough tallies, he has a good chance of earning a purple card.
Note: White cards will be implemented right away, purple cards will be introduced later on, and green cards later still. We have to master the uses of each of the cards before we can move on to the next set.
These Practice Cards are great enforcers of the kinds of behaviors necessary for our room to be fully functional. We are dedicated to high academic achievement. In order to keep improving, learning, and growing, we are going to practice optimal behaviors!
I’m excited! I know the students are excited to move onto the next level. They are doing such a great job being the leaders in our school. Please contact me with questions or comments.
Meredith, This is an exceptional explanation of the practice cards! great job! Here are 25 Certification Points ans 5 BONUS POINTS for a job well done!
It is hard to believe that we have been in school for a whole quarter; time is just flying by! I am sure your children have told you all about our Scoreboard and earning smileys and frownys. In late August, we added on Level 2 of our Scoreboard, the Super Improvers Team. We are now going to add on Level 3, Practice Cards. Practice cards are colored cards that are designed to assist students with the practice of classroom rules that they struggle with. These are not a punishment, but rather a practice to make a habit. Below are how the cards will work in our classroom:
White Cards: If a students receives a white card, he or she will practice the rule and gesture for the broken rule repeatedly for two minutes during lunch and recess. For example, if a child forgets to raise her hand for permission to speak (Rule #2), she will receive a white card with Rule #2 written on it in her pocket. At recess and lunch, she will spend two minutes whispering the rule and doing the gesture for the rule. Two minutes really is a long time and by practicing the rule for two minutes, it will help make the rule a habit for her. At the end of the day, she will receive a note to take home to get signed by her parents, so they know which rule was broken and practiced that day. The white card in her pocket will remain until the note is signed and returned. A student can receive no more than two white cards per day. To help your child, you can practice the broken rule at home with your child.
Purple Cards: After some time of using practice cards, I will introduce purple cards. Purple cards are awarded to students for positive actions. For example, if our child from the above scenario remembers to raise her hand for permission to speak, she will earn a purple card. For practice purposes, a purple card cancels out a white card. So, if a white card is received followed by a purple card not long after, she will not have to practice the rule at recess and lunch. If a student receives one or more purple cards, a positive note will be sent home informing parents about their child's excellent behavior.
Green Cards: Later on in the year, I may decide to implement green cards. These cards will be placed on individual student desks and every time they follow the card's rule, they will place a tally mark on the card. At the end of the day, the student and I will review their day and based on how many tally marks they have on their green card, they may be able to earn a purple card.
I hope that you will find this system to be both effective for your child and informative for you.
Allyson, Nice explanation of the practice card system. You may want to change the phrase "may decide to implement" with regard to green cards. Here are 25 Certification Points!
As we begin the second trimester, I am amazed at how well the students have settled in to our classroom. We still continue to practice our 5 classroom rules every day. Students are doing great with the Scoreboard and the Super Improvers Team. I am so proud of each and every one of them!
They have been so successful that I feel they are ready to move on to the next level. Practice Cards are great for addressing individual behavior concerns and successes. They are designed for students to practice following the classroom rules. Students are not being punished with these cards. They are simply opportunities for extra practice. Please read below to see how the cards work.
White Cards: If a student receives a white card, he/she will practice the rule and gesture for the rule that was broken for two minutes during recess. For example, if a student forgets to raise her hand for permission to speak (Rule # 2), she will receive a white card with Rule # 2 written on it. During recess, she will spend two minutes whispering the rule to while performing the gesture for the rule. At the end of the day, she will receive a note to take home that must be signed by her parents. The white card will remain in her slot on the pocket chart until the note is signed and returned. If your child receives a white card, please take a few minutes at home to practice the broken rule with him/her. Students will not receive more than two white cards per day.
Purple Cards: After we have had sufficient practice with the white cards, I will introduce purple cards. Purple cards will be given to students for positive behaviors. Students with a white card can receive a purple card because purple cards cancel out white cards. Let’s look back at the student that had a hard time raising her hand. If I notice that she is remembering to raise her hand for permission to speak, I will give her a purple card. If a student receives any purple cards, a positive note will be sent home letting parents know about their positive behavior.
Green Cards: Once students are comfortable with the white and purple cards, I will introduce the green cards. Each green card has a specific class rule written on it. These cards will be placed on individual student’s desks. Whenever that student follows the rule written on the card, he/she will place a tally mark on the card. At the end of the day, we will look at the card to see how many tally marks there are. This is a great opportunity for the student to receive a purple card.
I am excited to see how well students will do as we move on to this new level. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me or write a note in your child’s binder. Thank you for your cooperation!
It is hard to believe how time flies. It is hard to believe the semester is half over. We will be going to Level 2 of the Super Improvers Team by instituting practice cards to rehearse rules set at the beginning of the year. This is how it will work.
Students will be given a white practice card for the rule they keep breaking. Once they are given a white card, they will stay with me at the beginning of lunch for two minutes to practice the rule. Students will never be given more than two white practice cards. A note will be sent home telling you of the rule your child is breaking and must be signed and returned the next day. I encourage you to have your child to practice the rule at home.
As your child obeys the rule at a steady pace, he/she will be given a purple card indicating they are doing better, and a note will be sent home telling you of your child’s progress. A purple card will cancel out a white card.
The more your child obeys the rule; they will receive a green card, so they can track their own progress that can earn them a purple card. Every time they obey the rule, they will make a tally mark on the green card. Tally marks can earn them a purple card and a note home.
The goal is to get students following all rules to keep the class running as smooth as possible. Please go over this letter with your child to reinforce what I will be doing in class.
Thanks for your support. It takes all of us to make a great year. I know I can count on you to in sure your child has the best year ever.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me before or after school.
Deb, Nice job. Remember, the SIT is level 2 of the Scoreboard, and the practice cards are level 3 of the Scoreboard. It would be great to add a bit more detail about what happens when students sat in for 2 minutes of recess, as well as more excitement over earning purple cards. Your letter needs more detail. Here are 10 Certification Points for your efforts!
We hope this team letter finds you and your scholar enjoying a wonderful sixth grade year. It is hard to believe we have finished the first semester and a much needed winter break. As you might well remember, we introduced our team’s classroom management system during our back to school open house. We briefly discussed we would be practicing how to follow team rules, routines, and procedures. You may also remember us mentioning after we have had adequate time to practice our rules there might be some students who still need more practice. We would like to briefly introduce how our “Practice Cards” will be used.
As you may recall, Team Canterbury Castle has five rules that govern our classrooms. We practice these rules often, and they help keep our kingdom on track and running smoothly! However, occasionally, students may need extra rule practice. Practice Cards are just that--Practice! They are not punishment. Cards come in three colors: white, purple, and green.
White: If your child requires more practice following a classroom rule, they will be given a white card. Students will not receive more than two white cards per day. At the end of seventh period (M-Th) and at the beginning of Fun Friday (F), he/she will spend 2 minutes practicing the rule. They will also bring a note home to inform you which rule was practiced. We respectfully request your child spend time practicing at home, too. Please sign and return the note.
Purple: Purple cards cancel out white cards. If a child receives a white card for not following a rule, and then, later during class, they demonstrate following the rule, they would get a purple card. Practicing the rule and a note home would not be necessary. In fact, the team might send home a “Knight Note” praising him/her for following the rule.
Green Cards: Sometimes, a student might be given time to practice a rule during class. If so, a green card will be given. The rule needing practice will be written on the green card, and each time your scholar follows the rule, they will place a tally mark on the card. With enough tally marks, students can be rewarded with a purple practice card and even a “Knight Note” home.
We are the FMS Knights of Canterbury Castle and dedicated to learning. We value your parental support and understand that one key to student success is your involvement. None of us is stronger than all of us! Please help us help your scholar be true to the spirit of the rules.
Please feel free to contact us if you have further questions.
I love this, Melinda! I think this is what we should actually use:) I'm excited about implementing WBT this year; I just hope I can run it as smoothly as you!
Melinda, Great job! You have an excellent explanation of the purpose and procedures involved in using practice cards. Here are 25 Certification Points and a 5 POINT BONUS for your added detail!
Dear Parents and Guardians, Canterbury Castle is off to a great start to the second semester. It is hard to believe that we are already entering the second half of the school year! We truly hope that sixth grade has been a wonderful experience. As part of our team’s classroom management, we have instilled team rules and procedures, as discussed briefly in our “Moving Up” day at the beginning of the school year. In order to keep these rules fresh and alive in our classrooms, we will be introducing “Practice Cards”. “Practice Cards” allow for practice of our five rules and help keep our classes orderly and productive. If your child receives a white card this means that they need additional practice with a particular rule. No student will be given more than two white cards per day. We will be giving time at the end of the day, and if necessary, during our ‘Fun Friday’ time for students who receive white cards to practice for two minutes. If this occurs, the student will bring home a note informing you which rule was practiced, and we ask the note to be signed and returned the next day. It would also be beneficial if there were time given at home to practice as well. Purple cards will be given to students as an award for a positive behavior and for following the rules particularly well. The neat thing about a purple card is that it cancels a white practice card! You will also receive a note informing you of your child’s excellent behavior once given a purple card! Finally, a green card would signify that a student might need additional time to practice following a certain rule in class. If a student is given a green card, the rule needing practice will be written on the card and the student will place tally marks on the card for each time they practiced the rule successfully. With shown improvement, this can earn the student a purple card! We want to take this time to go ahead and thank you for your support in helping and partnering with us to create a positive learning environment in our team’s classrooms! Please let us know if you have further questions.
Dear Parents, It's hard to believe that the first quarter of the year is already over. We've gotten off to a really good start with our Scoreboard and Super Improvers Team that were introduced at the beginning of the year. The students know our classroom rules and can recite them when asked. It's now time for the next level in our classroom management system. I'd like to introduce you to the “Practice Cards”. Even though the students know our classroom rules, some students still need more practice. This is where the Practice Cards come in. These cards are not intended to be punishment, but practice for the students. The cards come in three colors: white, purple, and green. Let me explain each color. White cards mean that the student needs more practice following a particular classroom rule. When a student consistently breaks a rule, I will take a white card with that rule on it and place it in his/her slot on the pocket chart. Then during recess, the student will practice the rule for two minutes. A note will be sent home to you, the parents, describing the rule that the student needs to practice. The white card will stay in his/her slot until the note is returned signed by a parent. Purple cards are awarded to students for positive actions and cancels out a white practice card. As parents, you will receive a note home informing you of your child's excellent behavior. Green cards are introduced last. Green cards are placed on the student's desk to remind him/her of the rule that he/she needs to work on. The student keeps track of how many times during the day that he/she follows the rule. At the end of the day, it can earn the student a purple card or a star on the Super Improvers Team board. It is my goal to have a smooth running classroom. The more students follow the rules, the smoother the class will go. Please go over this with your child to reinforce what will be happening in the classroom. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Dear Parents, As we enter into the second nine weeks, our Whole Brain Teaching classroom will be introduced to Level 3: practice cards. Our class has been so successful in the Scoreboard and the Super Improver Team; I feel it is time to encourage successful results with our classroom rules. To remind you, our five classroom rules are: 1. Follow directions quickly. 2. Raise your hand for permission to speak. 3. Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat. 4. Make smart choices. 5. Keep your dear teacher happy.
These practice cards will be a reminder of one of five classroom rules that your child may have trouble following in class. For example, if Lucy has trouble following rule 2, she will receive a white practice card in her pocket chart slot labeled Rule 2: Raise your hand for permission to speak. During recess, she will practice raising her hand for 2 minutes, to encourage her to successfully raise her hand in class. Once her two minutes is up, she can go to recess. These cards are not a way of me punishing your child but instead are viewed as a time to practice what they need work on. If your child receives a white practice card at school, there will be a note in your child’s planner. Please sign this note so your child’s practice card can be removed the next day at school. The practice card will stay in your child’s pocket chart slot until the note has been signed. The maximum number of white cards your child can receive in one school day is two, which equates to 4 minutes of practice time during recess.
The following month, I will implement purple cards, which are called “wisdom cards”. When I see your child has drastically improved in following one of the 5 rules above, they will get a purple card in their pocket chart slot. This will allow me to send home a congratulatory note home to you, to brag about your child’s success.
Months later, if your child is doing back and forth between a white card and a purple card, I will implement a green card. This green card will be placed on your child’s desk. Throughout the day, they will tally any time they effectively follow a certain rule above that they have struggled with. At the end of the day, I will count their tallies and determine if they can earn a purple card with a congratulatory note to go home.
I hope you will motivate your child, with positive remarks, to follow our five classroom rules. If your child does receive a practice note in their planner, please discuss with them what rule they need to work on. Encourage them to do the same thing at home and get in the habit of being an outstanding student! Thank you for making this school year the best it can be for our little ladybugs!
