After using "practice cards" for group or pair work,
you will need to have a process for gathering, sorting, and storing
the cards until the next time you use them. It is good to involve
the students in the gathering and sorting process. Since 20 or 30
students pitching in can sort the cards in a couple minutes compared
to you (the instructor) sitting there long after class is over
sorting the cards on your own for 10 minutes. Maybe that is "only"
ten minutes, but over the years those 10 minutes add up to untold
hours.
So, how do you ask students to "help out?"
Most of the time you can just ask / tell them and it will be no big
deal. Unless you keep them until the bell and then expect them to
help. That's not right. Some of them have other classes to get to
across campus and will bristle at having to stay after to help clean
up your lesson activities. To make sure it goes smoothly, end your
instruction early enough to allow time for the process of gathering
and sorting the practice cards.
I clearly label each practice card with the lesson number and
section. That way it is easy to tell which pile it goes in. Then
near the end of class I flash up on the overhead a message something
to the effect of:
"Soon we will end class…we have many cards
to put up and it is a bit complex since the cards need to be
put in the correct pile.
Thus send the smarter of the two of you up to put away the
cards in the RIGHT order. Thanks. Have a nice day."
That is usually good for a chuckle or two from the
students and half of them come up and put away the cards.