The Card "Trick"

Brookey starting 1st grade was a big adjustment for everyone. Kindergarten was plain child's play--1st grade is no joke! There are all kinds of tests—math tests, timed tests, spelling tests, sight word assessments and the homework, the HOMEWORK! In Kindergarten the homework was writing letters and coloring the square green. Usually we finished the weekly packet in a day or two. Now we spend a good 30-45 minutes NOT including studying spelling or reading for 15-20 minutes. It’s a lot. For Brookey and for me! By the time she gets home, has a snack, has dinner, takes a shower and does homework, it’s bedtime!!

I am all about incentives (and organization), so I found an AWESOME way to get it all done and keep her motivated to do all of these "jobs." I can’t claim to have made this up, I found it online. These cards have been working SO well for us! You can really start this at any age, for any tasks you need your child to do (brush teeth, clean up toys, read, do homework, etc).

The Card "Trick"

I started by deciding what "jobs" really needed to get done each day. For us it was: Homework, Studying Spelling Words, Practicing Sight Words, Shower/Bath, Reading and Setting the Table. I made a card for each one of these tasks in Powerpoint and laminated the cards:


I added "Free Time!" When she completes all of the "jobs" she gets free time to do whatever--watch TV, play on the computer, torture her brother, whatever. She quickly learned the faster she got the "tasks" done, the more free time she had. This also cuts the complaining down BIG TIME. There is no room for any exhausting child "negotiation." You don't get free time until the jobs are done. Period.

The key to making this fun was giving her the packet of cards plus her own dry-erase pen so she could check off each task as she completed it. Something about dry-erase pens REALLY gets kids motivated. Maybe it's the smell, I don't know.
When she is done with the tasks, she comes to me and gets a ticket for completing all of her "jobs." When she gets 10 tickets, she gets a prize. For her, she's motivated by cold, hard cash. So she gets $5 for 10 tickets. You can choose a "prize" to suit whatever your child is motivated by. Set up the terms how you see fit. Younger kids should take less time to earn a prize since they simply aren't capable of understanding time past a few days.

Enjoy The Card "Trick!" I know it's completely saved my sanity!!!