Laken, Your parents will appreciate your efforts to communicate your classroom policies. Unfortunately, this post has several errors in mechanics and grammar. I cannot award any points.
Nancy, I'm so embarrassed! This is what I get for trying to hurry to complete the assignment before I went out of town. I typed the response into the blog instead of a word document. I promise this won't happen in the future because I will edit my responses! It's cool! I have many more chapters to earn points! Thanks for keeping me on my toes and reminding me to check my grammar! -Laken
Laken, don't be embarrassed. I did the same thing for an assignment for Farrah when I was trying to finish before I went out of town and should have just waited. We live and learn.
Dear Third Grade Families, What a fabulous and busy quarter we have had here in third grade. The students have adjusted to their increased responsibilities and advanced curriculum with positive attitudes. The effort they put forth is commendable and reflected in the gains they have made on our Super Improvers Wall. Please be sure to check their communications binder daily and ask them about the progress they are making.
You may see something new in their binders as we move into the second quarter. We are moving on to a new Scoreboard Level. Level three involves practice cards. We are super excited about using these cards in third grade! What is a practice card you ask? Practice cards come in three colors, each color represents a way we can become more efficient at following our rules. Below you will find a detailed explanation of each color. Also, in the communications binder you will find a simplified explanation of each color to use as a quick reference. We will begin with White cards being the only practice cards given out, but as the weeks progress Purple and then Green cards will be obtainable.
White: Children who need additional practice on one of the five classroom rules will receive a white card. The rule they had trouble with will be pictured on the card. For each white card they receive, they will stay in at recess practicing how to follow the rule for 2 minutes. (After setting a timer, the student will whisper and gesture the rule independently for two minutes. They will not receive more than two white cards a day.)
Purple: Purple cards are powerful. They cancel out a white card. Purple cards are given out to children who demonstrate they can follow the classroom rule after receiving a white card. Positive Action = Purple Card
Green: There are times that a student will practice the rule in class instead of at recess. First, a green card is placed on their desk with a specific rule pictured on it. Next, they are asked to keep a tally on the card of all the times during the day they follow the rule. Before they head home, I will count up their tallies and decide if they have effectively followed the rule. If it is determined they have, they will receive a purple card.
Each time your child receives a card, you will receive a note home telling you of their practice. If you have any questions, please ask. Remember, we are excited about this new addition to Scoreboard. The cards are not a punishment, but instead they are a way to keep ourselves consistently following our five classroom rules.
Catherine, Very detailed letter for your parents! Here are 25 points! (Just a note, the Purple Card may also be given to a student even if he has not received a White Card. Purple is highly prized, so it is considered a really big honor to receive one!)
Thank you Nancy for clarifying that. I so appreciate our response to this chapter being the creation of something we will use in implementing WBT. This has been a very constructive book club!
What a wonderful year we have had so far! I’m thankful every day for the chance to work with these amazing students. As I have shared with you previously, our class is following an effective behavior management program through Whole Brain Learning. We have learned our five classroom rules, and we practice them daily. We have used our Scoreboard to record our super (oh yeah!), and our almost-super (mighty groan) behavior as a class. Then, we added our Super Improver Team game. The students are moving up their ladders of success nicely, with goals of reaching the coveted level of Living Legend.
Occasionally, students may still need a little more practice with a certain rule (or two). To help them out, we have our new Practice Cards! These are special cards that focus on practice rather than punishment! We will begin with white cards, then later add purple, and finally add green.
White Cards: When a child needs to practice following a classroom rule, for example: Rule #2 - Raise your hand for permission to speak; they will be given a white card. A student will never receive more than two white cards per day. For each white card the child receives during day, they will spend two minutes of recess practicing the rule. They will bring a note home that evening for you to sign, informing you that they received the white card and specifying which rule was practiced. The letter will also request that your child spend two minutes at home practicing the rule with the assigned gestures. Please return the signed note in your child’s agenda the next day.
Purple Cards: These cards (also called Wisdom Cards) become rewards for good behavior. If your child receives a white card during class for not following a rule, but later that day corrects that behavior and shows that they can follow the rule, they will receive a purple card. This purple card will cancel out their white one, and they will not need the note for practice at home. If great improvement is noted, they will receive a note that praises them for their improvement! Occasionally, your child may receive a purple card purely because they have demonstrated fantastic behavior that day. What an honor!
Green Cards: After a few weeks using the white, then the purple and white cards, we will add the green cards. This card is placed on the student’s desk if they need time to practice a rule during class rather than at recess. The rule that the child is to practice is pictured on the card. They will make an effort to demonstrate that rule throughout the day. Each time they follow the rule, they will make a tally mark on the card. With sufficient tally marks, the student may receive a purple card and note of praise to take home.
Implementing these behavior systems has helped us create a learning environment that focuses on the positive, allows for practice, and rewards improvement. When we have positive behavior, our class can be engaged in high energy lessons involving seeing, hearing, doing, speaking and feeling. And, let’s not forget, when we have positive behavior… learning is fun!
Thank you for supporting your child, and please let me know if you have any questions!
Our year is off to a fabulous start! Time sure is flying here in first grade and we are making the most of each and every moment. It is my greatest pleasure teaching and getting to know your beautiful treasures who constantly amaze me with their zest and excitement for learning.
I am writing to share some wonderful news! Over the past two months, our boys have made such incredible strides with our Scoreboard and Super Improvers Team, that they are ready for level 3: Practice Cards! I’m sure your son will tell you everything he has learned about Practice Cards as he hops off the bus, but here is an explanation that may come with a little more detail and accuracy.
Practice Cards will be used daily to assist our boys in the rehearsal of our five classroom rules. Practice Cards are not a punishment; they are used as an opportunity for additional rehearsal. They are designed for one thing and one thing only: PRACTICE. Here’s how they work:
White Practice Cards: If a student is having trouble following one of our classroom rules, he will receive a white Practice Card in his slot on our pocket chart. Printed on the Practice Card will be the specific rule that he needs to practice. At recess, he will spend two minutes whispering the rule to himself while using the proper gestures that go along with the rule. You will receive a note informing you of the rule that your son practiced that day. The white Practice Card will be removed when the note comes back to school signed by a parent. If the note does not come back to school signed, he will continue to practice the next day. No more than two white Practice Cards will be given to a student in any given day.
Purple Practice Cards: Later on in the year, purple Practice Cards will be given to a student if he has already received a white Practice Card and has shown improvement in the specific rule that he broke. The great thing about purple Practice Card is that they cancel the effect of a white Practice Card! They are a great way to motivate our boys to get back on track so that they won’t have to sit and practice their rules during recess. Any student who ends the day with one or more purple Practice Cards will be sent home with a congratulatory note!
Green Practice Cards: Once the boys have mastered the ways of the white and purple Practice Cards, they will move on to green Practice Cards. Occasionally, it is not enough that a student knows the rule and has practiced it over and over. Sometimes, he will need practice following the rule when he is immersed in the wonderful atmosphere of our lively classroom. To address this issue, I will place a green Practice Card on his desk. The green Practice Card will be labeled with the rule that the student needs to practice. Each time during class that this student follows the rule that he is focusing on, he will make a tally mark on the green Practice Card. At the end of the day, I will count the tally marks on the card and use my best intuition to decide if a purple Practice Card is in order.
We are all super excited to begin level 3 of the Scoreboard! Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about the Practice Card system. I look forward to hearing your feedback as we begin this exciting journey together. Thank you for your continued support and outstanding dedication to the growth of our young men.
The Music Room is in full swing and our little Mozarts are listening, creating, and performing some great music. Our classroom has five rules that we practice together at the beginning of each class. The scoreboard is a fun way to keep track of our whole class behavior. Be sure to ask your child to demonstrate a the Oh, Yeah! 1 second party and the Mighty Groan for those less than stellar moments.
As it happens, the occasional student may need a little more practice with a rule. To help out my musician friends, we have introduced practice cards. We always talk about how practice isn’t a punishment but something that all musicians do to improve.
Initially, we have added white cards. When a child needs to practice following one of our classroom rules, he will receive a white card. After music class, they will remain in their seat for 2 minutes and rehearse the rule. A note will be sent home letting you know which rule was practiced. Please sign it and return it to school. A child will never receive more than 1 white card in a music period.
Later, we will add Purple cards. Purple cards are rewards for good classroom behavior and it cancels out a white card. It’s like a “get out of jail free” card. Children can receive a purple card without ever getting a white card. Notes will be sent home to let you know about great behavior.
Our music room is a place where all students can find a place to take risks and support each other. Implementing behavior systems help create this kind of environment. Good classroom behavior helps us all and provides us a chance to stretch our musical wings even further. When we have great behavior, we have great fun!
Mrs. Weston Music Specialist
*I left Green Cards off on purpose. In my 40 minute, once a week setting, it’s unlikely I would need to use Green cards with more than 1 or 2 students per year. Green cards would be a more intense intervention that I would use in conjunction with the classroom teacher’s interventions. Because it would effect so few of my 650 students, I would only bring it up to the parents involved when and if it were needed.
Our year is off to a great start! During of 1st quarter of First Grade we have become familiar with our schedule and procedures. The students are doing extremely well and have settled in nicely. We continue to practice our 5 classroom rules daily to ensure our routines run as smoothly as possible. The class has been doing a wonderful job with the Scoreboard and the Super Improvers Team. I know they are so excited to earn those stars and move up the Super Improvers wall. I am so proud of each and every one of them!
They have been so successful that I am confident they are ready to move on to the next level. Practice Cards! Practice Cards are an amazing way of addressing behavior concerns and successes of individuals. Theses cards are designed for students to practice following our classroom rules. Students are not being punished with these cards. They are only opportunities for extra practice. There are 3 different types of cards. Please read below to see how the cards work.
White Card: If a student receives a white card, they will practice the rule and gesture for the rule that was broken for two minutes during recess. The student will not be called out for forgetting a rule. Rather, I will simply place the white card in their numbered pocket in the back of the room. For example, if a student forgets to raise their hand for permission to leave their seat (Rule # 3), they will receive a white card with Rule # 3 written on it. That day, during recess, they will spend two minutes whispering the rule to themselves while performing the gesture. At the end of the day, they will receive a note to take home that must be signed by their parents. The white card will remain in their numbered slot on the pocket chart until the note is signed and returned. Students will not receive more than two white cards per day. If your child receives a white card, please take a few minutes at home to practice the broken rule with them and discuss it’s importance in the classroom.
Purple Card: After we have had sufficient time practicing with just the white cards, the purple cards will be introduced. A purple card will be given to students for positive behaviors. This will be a way for students to celebrate following a classroom rule they had previously forgotten. Students with a white card can receive a purple card because purple cards cancel out the white cards. If the student that had a hard time raising their hand is noticed remembering to raise their hand for permission to leave their seat, I will give them a purple card. If a student receives a purple card, a positive note will be sent home letting their parents know about their positive behavior.
Green Card: Once students have had some practice time with both the white and purple cards, I will introduce the green cards. Each green card has a specific class rule written on it. This card will be placed on the individual’s desk. Any time the student follows the rule written on the card, they will place a tally mark on the card. At the end of the day, the student and I will look at the green card to see how many tally marks there are and briefly discuss the rule they kept track of and why it is important to follow. At that time the student may earn a purple card and a positive note home.
I am very excited to begin this next level with your child. Our goal is to have a smooth running classroom to ensure each child reaches their highest potential. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call, email or write a note in your child’s folder. Thank you for your continued support!
Sara, Nicely done! Your parents will appreciate this letter of information. One small error at the beginning, "During of 1st quarter of First Grade we..." Here are 20 points and a 5 point Bonus!
As you well know, we have been working hard on mastering Level One and Level Two of the Scoreboard Game every day. Well, the time has come for us to move on to Level Three of the Scoreboard Game: Practice Cards. Practice Cards will give us the opportunity to practice those amazing five classroom rules in an individual fashion. Below is a brief description of how the Practice Cards work.
I have created a White Card for each of the five classroom rules. When a student breaks a rule, the corresponding white rule card is placed in their pocket chart. These cards are not a punishment! They are to remind both me and the student that more practice is needed for this rule. During recess, the student will practice this rule for 2 minutes. At the end of the day, the student will bring home a letter from me in their Yellow Fellows. The letter will let you know what rule was broken and will ask that the student practice this rule at home for as long as you feel necessary. After practicing at home, please sign and return the form to school. If this form is not signed and returned, the student will practice this rule again the next day for 2 minutes during recess. As we move up in levels, the minutes of practice increase by one to compliment the higher expectations for more difficult levels.
