I am a firm believer behavior choices affect the classroom environment. Students learn best when the environment they're in is positive and supporting, leading students to uplift each other with their right choices and behaviors. When we as teachers create a positive classroom environment for our students, they are more willing to engage, respond, and come to school.
So now you’re probably asking how I manage to do that with my students. About two years ago, I started using these “Role Model” punch cards in my very own first grade classroom to encourage my students to make good choices throughout the day (and for the rest of the school year). I have been using them ever since and am ready to share with you how they work in my classroom.
What is the purpose of the Role Model punch cards?
The purpose of these Role Model punch cards is to make your students see their own growth and full potential as an individual. I understand our students are not 100% perfect and who is, but the idea is to make our students see how they CAN positively change a classroom with their choices. We want to encourage classroom behaviors that will result in the students naturally creating a positive learning environment together, allowing everyone to learn and flourish from one another.
In addition, these Role Model punch cards have twelve circles on each card to help students build stamina for making positive choices in the classroom. Instead of rewarding a student every time they make good choices/behaviors, use these cards to teach them to make good choices consistently and naturally overtime. It will take some students a week or longer to get all twelve circles punched on their card, but it will definitely teach them to build character and patience.
How do I use the Role Model punch cards in my own classroom?
In my classroom, the Role Model punch cards is implemented as a whole class and individual reward. My students earn a punch on their Role Model punch card at the end of the day if they move their clip up on our classroom’s positive behavior chart. Throughout the day, I punch my students' Role Model punch cards if I see them making role model choices (helping others, completing a hard assignment with a positive attitude, cooperating with their team or a partner, following school rules in the hallway, problem solving their own minor problems, and etc.).
I always remind my students to have their punch card out on their desk because they never know when I’m going to punch a hole in their card for being a "Role Model". On a daily average, I punch about 2-3 holes in a student’s card. I don’t punch a hole for every praise or compliment I give out. However, if I notice a consistent positive behavior displayed by the same student I would go ahead and punch his/her Role Model card.
I usually have 2-3 students who earned all twelve punches by the end of each week. However, it usually takes about 1.5-2 weeks for my most of my students to get all twelve punches. Again, this is because I use my best judgements to only punch cards for students that showed consistent classroom behaviors and not for every single compliment/praise I give out.
What happens when my students get all twelve punches on their card?
Every time a student gets all twelve punches, they earn a reward!! There are so many ways you can choose to reward your students. The discretion is up to you as their teacher. I understand we get a new group of students every year and each group is different, so the choice for reward is what you think will work best for your students.
Last year I rewarded my students with treasure box. This year I took two different approaches. The first semester, my students earned a reward from our class treasure box filled with Scentos smelly knickknacks from Walmart because they loved scented things. This second semester, I am allowing my students to write their own reward on the back of their card (which must be teacher approved first). My students really love the autonomy to pick their own reward by writing it on the back of their punch card.
Do these Role Model punch cards REALLY work?
YES! If implemented correctly and used effectively by the teacher and students, these punch cards will help minimize behavioral issues and promote positive behaviors in the classroom. Now keep in mind that not all behavioral issues can be solve with a simple punch card. We would love for it to be that simple. The purpose of these punch cards is to teach our students to make good behavior choices that encourage their classmates to do the same, resulting in a self-created positive classroom learning environment.
I have successfully used these punch cards for two years now with first graders. The cards have helped my students become accountable for their own behaviors and choices. Our classroom learning environment is a safe place for the students as they inspired each other to be the best version of themselves. My students also understand what it feels like to work hard for something they want (hence picking their own reward) and why it’s important to be a good citizen. I believe that these role model punch cards will work in your classroom as they do in mine.
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Happy Teaching!
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