After some time, students will begin to earn a Purple Card (or Wisdom Card) in their pocket chart. Again, this is not a punishment! Wisdom Cards are rewards for following the rule! A Wisdom Card also has the ability to cancel out a White Card in the pocket chart. If a student ends the day with more White Cards than Wisdom Cards, the student will practice and the note will go home as mentioned above. If they end the day with more Wisdom Cards than White Cards, a letter goes home announcing the great work they are doing following this rule in class and there is no practice needed.
As the White Cards decrease and Wisdom Cards increase, students are given Green Cards. Green Cards are used by the student to self evaluate and track their frequency of following a rule. After counting the frequency tallies on the Green Cards, we will determine whether a prized Wisdom Card was earned at the end of the day.
We are all very thrilled to be moving up to Level Three of our Scoreboard Game. Practice Cards will allow us to show even more improvement in our behaviors for the SIT Wall. Knowing the rules and maintaining a positive atmosphere will help prepare us for first grade. As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for all that you do and I look forward to a wonderful second half of the year.
Your child, individually and as a member of our class, is experiencing great success with our Whole Brain classroom management plan. With our Scoreboard, the class continues to become a more unified, productive learning team. The Super Improvers Team gives your child many opportunities to continually meet and surpass personal goals, both socially and academically. The students are doing so well, they are ready to advance to Level Three of the plan: Practice Cards. This is not like the card system that is used in many teachers’ classrooms, so I’ll explain how it works.
The first step of this level is the addition of “White Cards.” If a student is struggling with following a specific classroom rule, he or she will receive a white card. At this level, practice of the specified rule will occur for two minutes during recess. The student will bring a letter home noting that a white card was received. A parent or guardian is asked to supervise a short practice of the rule at home and to sign the note, which the child should return to school promptly. The child will continue to practice the rule at recess until the note is signed and returned to school. A child will never receive more than two white cards in one day.
A few weeks after white cards are introduced, “Purple Cards” (also called “Wisdom Cards”) will be added. Receiving a purple card means that the child is doing very well following a specific classroom rule. At the end of the day, if the child has a white card, a purple card will cancel out that card. If the child has no white cards and receives a purple card, he or she will receive a congratulatory note to bring home. If your child receives one, please express your hearty approval!
The last step of the Practice Card level is “Green Cards.” Green cards provide an opportunity for your child to monitor his or her performance in following a specific expectation in class. When a child is given a green card, he or she makes a tally mark every time a specified rule is followed. At the end of the day, the student and I will review the green card. Based on the child’s performance in following the rule, I may decide the child has earned a purple card for the day.
The “Practice Card” level sets higher expectations for the students and is a powerful motivator for increased achievement. I have already enjoyed watching your child experience so many successes this year and am looking forward to the innumerable ones that I know are just ahead. Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. Your input is invited and greatly appreciated.
We are off to a great start this year. Our normal classroom procedures have been taught and mastered by many. I am certain your student has told you much about our classroom. I bet they have come home and explained what we are learning with excitement and FUNtricity. We have created a learning place where students are respected, respect others, and we have fun all while learning through the Whole Brain Teaching system. Each day we set goals for our learning, we follow our Five Class Rules, we compete with the scoreboard (level 1), and we exceed our goals on the Super Improver Wall (level 2). If you have not had the chance to see our classroom system, it is worth a few minutes of your time. You will walk away amazed. Even though we have made tremendous progress with classroom behaviors, we are continuing to expect students to follow our rules. Since we are still learning, no one is perfect, we are introducing a new level to our behavior system. This 3rd level is called The Practice Cards. Now I know many of you have had your students behaviors leveled with a green, yellow, red, and black, but this is very different. In our classroom, we do not penalize a student for not getting something right. It is the WBT philosophy that students need more practice. Thus, we have practice cards for when a student is challenged by a classroom rule. Here is an example: Sarah is a bright student and always wants to do what is right. She is energetic and excited about everything. She often adds great discussion points to our learning. Sarah tends to be challenged with staying in her seat during work time and will wander around the classroom to get a tissue, go to the bathroom, talk to a friend, or sharpen her pencil. Yet the expectation is for her to be working. We have learned that Rule 3 is to ‘Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat.’ Sarah practices this skill and still needs to continue to practice. She has earned stars on her Super Improver Wall for improvement. In order to further her practice, we have begun to use Practice Cards to help remind Sarah of what it looks like to follow this rule. When Sarah has forgotten to follow Rule 3, I simply place a white practice card in her pocket. She knows that she has 2 minutes of practicing Rule 3 at recess time. I will also send a quick note home to ask that she practice for 2 minutes (or any amount of time that you see fit.) Please sign and return this note and I will let her take this card out of her pocket. If she doesn’t bring this note back, she will continue to practice this skill. As the year goes on and Sarah is making great progress, I will add in the purple card to reward her for following the rules. This purple card will cancel out a white card she may receive. Students are highly motivated to change their behaviors to cancel out practice time. She will receive a letter to you explaining that she is working hard to correct her behaviors in class. Once Sarah continues to show improvement, she will be given the chance to monitor her own practice time in the classroom by tally marking on a green practice card, each time she follows the rule. If I see fit, at the end of the day, Sarah many cancel out any white card she may have since she is clearly practicing her rule following. I thank you so much for your time, and look forward to sending home letters explaining how awesome your child is doing with following the rules. Thank you in advance for your home support. When we join home and school support, students succeed!
Krystal, This is a great letter of communication for your parents about the purpose and use of Practice Cards! Here are 25 points for you and a 5 point Bonus!
Welcome back from Winter Break! I have absolutely loved hearing about the children's adventures over the past two weeks! We have jumped right back in to learning, improving, and growing! While most of the children have mastered our classroom rules and are becoming leaders in our class, occasionally some of them still need extra practice with a certain rule. I'm excited to share my plan to help them - Practice Cards!
Practice Cards are incredibly helpful for students who need extra practice following our classroom rules. They are not a punishment. These cards are an opportunity for extra practice needed in order to be successful in school. Here’s how they work:
White Cards: If a child receives a white card this means he/she broke one of our classroom rules. To help this child improve, he/she will spend two minutes of recess practicing the rule and gesture. For example, if a student continues to forget to raise his/her hand before they speak and disrupts our learning by shouting out (Rule #2), that child will receive a white card with Rule #2 written on it. At recess, he/she will spend two minutes whispering the rule while doing the gestures to the rule. At the end of the day, a note will be sent home to the parents. The white card will remain in the child's pocket chart until the note is signed and returned. If your child receives a white card, please take a few minutes at home to practice the broken rule with him/her. Students can receive no more than two white cards per day.
The Purple Card of Wisdom: After we have mastered the use of white cards, purple cards will be introduced. Purple cards are powerful and stand for positive behavior! These cards may be given to a student if he/she has received a white card that day. Purple cards cancel out white cards, because they show a child has made an improvement to follow a previously broken rule. For example, if a child shouts out the answer to a question, this means Rule #2 - Raise your hand before you speak was broken. This child gets a white card. However, the next time this child wants to speak, he/she remembers to raise his/her hand!! Hooray! This child gets a purple card, and now doesn’t need to practice Rule Number #2 at recess. In fact, if this child receives only purple cards in one day, a congratulatory note goes home! Celebrate that improvement at home too! Be on the lookout... occasionally your child may receive a purple card purely because they have demonstrated extraordinary, above and beyond behavior that day. Whoo-hoo!
Green Cards: When the children have had practice using white and purple cards, green cards will be introduced on an as-needed basis. Green cards are designed for a child to self-monitor his/her individual behavior in class. Green cards have the rule written on them that the child needs extra practice with. For example, if a child continues to have difficulty with Rule #1 - Follow directions quickly, I will place a green card with that rule written on it on his/her desk. For the rest of the day, every time he/she follows Rule #1, he/she will mark a tally on the green card. At the end of the day, I will review the card with the child. A purple card can be earned for improvement or a star on the Super Improvers Team board may be given.
I strongly believe that practice makes permanent. Implementing these behavior systems has helped us create a learning environment that focuses on the positive, allows for practice, and rewards improvement.
Thank you for supporting your child! Please let me know if you have any questions. Have a great day!
Our class has had a great year so far! We have been hard at work and continue to create a positive and safe learning community. As you know, our class rehearses the class rules daily to ensure that they know what is expected of them and do not make bad choices unknowingly. Starting this week, your student may receive something I call a "practice card". These cards will be given to students, in our class, who need to practice the rules a little more than usual. Practicing the rules is not to punish the student. Practicing will help the student remember the rules that they are breaking daily so that they can follow the rules. I strongly believe that everyone has the ability to be successful. In order for this to happen, the rules need to be followed. When a rule is broken over and over again, it tells me that the student is not understanding how they are breaking it or that they need help remembering what to do. The cards will help. If your student receives one, you will receive a letter that needs to be signed and returned to school the following day. The day the card is assigned to the student they will practice, for 2 minutes, at recess time. The practice session will consist of the student reciting and gesturing the rule they keep breaking. This first card will be white. The next color practice card is purple. If your student receives a purple card your student has shown success with the rule they were struggling with! You will receive a letter letting you know that they no longer have a white card and now they have a purple one. Purple cards are given out when they have demonstrated the rule correctly in class without my direction. For example, if student A plays in their desk while they should be pulling out their math book and then the next day they take that book out of their desk within the first few seconds of the direction given, they will receive a purple card. When the student has a purple card they do not have to sit out for recess practicing for 2 minutes. The final stage of the cards is green. The student receives these to tally how often they can listen to the rules. Every time he/she, for example, follows directions quickly they put a mark on their card. This is a great tool for the student to see that they can do what is expected of them! Positive reinforcement is the goal with this stage. If they know they can be a model student the issues they were having may no longer be an issue. If you have any questions, please contact me.
I am so proud of your children and their progress in my classroom. We have come such a long way since the first day of school, when I introduced them to Whole Brain Teaching. The third graders settled in wonderfully, perform tasks quickly, and enjoy the hands-on approach as we learn and play.
At Parent Night I briefly introduced the different levels to my classroom management approach. Let me share where we are in that process. We started the year off with the Scoreboard (Level 1), when classroom behavior either earned the students smilies or frownies. The total tally of smilies and frownies earned resulted in more or less recess time. Then I introduced the Super Improvers Team (Level 2), when students were awarded stars for any improvement I noticed in classwork or behavior.
By now the students are familiar with the expectations and classroom rules. There are still a few students who test the boundaries and therefore need some additional practice to help them master our classroom rules. It is time to introduce Level 3, the Practice Cards. Level 3 is for those students who need some extra practice in following our five classroom rules. When a student has difficulty following a classroom rule they will, at my discretion, receive a white Practice Card with the rule that was broken written on it. This means that they will be required to practice the rule for two minutes during recess. To practice a positive action frequently helps to replace the negative action, and over time behavior is modified. You, the parents, will receive a note to inform you that your child is having trouble with a particular rule in class. Please sign the note and return it to school the next day. If the note is not signed the next day, your child will again practice the rule during recess.
After practicing the positive behavior for some time, I will introduce purple Practice Cards. Purple Practice Cards are to let students know that I am seeing their improvement in the particular rule they are working on. You will also receive a note to let you know there has been improvement in your child’s behavior. When a student receives a purple Practice Card it trumps the white Practice Card, and only the purple note will come home.
The last set of Practice Cards will be introduced later this year. These are the green Practice Cards and they will be placed on the students’ desks, and are marked each time the particular rule was followed. At the end of the day I will decide if there are enough tally marks to merit a purple Practice Card and note home.
These Practice Cards are meant to motivate and help modify behavior by giving students, who struggle with some of the rules, opportunities to practice the rules for short frequent intervals. Practice does not make perfect, but it does make permanent.
Thank you for your support and please stop by if you have any questions.
Mariaan, This is very informative, I'm sure the parents will appreciate the opportunity to understand the Practice Card system. Nice job - here are 25 certification points!
We have certainly been learning a lot this year in Room 411! It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Soon we will enjoy a much-deserved holiday break before resuming our studies. When students return to class next week, we will begin using Practice Cards. There are three types of Practice Cards that we will use in Room 411. This letter describes the purpose of these cards and ways you can help your child.
White Practice Cards will be used when a student needs to practice a specific rule. For example, if a student is not following directions quickly (Rule #1) they will receive a White Practice Card with Rule #1 written on it. Your child will not be scolded or berated. This is not meant as a punishment in any way. It is an opportunity for your child to practice the rule with its gesture for 2 minutes at recess. They are then free to enjoy the remainder of their recess. Students will never receive more than two White Practice Cards per day. Any student receiving such a card at school, will then come home with a Practice Note. This will give you specific information about which rule was practiced. I ask that you have your child further practice the rule and gesture at home. Then, sign the Practice Note and return it to school the next day. Until the note is signed and returned, the White Practice Card stays "in effect" with additional practice time at recess.
Purple Practice Cards will be used when a student has shown exceptional ability to follow a classroom rule. A Purple Practice Card cancels the effect of a White Practice Card. Any student with a Purple Practice (and no White Practice Cards) will come home with a Praise Note. It will explain specifically what your child is doing well, and encourage you to give them a small reward. For example, a little extra one-on-one time with you! :)
Green Practice Cards will be used in the classroom if your child needs additional practice at following a specific rule during instructional time. These cards provide students with an opportunity to note with a tally mark each time they successfully followed one of our classroom rules. At my discretion, if a student has several tally marks on a Green Practice Card this will earn them a Purple Practice Card.
These cards will be used in stages - first white, then purple and finally green. They are used to address specific rules - not a vague goal for improvement. The use of these cards is designed to provide the extra practice some students need, as well as affirm the positive choices students make. If you have any questions about the use of Practice Cards in our classroom, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Thank you for sharing your children with me. I realize you have entrusted me with your most precious treasure and it is a privilege I do not take lightly.
Sally, This is a very positive letter that I'm sure the parents will appreciate! There was one small error (no comma needed: Any student receiving such a card at school, will then come home with a Practice Note.) (that's cool) Here are 20 certification points!
What a great beginning we have had to the start of our school-year. The students are working hard on following our 5 class rules and are challenging themselves to move up on our Super Improvers Team wall. Now that we have had some time to practice the first two levels of our class rules and procedures, it is time to introduce Level three, the Practice Cards. The practice cards are not meant to be punitive. The sole purpose of the practice cards is to provide students struggling with our class rules some additional practice. All practice cards will identify the rule for which the student needs to show improvement. Below is further information on the Practice Cards. White Practice Cards - Now that we have had a few weeks to practice our class rules, any student requiring additional practice will be given a white card in their Practice Rule chart pocket. The white card will require that the student remains in the classroom during recess and practices quietly the rule that they are having trouble following. As an example, if it is Rule 2 the student is having trouble with, he/she will sit quietly in their seat and raise their hand, make the sign for talking and recite in a whisper voice “raise your hand for permission to speak” for two minutes. The student will then be able to join their friends at recess. I will send with your child a note stating which rule your child is having trouble remembering. I ask that you provide additional time at home for them to practice this rule, then sign the paper and have your child return it to school the following day. Your child’s white practice card will remain in their pocket until I receive the signed note. If it isn’t returned to me, he/she will continue to practice this rule until I receive the signed paper. A student will not receive more than two white cards on any given day. Purple Practice Cards – These will be introduced a few weeks after the White Practice Cards. The Purple Cards cancel out the White Cards. When I see a student is making progress toward the rule they have had trouble following, I will put a purple card in their pocket. I will send with your child a note telling you how great your child is doing on following this rule. Also on this note is a request for information on how you rewarded your child for their progress in following a targeted rule. Examples of a reward could be reading a book, playing a game, or watching a movie together. Please sign and return the note stating how you and your child acknowledged his/her progress during your one-on-one time. Green Practice Cards – A few weeks after the Purple Cards have been introduced, I will be handing out Green Practice Cards. The student will put tallies on these green cards at their desk every time they follow the rule they have been working on. At the end of the day, I will decide if there are enough tallies to merit a purple card. You would then receive a note stating how great your child is and requesting feedback on how you rewarded his/her progress. I ask for your continued support as we move through the different levels of Whole Brain Teaching. As always, if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me.
Terri, This is a great post! You might consider rewording the sentence "I will send with your child a note..." to make it a little more clear. Here are 25 points!
The first two months of school have been wonderful! The students are avid learners and have enthusiastically embraced our Whole Brain Teaching techniques. They love the scoreboard, our Super Improver Team, and teaching each other.
We are now ready to start using practice cards to continue to reinforce our class rules. Sometimes individual students struggle with following the rules, and the practice card system will help in this area. We have two types of cards: white and purple.
Each white card has one of the rules displayed on it. If a child is having trouble following a rule, I will place a white practice card in his/her pocket on our chart. At recess or lunch following the infringement, the child will sit quietly and repeatedly recite the rule with its gesture for two minutes before going outside. A note will be sent home that day for the child to do some additional practice with you. The note needs to be completed and signed by you and your student and returned the next day. When the note is returned, the practice card is removed from the pocket chart.
Later on, I will implement purple cards to reward improvement in following the rules. When a student has worked diligently to follow a particular rule, he/she can earn a purple card in the pocket chart. This cancels out the white card so the student will not need to practice the rule or bring a note home that day. If the student earns a purple card and has no white card for the day, I will send a note of congratulations home. You will most likely want to do something special to celebrate your child’s success at following our rules.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your continued support in creating a positive learning experience for our students. I am pleased with the community of learners we are building.
Sincerely, Connie Way
(Note: I did not include the green cards in my letter. With my class of little kindergarteners, I felt the system would work better for me at this time with just the white and purple.)
Now that the class is beginning level 3 of the scoreboard, I just wanted to give you some information regarding what would be happening in class. Most of the students are doing an excellent job following the class rules simply through my use of the classroom scoreboard and the Super Improvers Team, both of which we discussed at Back to School Night. In level 3 of the scoreboard I will begin using white practice cards with the students. As I said before most of the students are doing a wonderful job with the class rules, however, at anytime a student may forget what they need to do. In come the practice cards!! When a student has a particularly difficult time with a classroom rule, they will be assigned a white practice for that rule. The student must return to my class during nutrition, lunch or after school to practice the rule that is giving them trouble. Practice involves repeatedly whispering the rule while also going through the motions associated with the rule. The student only has to practice the rule for two minutes. You may ask what happens if they refuse to practice. In that case they will have to spend 5 minutes of their time. So they can either do it my way and get out faster, or their way and give up more of their time. If your student earns a practice card they will also be bringing a letter home to you, notifying you of the rule they need to practice. This letter must be signed by you and returned the next day or the student will have to practice the rule again. This just gives them an incentive to show you the letter and return it to me. A little later I will also be implementing special purple cards as a reward to the students. Once again they will be taking a letter home to you letting you know what a wonderful job your student is doing following the specified rule. It will be very difficult to earn these special purple cards, so please offer plenty of praise to your student if they bring home a letter indicating they have earned one. A purple card can also cancel out a white practice card, so the student would not have to come back to my room to practice. I will also be supporting your student in class if they are struggling with a particular rule. I will have green cards that I will place on their desk as a reminder to follow the rule. The student can mark on the card to keep track of how many times they are able to follow the rule. If they can do a wonderful job following the rule they may earn a Super Improver Team star or even a special purple card!! It is important to remember the practice cards are not a punishment! It is simply what the title states, practice. In some way the student has demonstrated they need further practice following a particular rule. I have a very limited time with your student every day, and if all students are following the rules even more learning can take place. So we need to practice, practice, practice!! Please contact me if you have any questions regarding level 3 of the scoreboard.
I plan to conduct several Parent Nights during the school year. I will introduce practice cards during my second Parent Night, in October. I plan to provide parents with a detailed typed explanation as well as demonstrate their use (with parents and students using humor). Below is my letter for the parents who are unable to attend.
Dear Parents,
I am sorry you were unable to attend our Parent Night last night. One of the things we discussed (and demonstrated) was the use of our new Practice Cards in class.
As you know, we have been using the powerful Whole Brain Teaching behavior management system. So far we have implemented the Scoreboard (Level 1) and Super Improvers Team (Level 2). I feel the students are now ready to move on to Level Three (Practice Cards) which will be implemented in the three phases described below.
Phase One: White Cards- White cards provide individual students the opportunity to practice a rule they have not yet consistently shown success with in class. For example, if a student repeatedly blurts, I will place a rule two card (Raise your hand for permission to speak.) in a pocket chart labeled by student number. During recess the student will have time to practice the rule by repeating the rule and the corresponding gesture for two minutes. No more than two practice cards will be given in a day. Anytime a student receives a practice card a note will be sent home so that parents will have the opportunity to discuss the rule with their child and provide additional practice. The note must be returned to school the following day, or the practice card will remain in the pocket chart and the student will practice the rule again until the signed note is returned. This will teach the student responsibility as well as accountability.
Phase Two: White & Purple Cards – During Phase 2, we will continue with the White Cards and add in Purple Cards (Wisdom Cards) which will be given for positive behavior displayed in class. As with the white cards, a note will be sent home each time your child receives a Purple Card. A Purple Card cancels a White Card, which provides students with the opportunity for a fresh start.
Phase Three: White, Purple, and Green Cards- Finally, Green Cards will be added in Phase Three. Green Practice Cards allow students to practice specific rules in class. For example, I may place a Green Rule 2 Practice card on a student’s desk who has been working to reduce the number of times they blurt in class. Rather than negative marks (for each blurt), a student will be instructed to make a tally mark on his or her card when I see that they are following the rule on the card. At the end of the day I will look at the number of tally marks received and determine if the student has earned a Purple Card.
I am excited about moving on to Level Three which is all about practice, not punishment.
If you have any questions about the use of the Practice Cards, please let me know and I will be happy to explain further.
As always, I thank you for your continued support in making this a successful year for your child.
Dear Parents,
ReplyDeleteOur year is going great with Whole Brain Teaching and our classroom is definitely powered by Funtricity! If you haven’t made it by to visit I hope you can come soon. Here’s our newest addition to our Super Improvers Team…Level 2 PRACTICE CARDS. As you’ll remember, we have five rules for our class that we practice several times a day. The rules are an important reason why our class runs so smoothly and why the students are learning so much. After being in school for two months the students are using the rules very consistently but occasionally a student may have more trouble remembering to follow one or two rules. When this happens, I simply place a white card with the rule number in your child’s slot in our pocket chart and keep right on teaching. At recess or lunch, she will practice the rule for two minutes and that afternoon she will bring home a note telling you that she needs to rehearse a rule and what that rule is. Help your child practice the gestures and words for this rule several times tonight in two-minute snatches of time. Remember, this is not punishment and we never tell a child that he was being “bad”. For example, simply say that you see she needs to practice Rule 2-Raise your hand before speaking. Allow her to do this while you time her. She should say, “Rule 2—(while raising her hand and giving the hand sign for talking) Raise your hand for permission to talk”. Allow her to do it over and over for two minutes and then stop. Later, give her another 2-minute opportunity. Be sure to give her positive praise for this practice such as “Susie, you can sure do Rule 2 perfectly. I know you are going to remember to raise your hand tomorrow in Mrs. Lamb’s class every time you speak.”
Remember to sign the note that your child brings home. It is important because the white practice card will remain in your child’s pocket chart slot until she brings back the note with your signature and this means she will continue to practice each day at school for two minutes during recess or lunch. This note is both so you will know how to help your child be even more successful in school and for me to know that she actually practiced the rule at home with you. It is wonderful to have parents who reinforce at home what the students are learning at school. It keeps the Funtricity flowing for learning!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Lamb
Great job! Remember that the SIT is level 2 of the Scoreboard, and practice cards are level 3. Here are 25 Certification Points for your efforts! Also, be careful with long sentences; the second sentence in your last paragraph could be successfully broken into smaller pieces for more clarity.
Delete*Fixed!!
You rock, girl!!! 10 finger woo!
DeleteDear Families,
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe we have been in school for six weeks now! Time will just keep on flying by. I am so very thankful for each and every one of my students. They are treasures, and I thank you for entrusting them to me.
I want to take the opportunity to share some exciting news! Our class has been making such excellent progress with the Scoreboard and our Super Improvers Team that it’s time we move onto the next level: Practice Cards.
Practice Cards are incredibly helpful tools designed to assist students in the rehearsal of our classroom rules. They are in no way a punishment. They are designed only for practice. Here’s how they work:
White Cards: If a student receives a white card, he or she gets to practice the gestures and the recitation of the words accompanying a rule he or she needs to rehearse. For example, if Student A forgets to raise her hand for permission to leave her seat (Rule Number Three), she receives a white card with Rule Number Three written on it. At recess, she spends two minutes whispering the rule to herself while doing the gestures to the rule. At the end of the day, she will receive a note to take home so her parent knows which rule she practiced that day. When the note comes back to school signed, the white card is removed. Students can receive no more than two white cards per day.
Purple Cards: Purple cards may be given to a student if he or she has received a white card. Purple cards cancel out white cards. For example, Student B blurts out the answer to a question. He forgot Rule Number Two: Raise your hand for permission to speak. He gets a white card. However, the next time Student B wants to speak, he remembers to raise his hand. He gets a purple card, and now he doesn’t get to practice Rule Number Two at recess. In fact, if Student B receives only purple cards in one day, he gets a congratulatory note home!
Green Cards: Sometimes students get to practice the rules in class. If this is the case, they receive a green card. Green cards have a rule written on them that a student needs to rehearse. For example, Student C is being a snail one day. He cannot seem to remember that Rule Number One is to follow directions quickly. I will place a green card with that rule written on it on his desk. For the rest of the day, every time he follows Rule Number One, he will mark a tally on the green card. At the end of the day, he will present the card to me. If he has received enough tallies, he has a good chance of earning a purple card.
Note: White cards will be implemented right away, purple cards will be introduced later on, and green cards later still. We have to master the uses of each of the cards before we can move on to the next set.
These Practice Cards are great enforcers of the kinds of behaviors necessary for our room to be fully functional. We are dedicated to high academic achievement. In order to keep improving, learning, and growing, we are going to practice optimal behaviors!
I’m excited! I know the students are excited to move onto the next level. They are doing such a great job being the leaders in our school. Please contact me with questions or comments.
Sincerely,
Meredith Pearson
Meredith,
DeleteThis is an exceptional explanation of the practice cards! great job! Here are 25 Certification Points ans 5 BONUS POINTS for a job well done!
Dear Parents,
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to believe that we have been in school for a whole quarter; time is just flying by! I am sure your children have told you all about our Scoreboard and earning smileys and frownys. In late August, we added on Level 2 of our Scoreboard, the Super Improvers Team. We are now going to add on Level 3, Practice Cards. Practice cards are colored cards that are designed to assist students with the practice of classroom rules that they struggle with. These are not a punishment, but rather a practice to make a habit. Below are how the cards will work in our classroom:
White Cards: If a students receives a white card, he or she will practice the rule and gesture for the broken rule repeatedly for two minutes during lunch and recess. For example, if a child forgets to raise her hand for permission to speak (Rule #2), she will receive a white card with Rule #2 written on it in her pocket. At recess and lunch, she will spend two minutes whispering the rule and doing the gesture for the rule. Two minutes really is a long time and by practicing the rule for two minutes, it will help make the rule a habit for her. At the end of the day, she will receive a note to take home to get signed by her parents, so they know which rule was broken and practiced that day. The white card in her pocket will remain until the note is signed and returned. A student can receive no more than two white cards per day. To help your child, you can practice the broken rule at home with your child.
Purple Cards: After some time of using practice cards, I will introduce purple cards. Purple cards are awarded to students for positive actions. For example, if our child from the above scenario remembers to raise her hand for permission to speak, she will earn a purple card. For practice purposes, a purple card cancels out a white card. So, if a white card is received followed by a purple card not long after, she will not have to practice the rule at recess and lunch. If a student receives one or more purple cards, a positive note will be sent home informing parents about their child's excellent behavior.
Green Cards: Later on in the year, I may decide to implement green cards. These cards will be placed on individual student desks and every time they follow the card's rule, they will place a tally mark on the card. At the end of the day, the student and I will review their day and based on how many tally marks they have on their green card, they may be able to earn a purple card.
I hope that you will find this system to be both effective for your child and informative for you.
Sincerely,
Allyson Sutton
Allyson,
DeleteNice explanation of the practice card system. You may want to change the phrase "may decide to implement" with regard to green cards. Here are 25 Certification Points!
November 2013
ReplyDeleteDear Parents/Guardians,
As we begin the second trimester, I am amazed at how well the students have settled in to our classroom. We still continue to practice our 5 classroom rules every day. Students are doing great with the Scoreboard and the Super Improvers Team. I am so proud of each and every one of them!
They have been so successful that I feel they are ready to move on to the next level. Practice Cards are great for addressing individual behavior concerns and successes. They are designed for students to practice following the classroom rules. Students are not being punished with these cards. They are simply opportunities for extra practice. Please read below to see how the cards work.
White Cards: If a student receives a white card, he/she will practice the rule and gesture for the rule that was broken for two minutes during recess. For example, if a student forgets to raise her hand for permission to speak (Rule # 2), she will receive a white card with Rule # 2 written on it. During recess, she will spend two minutes whispering the rule to while performing the gesture for the rule. At the end of the day, she will receive a note to take home that must be signed by her parents. The white card will remain in her slot on the pocket chart until the note is signed and returned. If your child receives a white card, please take a few minutes at home to practice the broken rule with him/her. Students will not receive more than two white cards per day.
Purple Cards: After we have had sufficient practice with the white cards, I will introduce purple cards. Purple cards will be given to students for positive behaviors. Students with a white card can receive a purple card because purple cards cancel out white cards. Let’s look back at the student that had a hard time raising her hand. If I notice that she is remembering to raise her hand for permission to speak, I will give her a purple card. If a student receives any purple cards, a positive note will be sent home letting parents know about their positive behavior.
Green Cards: Once students are comfortable with the white and purple cards, I will introduce the green cards. Each green card has a specific class rule written on it. These cards will be placed on individual student’s desks. Whenever that student follows the rule written on the card, he/she will place a tally mark on the card. At the end of the day, we will look at the card to see how many tally marks there are. This is a great opportunity for the student to receive a purple card.
I am excited to see how well students will do as we move on to this new level. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me or write a note in your child’s binder. Thank you for your cooperation!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Isham
Elissa,
DeleteGreat explanation of the practice cards! Here are 25 Certification Points for you!
Dear Parents,
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to believe how time flies. It is hard to believe the semester is half over. We will be going to Level 2 of the Super Improvers Team by instituting practice cards to rehearse rules set at the beginning of the year. This is how it will work.
Students will be given a white practice card for the rule they keep breaking. Once they are given a white card, they will stay with me at the beginning of lunch for two minutes to practice the rule. Students will never be given more than two white practice cards. A note will be sent home telling you of the rule your child is breaking and must be signed and returned the next day. I encourage you to have your child to practice the rule at home.
As your child obeys the rule at a steady pace, he/she will be given a purple card indicating they are doing better, and a note will be sent home telling you of your child’s progress. A purple card will cancel out a white card.
The more your child obeys the rule; they will receive a green card, so they can track their own progress that can earn them a purple card. Every time they obey the rule, they will make a tally mark on the green card. Tally marks can earn them a purple card and a note home.
The goal is to get students following all rules to keep the class running as smooth as possible. Please go over this letter with your child to reinforce what I will be doing in class.
Thanks for your support. It takes all of us to make a great year. I know I can count on you to in sure your child has the best year ever.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me before or after school.
Respectfully,
Miss Manuel
Debora Manuel
Deb,
DeleteNice job. Remember, the SIT is level 2 of the Scoreboard, and the practice cards are level 3 of the Scoreboard. It would be great to add a bit more detail about what happens when students sat in for 2 minutes of recess, as well as more excitement over earning purple cards. Your letter needs more detail. Here are 10 Certification Points for your efforts!
Dear Parents/Guardians,
ReplyDeleteWe hope this team letter finds you and your scholar enjoying a wonderful sixth grade year. It is hard to believe we have finished the first semester and a much needed winter break. As you might well remember, we introduced our team’s classroom management system during our back to school open house. We briefly discussed we would be practicing how to follow team rules, routines, and procedures. You may also remember us mentioning after we have had adequate time to practice our rules there might be some students who still need more practice. We would like to briefly introduce how our “Practice Cards” will be used.
As you may recall, Team Canterbury Castle has five rules that govern our classrooms. We practice these rules often, and they help keep our kingdom on track and running smoothly! However, occasionally, students may need extra rule practice. Practice Cards are just that--Practice! They are not punishment. Cards come in three colors: white, purple, and green.
White: If your child requires more practice following a classroom rule, they will be given a white card. Students will not receive more than two white cards per day. At the end of seventh period (M-Th) and at the beginning of Fun Friday (F), he/she will spend 2 minutes practicing the rule. They will also bring a note home to inform you which rule was practiced. We respectfully request your child spend time practicing at home, too. Please sign and return the note.
Purple: Purple cards cancel out white cards. If a child receives a white card for not following a rule, and then, later during class, they demonstrate following the rule, they would get a purple card. Practicing the rule and a note home would not be necessary. In fact, the team might send home a “Knight Note” praising him/her for following the rule.
Green Cards: Sometimes, a student might be given time to practice a rule during class. If so, a green card will be given. The rule needing practice will be written on the green card, and each time your scholar follows the rule, they will place a tally mark on the card. With enough tally marks, students can be rewarded with a purple practice card and even a “Knight Note” home.
We are the FMS Knights of Canterbury Castle and dedicated to learning. We value your parental support and understand that one key to student success is your involvement. None of us is stronger than all of us! Please help us help your scholar be true to the spirit of the rules.
Please feel free to contact us if you have further questions.
Respectfully yours,
Team Canterbury Castle
Melinda Sprinkle
I love this, Melinda! I think this is what we should actually use:) I'm excited about implementing WBT this year; I just hope I can run it as smoothly as you!
DeleteMelinda,
DeleteGreat job! You have an excellent explanation of the purpose and procedures involved in using practice cards. Here are 25 Certification Points and a 5 POINT BONUS for your added detail!
Dear Parents and Guardians,
ReplyDeleteCanterbury Castle is off to a great start to the second semester. It is hard to believe that we are already entering the second half of the school year! We truly hope that sixth grade has been a wonderful experience. As part of our team’s classroom management, we have instilled team rules and procedures, as discussed briefly in our “Moving Up” day at the beginning of the school year. In order to keep these rules fresh and alive in our classrooms, we will be introducing “Practice Cards”.
“Practice Cards” allow for practice of our five rules and help keep our classes orderly and productive. If your child receives a white card this means that they need additional practice with a particular rule. No student will be given more than two white cards per day. We will be giving time at the end of the day, and if necessary, during our ‘Fun Friday’ time for students who receive white cards to practice for two minutes. If this occurs, the student will bring home a note informing you which rule was practiced, and we ask the note to be signed and returned the next day. It would also be beneficial if there were time given at home to practice as well. Purple cards will be given to students as an award for a positive behavior and for following the rules particularly well. The neat thing about a purple card is that it cancels a white practice card! You will also receive a note informing you of your child’s excellent behavior once given a purple card! Finally, a green card would signify that a student might need additional time to practice following a certain rule in class. If a student is given a green card, the rule needing practice will be written on the card and the student will place tally marks on the card for each time they practiced the rule successfully. With shown improvement, this can earn the student a purple card!
We want to take this time to go ahead and thank you for your support in helping and partnering with us to create a positive learning environment in our team’s classrooms! Please let us know if you have further questions.
Warmly,
Team Canterbury Castle Teachers
Amanda,
DeleteGood letter to parents. Here are your 25 certification points!
Dear Parents,
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to believe that the first quarter of the year is already over. We've gotten off to a really good start with our Scoreboard and Super Improvers Team that were introduced at the beginning of the year. The students know our classroom rules and can recite them when asked. It's now time for the next level in our classroom management system. I'd like to introduce you to the “Practice Cards”.
Even though the students know our classroom rules, some students still need more practice. This is where the Practice Cards come in. These cards are not intended to be punishment, but practice for the students. The cards come in three colors: white, purple, and green. Let me explain each color.
White cards mean that the student needs more practice following a particular classroom rule. When a student consistently breaks a rule, I will take a white card with that rule on it and place it in his/her slot on the pocket chart. Then during recess, the student will practice the rule for two minutes. A note will be sent home to you, the parents, describing the rule that the student needs to practice. The white card will stay in his/her slot until the note is returned signed by a parent.
Purple cards are awarded to students for positive actions and cancels out a white practice card. As parents, you will receive a note home informing you of your child's excellent behavior.
Green cards are introduced last. Green cards are placed on the student's desk to remind him/her of the rule that he/she needs to work on. The student keeps track of how many times during the day that he/she follows the rule. At the end of the day, it can earn the student a purple card or a star on the Super Improvers Team board.
It is my goal to have a smooth running classroom. The more students follow the rules, the smoother the class will go. Please go over this with your child to reinforce what will be happening in the classroom.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Ms. Bragg
Cheryl,
DeleteNice letter to your students' parents. Here are 25 certification points for you!
Dear Parents,
ReplyDeleteAs we enter into the second nine weeks, our Whole Brain Teaching classroom will be introduced to Level 3: practice cards. Our class has been so successful in the Scoreboard and the Super Improver Team; I feel it is time to encourage successful results with our classroom rules. To remind you, our five classroom rules are:
1. Follow directions quickly.
2. Raise your hand for permission to speak.
3. Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat.
4. Make smart choices.
5. Keep your dear teacher happy.
These practice cards will be a reminder of one of five classroom rules that your child may have trouble following in class. For example, if Lucy has trouble following rule 2, she will receive a white practice card in her pocket chart slot labeled Rule 2: Raise your hand for permission to speak. During recess, she will practice raising her hand for 2 minutes, to encourage her to successfully raise her hand in class. Once her two minutes is up, she can go to recess. These cards are not a way of me punishing your child but instead are viewed as a time to practice what they need work on.
If your child receives a white practice card at school, there will be a note in your child’s planner. Please sign this note so your child’s practice card can be removed the next day at school. The practice card will stay in your child’s pocket chart slot until the note has been signed. The maximum number of white cards your child can receive in one school day is two, which equates to 4 minutes of practice time during recess.
The following month, I will implement purple cards, which are called “wisdom cards”. When I see your child has drastically improved in following one of the 5 rules above, they will get a purple card in their pocket chart slot. This will allow me to send home a congratulatory note home to you, to brag about your child’s success.
Months later, if your child is doing back and forth between a white card and a purple card, I will implement a green card. This green card will be placed on your child’s desk. Throughout the day, they will tally any time they effectively follow a certain rule above that they have struggled with. At the end of the day, I will count their tallies and determine if they can earn a purple card with a congratulatory note to go home.
I hope you will motivate your child, with positive remarks, to follow our five classroom rules. If your child does receive a practice note in their planner, please discuss with them what rule they need to work on. Encourage them to do the same thing at home and get in the habit of being an outstanding student! Thank you for making this school year the best it can be for our little ladybugs!
Respectfully,
Mrs. Harrell
Laken,
ReplyDeleteYour parents will appreciate your efforts to communicate your classroom policies. Unfortunately, this post has several errors in mechanics and grammar. I cannot award any points.
Nancy,
ReplyDeleteI'm so embarrassed! This is what I get for trying to hurry to complete the assignment before I went out of town. I typed the response into the blog instead of a word document. I promise this won't happen in the future because I will edit my responses! It's cool! I have many more chapters to earn points! Thanks for keeping me on my toes and reminding me to check my grammar!
-Laken
Laken, don't be embarrassed. I did the same thing for an assignment for Farrah when I was trying to finish before I went out of town and should have just waited. We live and learn.
DeleteIt's Cool! I always love your posts!
Great Team support there!!
DeleteDear Third Grade Families,
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous and busy quarter we have had here in third grade. The students have adjusted to their increased responsibilities and advanced curriculum with positive attitudes. The effort they put forth is commendable and reflected in the gains they have made on our Super Improvers Wall. Please be sure to check their communications binder daily and ask them about the progress they are making.
You may see something new in their binders as we move into the second quarter. We are moving on to a new Scoreboard Level. Level three involves practice cards. We are super excited about using these cards in third grade!
What is a practice card you ask? Practice cards come in three colors, each color represents a way we can become more efficient at following our rules. Below you will find a detailed explanation of each color. Also, in the communications binder you will find a simplified explanation of each color to use as a quick reference. We will begin with White cards being the only practice cards given out, but as the weeks progress Purple and then Green cards will be obtainable.
White: Children who need additional practice on one of the five classroom rules will receive a white card. The rule they had trouble with will be pictured on the card. For each white card they receive, they will stay in at recess practicing how to follow the rule for 2 minutes. (After setting a timer, the student will whisper and gesture the rule independently for two minutes. They will not receive more than two white cards a day.)
Purple: Purple cards are powerful. They cancel out a white card. Purple cards are given out to children who demonstrate they can follow the classroom rule after receiving a white card. Positive Action = Purple Card
Green: There are times that a student will practice the rule in class instead of at recess. First, a green card is placed on their desk with a specific rule pictured on it. Next, they are asked to keep a tally on the card of all the times during the day they follow the rule. Before they head home, I will count up their tallies and decide if they have effectively followed the rule. If it is determined they have, they will receive a purple card.
Each time your child receives a card, you will receive a note home telling you of their practice. If you have any questions, please ask. Remember, we are excited about this new addition to Scoreboard. The cards are not a punishment, but instead they are a way to keep ourselves consistently following our five classroom rules.
Mrs. Cassaro
Catherine,
ReplyDeleteVery detailed letter for your parents! Here are 25 points! (Just a note, the Purple Card may also be given to a student even if he has not received a White Card. Purple is highly prized, so it is considered a really big honor to receive one!)
Thank you Nancy for clarifying that. I so appreciate our response to this chapter being the creation of something we will use in implementing WBT. This has been a very constructive book club!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your great participation! We learn a lot from each other!!
DeleteDear Fabulous Fifth Grade Parents/Guardians,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful year we have had so far! I’m thankful every day for the chance to work with these amazing students. As I have shared with you previously, our class is following an effective behavior management program through Whole Brain Learning. We have learned our five classroom rules, and we practice them daily. We have used our Scoreboard to record our super (oh yeah!), and our almost-super (mighty groan) behavior as a class. Then, we added our Super Improver Team game. The students are moving up their ladders of success nicely, with goals of reaching the coveted level of Living Legend.
Occasionally, students may still need a little more practice with a certain rule (or two). To help them out, we have our new Practice Cards! These are special cards that focus on practice rather than punishment! We will begin with white cards, then later add purple, and finally add green.
White Cards: When a child needs to practice following a classroom rule, for example: Rule #2 - Raise your hand for permission to speak; they will be given a white card. A student will never receive more than two white cards per day. For each white card the child receives during day, they will spend two minutes of recess practicing the rule. They will bring a note home that evening for you to sign, informing you that they received the white card and specifying which rule was practiced. The letter will also request that your child spend two minutes at home practicing the rule with the assigned gestures. Please return the signed note in your child’s agenda the next day.
Purple Cards: These cards (also called Wisdom Cards) become rewards for good behavior. If your child receives a white card during class for not following a rule, but later that day corrects that behavior and shows that they can follow the rule, they will receive a purple card. This purple card will cancel out their white one, and they will not need the note for practice at home. If great improvement is noted, they will receive a note that praises them for their improvement! Occasionally, your child may receive a purple card purely because they have demonstrated fantastic behavior that day. What an honor!
Green Cards: After a few weeks using the white, then the purple and white cards, we will add the green cards. This card is placed on the student’s desk if they need time to practice a rule during class rather than at recess. The rule that the child is to practice is pictured on the card. They will make an effort to demonstrate that rule throughout the day. Each time they follow the rule, they will make a tally mark on the card. With sufficient tally marks, the student may receive a purple card and note of praise to take home.
Implementing these behavior systems has helped us create a learning environment that focuses on the positive, allows for practice, and rewards improvement. When we have positive behavior, our class can be engaged in high energy lessons involving seeing, hearing, doing, speaking and feeling. And, let’s not forget, when we have positive behavior… learning is fun!
Thank you for supporting your child, and please let me know if you have any questions!
Ms. Shelton
Michelle,
ReplyDeleteWell done! Your letter gives parents positive ways to follow-up on their child's behaviors at school! Here are 25 points for you!
Dear First Grade Families,
ReplyDeleteOur year is off to a fabulous start! Time sure is flying here in first grade and we are making the most of each and every moment. It is my greatest pleasure teaching and getting to know your beautiful treasures who constantly amaze me with their zest and excitement for learning.
I am writing to share some wonderful news! Over the past two months, our boys have made such incredible strides with our Scoreboard and Super Improvers Team, that they are ready for level 3: Practice Cards! I’m sure your son will tell you everything he has learned about Practice Cards as he hops off the bus, but here is an explanation that may come with a little more detail and accuracy.
Practice Cards will be used daily to assist our boys in the rehearsal of our five classroom rules. Practice Cards are not a punishment; they are used as an opportunity for additional rehearsal. They are designed for one thing and one thing only: PRACTICE. Here’s how they work:
White Practice Cards: If a student is having trouble following one of our classroom rules, he will receive a white Practice Card in his slot on our pocket chart. Printed on the Practice Card will be the specific rule that he needs to practice. At recess, he will spend two minutes whispering the rule to himself while using the proper gestures that go along with the rule. You will receive a note informing you of the rule that your son practiced that day. The white Practice Card will be removed when the note comes back to school signed by a parent. If the note does not come back to school signed, he will continue to practice the next day. No more than two white Practice Cards will be given to a student in any given day.
Purple Practice Cards: Later on in the year, purple Practice Cards will be given to a student if he has already received a white Practice Card and has shown improvement in the specific rule that he broke. The great thing about purple Practice Card is that they cancel the effect of a white Practice Card! They are a great way to motivate our boys to get back on track so that they won’t have to sit and practice their rules during recess. Any student who ends the day with one or more purple Practice Cards will be sent home with a congratulatory note!
Green Practice Cards: Once the boys have mastered the ways of the white and purple Practice Cards, they will move on to green Practice Cards. Occasionally, it is not enough that a student knows the rule and has practiced it over and over. Sometimes, he will need practice following the rule when he is immersed in the wonderful atmosphere of our lively classroom. To address this issue, I will place a green Practice Card on his desk. The green Practice Card will be labeled with the rule that the student needs to practice. Each time during class that this student follows the rule that he is focusing on, he will make a tally mark on the green Practice Card. At the end of the day, I will count the tally marks on the card and use my best intuition to decide if a purple Practice Card is in order.
We are all super excited to begin level 3 of the Scoreboard! Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about the Practice Card system. I look forward to hearing your feedback as we begin this exciting journey together. Thank you for your continued support and outstanding dedication to the growth of our young men.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Rivky Greenberger
Rivky,
DeleteYour parents will appreciate your detailed letter about the Practice Cards! Here are 25 points for you!
Dear Music Parents,
ReplyDeleteThe Music Room is in full swing and our little Mozarts are listening, creating, and performing some great music. Our classroom has five rules that we practice together at the beginning of each class. The scoreboard is a fun way to keep track of our whole class behavior. Be sure to ask your child to demonstrate a the Oh, Yeah! 1 second party and the Mighty Groan for those less than stellar moments.
As it happens, the occasional student may need a little more practice with a rule. To help out my musician friends, we have introduced practice cards. We always talk about how practice isn’t a punishment but something that all musicians do to improve.
Initially, we have added white cards. When a child needs to practice following one of our classroom rules, he will receive a white card. After music class, they will remain in their seat for 2 minutes and rehearse the rule. A note will be sent home letting you know which rule was practiced. Please sign it and return it to school. A child will never receive more than 1 white card in a music period.
Later, we will add Purple cards. Purple cards are rewards for good classroom behavior and it cancels out a white card. It’s like a “get out of jail free” card. Children can receive a purple card without ever getting a white card. Notes will be sent home to let you know about great behavior.
Our music room is a place where all students can find a place to take risks and support each other. Implementing behavior systems help create this kind of environment. Good classroom behavior helps us all and provides us a chance to stretch our musical wings even further. When we have great behavior, we have great fun!
Mrs. Weston
Music Specialist
*I left Green Cards off on purpose. In my 40 minute, once a week setting, it’s unlikely I would need to use Green cards with more than 1 or 2 students per year. Green cards would be a more intense intervention that I would use in conjunction with the classroom teacher’s interventions. Because it would effect so few of my 650 students, I would only bring it up to the parents involved when and if it were needed.
Gwenn Weston
Gwen,
DeleteExcellent letter to your parents! Here are 25 points and a 5 point bonus!
Practice Cards
ReplyDeleteDear Patriot Families,
Our year is off to a great start! During of 1st quarter of First Grade we have become familiar with our schedule and procedures. The students are doing extremely well and have settled in nicely. We continue to practice our 5 classroom rules daily to ensure our routines run as smoothly as possible. The class has been doing a wonderful job with the Scoreboard and the Super Improvers Team. I know they are so excited to earn those stars and move up the Super Improvers wall. I am so proud of each and every one of them!
They have been so successful that I am confident they are ready to move on to the next level. Practice Cards! Practice Cards are an amazing way of addressing behavior concerns and successes of individuals. Theses cards are designed for students to practice following our classroom rules. Students are not being punished with these cards. They are only opportunities for extra practice. There are 3 different types of cards. Please read below to see how the cards work.
White Card: If a student receives a white card, they will practice the rule and gesture for the rule that was broken for two minutes during recess. The student will not be called out for forgetting a rule. Rather, I will simply place the white card in their numbered pocket in the back of the room. For example, if a student forgets to raise their hand for permission to leave their seat (Rule # 3), they will receive a white card with Rule # 3 written on it. That day, during recess, they will spend two minutes whispering the rule to themselves while performing the gesture. At the end of the day, they will receive a note to take home that must be signed by their parents. The white card will remain in their numbered slot on the pocket chart until the note is signed and returned. Students will not receive more than two white cards per day. If your child receives a white card, please take a few minutes at home to practice the broken rule with them and discuss it’s importance in the classroom.
Purple Card: After we have had sufficient time practicing with just the white cards, the purple cards will be introduced. A purple card will be given to students for positive behaviors. This will be a way for students to celebrate following a classroom rule they had previously forgotten. Students with a white card can receive a purple card because purple cards cancel out the white cards. If the student that had a hard time raising their hand is noticed remembering to raise their hand for permission to leave their seat, I will give them a purple card. If a student receives a purple card, a positive note will be sent home letting their parents know about their positive behavior.
Green Card: Once students have had some practice time with both the white and purple cards, I will introduce the green cards. Each green card has a specific class rule written on it. This card will be placed on the individual’s desk. Any time the student follows the rule written on the card, they will place a tally mark on the card. At the end of the day, the student and I will look at the green card to see how many tally marks there are and briefly discuss the rule they kept track of and why it is important to follow. At that time the student may earn a purple card and a positive note home.
I am very excited to begin this next level with your child. Our goal is to have a smooth running classroom to ensure each child reaches their highest potential. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call, email or write a note in your child’s folder. Thank you for your continued support!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Martin
Sara,
ReplyDeleteNicely done! Your parents will appreciate this letter of information. One small error at the beginning, "During of 1st quarter of First Grade we..." Here are 20 points and a 5 point Bonus!
Dear Kindergarten Families,
ReplyDeleteAs you well know, we have been working hard on mastering Level One and Level Two of the Scoreboard Game every day. Well, the time has come for us to move on to Level Three of the Scoreboard Game: Practice Cards. Practice Cards will give us the opportunity to practice those amazing five classroom rules in an individual fashion. Below is a brief description of how the Practice Cards work.
I have created a White Card for each of the five classroom rules. When a student breaks a rule, the corresponding white rule card is placed in their pocket chart. These cards are not a punishment! They are to remind both me and the student that more practice is needed for this rule. During recess, the student will practice this rule for 2 minutes. At the end of the day, the student will bring home a letter from me in their Yellow Fellows. The letter will let you know what rule was broken and will ask that the student practice this rule at home for as long as you feel necessary. After practicing at home, please sign and return the form to school. If this form is not signed and returned, the student will practice this rule again the next day for 2 minutes during recess. As we move up in levels, the minutes of practice increase by one to compliment the higher expectations for more difficult levels.
After some time, students will begin to earn a Purple Card (or Wisdom Card) in their pocket chart. Again, this is not a punishment! Wisdom Cards are rewards for following the rule! A Wisdom Card also has the ability to cancel out a White Card in the pocket chart. If a student ends the day with more White Cards than Wisdom Cards, the student will practice and the note will go home as mentioned above. If they end the day with more Wisdom Cards than White Cards, a letter goes home announcing the great work they are doing following this rule in class and there is no practice needed.
As the White Cards decrease and Wisdom Cards increase, students are given Green Cards. Green Cards are used by the student to self evaluate and track their frequency of following a rule. After counting the frequency tallies on the Green Cards, we will determine whether a prized Wisdom Card was earned at the end of the day.
We are all very thrilled to be moving up to Level Three of our Scoreboard Game. Practice Cards will allow us to show even more improvement in our behaviors for the SIT Wall. Knowing the rules and maintaining a positive atmosphere will help prepare us for first grade. As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for all that you do and I look forward to a wonderful second half of the year.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Mulcahy
Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteGreat letter to your parents. They will appreciate the explanation. Here are 25 certification points plus 5 BONUS POINTS!
Dear Family,
ReplyDeleteYour child, individually and as a member of our class, is experiencing great success with our Whole Brain classroom management plan. With our Scoreboard, the class continues to become a more unified, productive learning team. The Super Improvers Team gives your child many opportunities to continually meet and surpass personal goals, both socially and academically. The students are doing so well, they are ready to advance to Level Three of the plan: Practice Cards. This is not like the card system that is used in many teachers’ classrooms, so I’ll explain how it works.
The first step of this level is the addition of “White Cards.” If a student is struggling with following a specific classroom rule, he or she will receive a white card. At this level, practice of the specified rule will occur for two minutes during recess. The student will bring a letter home noting that a white card was received. A parent or guardian is asked to supervise a short practice of the rule at home and to sign the note, which the child should return to school promptly. The child will continue to practice the rule at recess until the note is signed and returned to school. A child will never receive more than two white cards in one day.
A few weeks after white cards are introduced, “Purple Cards” (also called “Wisdom Cards”) will be added. Receiving a purple card means that the child is doing very well following a specific classroom rule. At the end of the day, if the child has a white card, a purple card will cancel out that card. If the child has no white cards and receives a purple card, he or she will receive a congratulatory note to bring home. If your child receives one, please express your hearty approval!
The last step of the Practice Card level is “Green Cards.” Green cards provide an opportunity for your child to monitor his or her performance in following a specific expectation in class. When a child is given a green card, he or she makes a tally mark every time a specified rule is followed. At the end of the day, the student and I will review the green card. Based on the child’s performance in following the rule, I may decide the child has earned a purple card for the day.
The “Practice Card” level sets higher expectations for the students and is a powerful motivator for increased achievement. I have already enjoyed watching your child experience so many successes this year and am looking forward to the innumerable ones that I know are just ahead. Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. Your input is invited and greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Diane Strickland
Diane,
ReplyDeleteThis is a great letter to keep the Home-School connection strong in your clasroom! Here are 25 points and a 5 point bonus!
Dear Families,
ReplyDeleteWe are off to a great start this year. Our normal classroom procedures have been taught and mastered by many. I am certain your student has told you much about our classroom. I bet they have come home and explained what we are learning with excitement and FUNtricity. We have created a learning place where students are respected, respect others, and we have fun all while learning through the Whole Brain Teaching system.
Each day we set goals for our learning, we follow our Five Class Rules, we compete with the scoreboard (level 1), and we exceed our goals on the Super Improver Wall (level 2). If you have not had the chance to see our classroom system, it is worth a few minutes of your time. You will walk away amazed.
Even though we have made tremendous progress with classroom behaviors, we are continuing to expect students to follow our rules. Since we are still learning, no one is perfect, we are introducing a new level to our behavior system. This 3rd level is called The Practice Cards. Now I know many of you have had your students behaviors leveled with a green, yellow, red, and black, but this is very different. In our classroom, we do not penalize a student for not getting something right. It is the WBT philosophy that students need more practice. Thus, we have practice cards for when a student is challenged by a classroom rule. Here is an example:
Sarah is a bright student and always wants to do what is right. She is energetic and excited about everything. She often adds great discussion points to our learning. Sarah tends to be challenged with staying in her seat during work time and will wander around the classroom to get a tissue, go to the bathroom, talk to a friend, or sharpen her pencil. Yet the expectation is for her to be working. We have learned that Rule 3 is to ‘Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat.’ Sarah practices this skill and still needs to continue to practice. She has earned stars on her Super Improver Wall for improvement. In order to further her practice, we have begun to use Practice Cards to help remind Sarah of what it looks like to follow this rule.
When Sarah has forgotten to follow Rule 3, I simply place a white practice card in her pocket. She knows that she has 2 minutes of practicing Rule 3 at recess time. I will also send a quick note home to ask that she practice for 2 minutes (or any amount of time that you see fit.) Please sign and return this note and I will let her take this card out of her pocket. If she doesn’t bring this note back, she will continue to practice this skill.
As the year goes on and Sarah is making great progress, I will add in the purple card to reward her for following the rules. This purple card will cancel out a white card she may receive. Students are highly motivated to change their behaviors to cancel out practice time. She will receive a letter to you explaining that she is working hard to correct her behaviors in class.
Once Sarah continues to show improvement, she will be given the chance to monitor her own practice time in the classroom by tally marking on a green practice card, each time she follows the rule. If I see fit, at the end of the day, Sarah many cancel out any white card she may have since she is clearly practicing her rule following.
I thank you so much for your time, and look forward to sending home letters explaining how awesome your child is doing with following the rules. Thank you in advance for your home support. When we join home and school support, students succeed!
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Long
Krystal,
DeleteThis is a great letter of communication for your parents about the purpose and use of Practice Cards! Here are 25 points for you and a 5 point Bonus!
Dear Families,
ReplyDeleteWelcome back from Winter Break! I have absolutely loved hearing about the children's adventures over the past two weeks! We have jumped right back in to learning, improving, and growing! While most of the children have mastered our classroom rules and are becoming leaders in our class, occasionally some of them still need extra practice with a certain rule. I'm excited to share my plan to help them - Practice Cards!
Practice Cards are incredibly helpful for students who need extra practice following our classroom rules. They are not a punishment. These cards are an opportunity for extra practice needed in order to be successful in school. Here’s how they work:
White Cards: If a child receives a white card this means he/she broke one of our classroom rules. To help this child improve, he/she will spend two minutes of recess practicing the rule and gesture. For example, if a student continues to forget to raise his/her hand before they speak and disrupts our learning by shouting out (Rule #2), that child will receive a white card with Rule #2 written on it. At recess, he/she will spend two minutes whispering the rule while doing the gestures to the rule. At the end of the day, a note will be sent home to the parents. The white card will remain in the child's pocket chart until the note is signed and returned. If your child receives a white card, please take a few minutes at home to practice the broken rule with him/her. Students can receive no more than two white cards per day.
The Purple Card of Wisdom: After we have mastered the use of white cards, purple cards will be introduced. Purple cards are powerful and stand for positive behavior! These cards may be given to a student if he/she has received a white card that day. Purple cards cancel out white cards, because they show a child has made an improvement to follow a previously broken rule. For example, if a child shouts out the answer to a question, this means Rule #2 - Raise your hand before you speak was broken. This child gets a white card. However, the next time this child wants to speak, he/she remembers to raise his/her hand!! Hooray! This child gets a purple card, and now doesn’t need to practice Rule Number #2 at recess. In fact, if this child receives only purple cards in one day, a congratulatory note goes home! Celebrate that improvement at home too! Be on the lookout... occasionally your child may receive a purple card purely because they have demonstrated extraordinary, above and beyond behavior that day. Whoo-hoo!
Green Cards: When the children have had practice using white and purple cards, green cards will be introduced on an as-needed basis. Green cards are designed for a child to self-monitor his/her individual behavior in class. Green cards have the rule written on them that the child needs extra practice with. For example, if a child continues to have difficulty with Rule #1 - Follow directions quickly, I will place a green card with that rule written on it on his/her desk. For the rest of the day, every time he/she follows Rule #1, he/she will mark a tally on the green card. At the end of the day, I will review the card with the child. A purple card can be earned for improvement or a star on the Super Improvers Team board may be given.
I strongly believe that practice makes permanent. Implementing these behavior systems has helped us create a learning environment that focuses on the positive, allows for practice, and rewards improvement.
Thank you for supporting your child! Please let me know if you have any questions. Have a great day!
Ms. Nizynski
-Shelley Nizynski Reese
Shelley,
ReplyDeleteNice job of communicating to parents about behavior management in your classroom! Here are 25 points and a 5 point Bonus!
Dear Parents/Guardians,
ReplyDeleteOur class has had a great year so far! We have been hard at work and continue to create a positive and safe learning community. As you know, our class rehearses the class rules daily to ensure that they know what is expected of them and do not make bad choices unknowingly. Starting this week, your student may receive something I call a "practice card". These cards will be given to students, in our class, who need to practice the rules a little more than usual.
Practicing the rules is not to punish the student. Practicing will help the student remember the rules that they are breaking daily so that they can follow the rules. I strongly believe that everyone has the ability to be successful. In order for this to happen, the rules need to be followed. When a rule is broken over and over again, it tells me that the student is not understanding how they are breaking it or that they need help remembering what to do. The cards will help.
If your student receives one, you will receive a letter that needs to be signed and returned to school the following day. The day the card is assigned to the student they will practice, for 2 minutes, at recess time. The practice session will consist of the student reciting and gesturing the rule they keep breaking. This first card will be white.
The next color practice card is purple. If your student receives a purple card your student has shown success with the rule they were struggling with! You will receive a letter letting you know that they no longer have a white card and now they have a purple one. Purple cards are given out when they have demonstrated the rule correctly in class without my direction. For example, if student A plays in their desk while they should be pulling out their math book and then the next day they take that book out of their desk within the first few seconds of the direction given, they will receive a purple card. When the student has a purple card they do not have to sit out for recess practicing for 2 minutes.
The final stage of the cards is green. The student receives these to tally how often they can listen to the rules. Every time he/she, for example, follows directions quickly they put a mark on their card. This is a great tool for the student to see that they can do what is expected of them! Positive reinforcement is the goal with this stage. If they know they can be a model student the issues they were having may no longer be an issue.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
Thank you,
Ms. Thompson
Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteGood letter to your parents. Here are 25 certification points!
Dear Parents,
ReplyDeleteI am so proud of your children and their progress in my classroom. We have come such a long way since the first day of school, when I introduced them to Whole Brain Teaching. The third graders settled in wonderfully, perform tasks quickly, and enjoy the hands-on approach as we learn and play.
At Parent Night I briefly introduced the different levels to my classroom management approach. Let me share where we are in that process. We started the year off with the Scoreboard (Level 1), when classroom behavior either earned the students smilies or frownies. The total tally of smilies and frownies earned resulted in more or less recess time. Then I introduced the Super Improvers Team (Level 2), when students were awarded stars for any improvement I noticed in classwork or behavior.
By now the students are familiar with the expectations and classroom rules. There are still a few students who test the boundaries and therefore need some additional practice to help them master our classroom rules. It is time to introduce Level 3, the Practice Cards. Level 3 is for those students who need some extra practice in following our five classroom rules. When a student has difficulty following a classroom rule they will, at my discretion, receive a white Practice Card with the rule that was broken written on it. This means that they will be required to practice the rule for two minutes during recess. To practice a positive action frequently helps to replace the negative action, and over time behavior is modified. You, the parents, will receive a note to inform you that your child is having trouble with a particular rule in class. Please sign the note and return it to school the next day. If the note is not signed the next day, your child will again practice the rule during recess.
After practicing the positive behavior for some time, I will introduce purple Practice Cards. Purple Practice Cards are to let students know that I am seeing their improvement in the particular rule they are working on. You will also receive a note to let you know there has been improvement in your child’s behavior. When a student receives a purple Practice Card it trumps the white Practice Card, and only the purple note will come home.
The last set of Practice Cards will be introduced later this year. These are the green Practice Cards and they will be placed on the students’ desks, and are marked each time the particular rule was followed. At the end of the day I will decide if there are enough tally marks to merit a purple Practice Card and note home.
These Practice Cards are meant to motivate and help modify behavior by giving students, who struggle with some of the rules, opportunities to practice the rules for short frequent intervals. Practice does not make perfect, but it does make permanent.
Thank you for your support and please stop by if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Carreiro
(by Mariaan Carreiro)
Mariaan,
DeleteThis is very informative, I'm sure the parents will appreciate the opportunity to understand the Practice Card system. Nice job - here are 25 certification points!
Dear Families,
ReplyDeleteWe have certainly been learning a lot this year in Room 411! It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Soon we will enjoy a much-deserved holiday break before resuming our studies. When students return to class next week, we will begin using Practice Cards. There are three types of Practice Cards that we will use in Room 411. This letter describes the purpose of these cards and ways you can help your child.
White Practice Cards will be used when a student needs to practice a specific rule. For example, if a student is not following directions quickly (Rule #1) they will receive a White Practice Card with Rule #1 written on it. Your child will not be scolded or berated. This is not meant as a punishment in any way. It is an opportunity for your child to practice the rule with its gesture for 2 minutes at recess. They are then free to enjoy the remainder of their recess. Students will never receive more than two White Practice Cards per day. Any student receiving such a card at school, will then come home with a Practice Note. This will give you specific information about which rule was practiced. I ask that you have your child further practice the rule and gesture at home. Then, sign the Practice Note and return it to school the next day. Until the note is signed and returned, the White Practice Card stays "in effect" with additional practice time at recess.
Purple Practice Cards will be used when a student has shown exceptional ability to follow a classroom rule. A Purple Practice Card cancels the effect of a White Practice Card. Any student with a Purple Practice (and no White Practice Cards) will come home with a Praise Note. It will explain specifically what your child is doing well, and encourage you to give them a small reward. For example, a little extra one-on-one time with you! :)
Green Practice Cards will be used in the classroom if your child needs additional practice at following a specific rule during instructional time. These cards provide students with an opportunity to note with a tally mark each time they successfully followed one of our classroom rules. At my discretion, if a student has several tally marks on a Green Practice Card this will earn them a Purple Practice Card.
These cards will be used in stages - first white, then purple and finally green. They are used to address specific rules - not a vague goal for improvement. The use of these cards is designed to provide the extra practice some students need, as well as affirm the positive choices students make. If you have any questions about the use of Practice Cards in our classroom, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Thank you for sharing your children with me. I realize you have entrusted me with your most precious treasure and it is a privilege I do not take lightly.
Sincerely,
Ms. Camden
Sally,
DeleteThis is a very positive letter that I'm sure the parents will appreciate! There was one small error (no comma needed: Any student receiving such a card at school, will then come home with a Practice Note.) (that's cool) Here are 20 certification points!
August 15, 2013
ReplyDeleteChapter 17 - Practice Cards
Dear parent/guardian;
What a great beginning we have had to the start of our school-year. The students are working hard on following our 5 class rules and are challenging themselves to move up on our Super Improvers Team wall. Now that we have had some time to practice the first two levels of our class rules and procedures, it is time to introduce Level three, the Practice Cards. The practice cards are not meant to be punitive. The sole purpose of the practice cards is to provide students struggling with our class rules some additional practice. All practice cards will identify the rule for which the student needs to show improvement. Below is further information on the Practice Cards.
White Practice Cards - Now that we have had a few weeks to practice our class rules, any student requiring additional practice will be given a white card in their Practice Rule chart pocket. The white card will require that the student remains in the classroom during recess and practices quietly the rule that they are having trouble following. As an example, if it is Rule 2 the student is having trouble with, he/she will sit quietly in their seat and raise their hand, make the sign for talking and recite in a whisper voice “raise your hand for permission to speak” for two minutes. The student will then be able to join their friends at recess. I will send with your child a note stating which rule your child is having trouble remembering. I ask that you provide additional time at home for them to practice this rule, then sign the paper and have your child return it to school the following day. Your child’s white practice card will remain in their pocket until I receive the signed note. If it isn’t returned to me, he/she will continue to practice this rule until I receive the signed paper. A student will not receive more than two white cards on any given day.
Purple Practice Cards – These will be introduced a few weeks after the White Practice Cards. The Purple Cards cancel out the White Cards. When I see a student is making progress toward the rule they have had trouble following, I will put a purple card in their pocket. I will send with your child a note telling you how great your child is doing on following this rule. Also on this note is a request for information on how you rewarded your child for their progress in following a targeted rule. Examples of a reward could be reading a book, playing a game, or watching a movie together. Please sign and return the note stating how you and your child acknowledged his/her progress during your one-on-one time.
Green Practice Cards – A few weeks after the Purple Cards have been introduced, I will be handing out Green Practice Cards. The student will put tallies on these green cards at their desk every time they follow the rule they have been working on. At the end of the day, I will decide if there are enough tallies to merit a purple card. You would then receive a note stating how great your child is and requesting feedback on how you rewarded his/her progress.
I ask for your continued support as we move through the different levels of Whole Brain Teaching. As always, if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me.
Terri Brown
Terri,
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post! You might consider rewording the sentence "I will send with your child a note..." to make it a little more clear. Here are 25 points!
Dear Parents,
ReplyDeleteThe first two months of school have been wonderful! The students are avid learners and have enthusiastically embraced our Whole Brain Teaching techniques. They love the scoreboard, our Super Improver Team, and teaching each other.
We are now ready to start using practice cards to continue to reinforce our class rules. Sometimes individual students struggle with following the rules, and the practice card system will help in this area. We have two types of cards: white and purple.
Each white card has one of the rules displayed on it. If a child is having trouble following a rule, I will place a white practice card in his/her pocket on our chart. At recess or lunch following the infringement, the child will sit quietly and repeatedly recite the rule with its gesture for two minutes before going outside. A note will be sent home that day for the child to do some additional practice with you. The note needs to be completed and signed by you and your student and returned the next day. When the note is returned, the practice card is removed from the pocket chart.
Later on, I will implement purple cards to reward improvement in following the rules. When a student has worked diligently to follow a particular rule, he/she can earn a purple card in the pocket chart. This cancels out the white card so the student will not need to practice the rule or bring a note home that day. If the student earns a purple card and has no white card for the day, I will send a note of congratulations home. You will most likely want to do something special to celebrate your child’s success at following our rules.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your continued support in creating a positive learning experience for our students. I am pleased with the community of learners we are building.
Sincerely,
Connie Way
(Note: I did not include the green cards in my letter. With my class of little kindergarteners, I felt the system would work better for me at this time with just the white and purple.)
Connie,
DeleteExcellent explanation to parents! Here are 25 certification points!
Dear Parents and Guardians,
ReplyDeleteNow that the class is beginning level 3 of the scoreboard, I just wanted to give you some information regarding what would be happening in class. Most of the students are doing an excellent job following the class rules simply through my use of the classroom scoreboard and the Super Improvers Team, both of which we discussed at Back to School Night. In level 3 of the scoreboard I will begin using white practice cards with the students. As I said before most of the students are doing a wonderful job with the class rules, however, at anytime a student may forget what they need to do. In come the practice cards!! When a student has a particularly difficult time with a classroom rule, they will be assigned a white practice for that rule. The student must return to my class during nutrition, lunch or after school to practice the rule that is giving them trouble. Practice involves repeatedly whispering the rule while also going through the motions associated with the rule. The student only has to practice the rule for two minutes. You may ask what happens if they refuse to practice. In that case they will have to spend 5 minutes of their time. So they can either do it my way and get out faster, or their way and give up more of their time. If your student earns a practice card they will also be bringing a letter home to you, notifying you of the rule they need to practice. This letter must be signed by you and returned the next day or the student will have to practice the rule again. This just gives them an incentive to show you the letter and return it to me. A little later I will also be implementing special purple cards as a reward to the students. Once again they will be taking a letter home to you letting you know what a wonderful job your student is doing following the specified rule. It will be very difficult to earn these special purple cards, so please offer plenty of praise to your student if they bring home a letter indicating they have earned one. A purple card can also cancel out a white practice card, so the student would not have to come back to my room to practice. I will also be supporting your student in class if they are struggling with a particular rule. I will have green cards that I will place on their desk as a reminder to follow the rule. The student can mark on the card to keep track of how many times they are able to follow the rule. If they can do a wonderful job following the rule they may earn a Super Improver Team star or even a special purple card!! It is important to remember the practice cards are not a punishment! It is simply what the title states, practice. In some way the student has demonstrated they need further practice following a particular rule. I have a very limited time with your student every day, and if all students are following the rules even more learning can take place. So we need to practice, practice, practice!! Please contact me if you have any questions regarding level 3 of the scoreboard.
Sincerely,
Ms. Dunroe
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMs. Dunroe,
DeleteNice post! Here are 25 certification points! (I noticed a typo on my previous post...sorry!!!)
I plan to conduct several Parent Nights during the school year. I will introduce practice cards during my second Parent Night, in October. I plan to provide parents with a detailed typed explanation as well as demonstrate their use (with parents and students using humor). Below is my letter for the parents who are unable to attend.
ReplyDeleteDear Parents,
I am sorry you were unable to attend our Parent Night last night. One of the things we discussed (and demonstrated) was the use of our new Practice Cards in class.
As you know, we have been using the powerful Whole Brain Teaching behavior management system. So far we have implemented the Scoreboard (Level 1) and Super Improvers Team (Level 2). I feel the students are now ready to move on to Level Three (Practice Cards) which will be implemented in the three phases described below.
Phase One: White Cards-
White cards provide individual students the opportunity to practice a rule they have not yet consistently shown success with in class. For example, if a student repeatedly blurts, I will place a rule two card (Raise your hand for permission to speak.) in a pocket chart labeled by student number. During recess the student will have time to practice the rule by repeating the rule and the corresponding gesture for two minutes. No more than two practice cards will be given in a day. Anytime a student receives a practice card a note will be sent home so that parents will have the opportunity to discuss the rule with their child and provide additional practice. The note must be returned to school the following day, or the practice card will remain in the pocket chart and the student will practice the rule again until the signed note is returned. This will teach the student responsibility as well as accountability.
Phase Two: White & Purple Cards –
During Phase 2, we will continue with the White Cards and add in Purple Cards (Wisdom Cards) which will be given for positive behavior displayed in class. As with the white cards, a note will be sent home each time your child receives a Purple Card. A Purple Card cancels a White Card, which provides students with the opportunity for a fresh start.
Phase Three: White, Purple, and Green Cards-
Finally, Green Cards will be added in Phase Three. Green Practice Cards allow students to practice specific rules in class. For example, I may place a Green Rule 2 Practice card on a student’s desk who has been working to reduce the number of times they blurt in class. Rather than negative marks (for each blurt), a student will be instructed to make a tally mark on his or her card when I see that they are following the rule on the card. At the end of the day I will look at the number of tally marks received and determine if the student has earned a Purple Card.
I am excited about moving on to Level Three which is all about practice, not punishment.
If you have any questions about the use of the Practice Cards, please let me know and I will be happy to explain further.
As always, I thank you for your continued support in making this a successful year for your child.
Jamie Rickman
Jamie,
DeleteExcellent description of the practice cards! Here are 25 certification points and a 5 point bonus!
Good job, Jamie!
ReplyDelete