Power Card Strategy to Motivate Students - Watson Institute (2024)

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  • Situation

    I teach 2nd grade and have a student with autism in my class this year. Although he is bright, he is often out of his seat and does not want to do his work. I usually have to give him a direction 3-4 times before he responds and in many cases, he still does his own thing! He constantly draws Scooby Doo characters all over his books, desk and papers and will get mad when he is corrected. I would love some ideas about helping him get his work done.

  • Summary

    Many students with Autism Spectrum Disorder have highly developed special interests for example, Scooby Doo, Survivor or Neil Armstrong. The use of a Power Card is a motivating strategy that teachers and parents can use to help their child to improve their behavior and/or respond more appropriately in social situations. The strategy helps the student focus on the new rules or expectations because they are particularly interested in how their favorite character or characters might be doing the same. The technique consists of a short story to explain the expectations or social rules and a small card which summarizes how the person using the card can use the same strategy.

  • Definition

    A Power Card is a strategy developed by Elisa Gagnon (2001) that utilizes a child’s special interest, favorite character or celebrity to help them understand expectations, clarify choices, teach consequences for behavior or use more appropriate social responses.

  • Quick Facts

    • Child's Age: 6-10, 11-13, 14-17, 18+
    • Planning Effort: Moderate
    • Difficulty Level: Moderate
  • Pre-requisites

    knowledge of student’s special interest

  • Process

    1. Identify the special interest of your child, for example: Scooby-Doo.

    2. Write a brief script about the situation being addressed which includes the child’s special interest. Use pictures along with text.

    3. Develop the “Power Card” by using an index card (or similarly sized paper) which includes a small picture of the special interest and the steps the student must take to improve their behavior, solve a problem or respond more appropriately. This small card is created from the script and can be carried by the student, posted in his locker or put on his desk.

    4. If your student is a non-reader or a struggling reader, increase the use of pictures to support the text. In some cases, you may only want to use the pictures.

    5. Teach the use of the strategy to your student. Readers can read the script themselves followed by additional teacher/parent explanation. For non-readers, the adult can read the script while prompting the child to attend to the pictures.

    6. Remember to reinforce the student for using the power card thereby demonstrating the targeted behavior

  • Documents and Related Resources

    amazon.com(website link to book)

    If you have questions or concerns about the Watson Institute’s use of this information, please contact us.

Power Card Strategy to Motivate Students - Watson Institute (2024)

FAQs

What is the power card strategy? ›

Definition. A Power Card is a strategy developed by Elisa Gagnon (2001) that utilizes a child's special interest, favorite character or celebrity to help them understand expectations, clarify choices, teach consequences for behavior or use more appropriate social responses.

How do you write a power card? ›

A brief script of the special interest and the situation being addressed for the individual is created. It should be written at the individual's comprehension level and should include relevant pictures or graphics. Initially, the script should be read on a scheduled basis as the student learns to use the Power Card.

How do you use power cards? ›

How to use: Choose a behavior or skill to teach or strengthen through use of a power card. Power cards can support behavioral, social, academic, daily living, and classroom skills. Use a student's special interest to choose characters or items to include in a social narrative and on a power card.

What is index card strategy? ›

A simple way of using index cards is to give each learner three index cards, each of a different color. A red, a green, and a yellow. Then, at certain times during your instruction or group discussion or lecture, stop and ask the learners to hold up a green card if they understand the material.

What is a power card in cards? ›

Power cards are cards that are incorporated into your character as a passive ability for the rest of the battle when played. Unlike other cards they do not go to your discard pile when played. Skill cards are generally utility cards. More often than not they do not deal direct damage. 7.

What is the autism explanation card? ›

These cards typically include information about the individual's needs, such as their communication style, sensory sensitivities, or any specific triggers they may have. Autism alert cards can be especially helpful in emergency situations where an individual with autism may become overwhelmed or nonverbal.

What are visual cards for autism behavior? ›

These autism visual supports can be used at home or out and about to manage behaviour. The cards give a clear message and will help your child to understand exactly what you are communicating. Print them off and laminate them or cover them in sticky-back plastic for extra durability.

What is the power card for social skills? ›

The Power Card Strategy involves visual aids that incorporates the youngster's special interest to teach appropriate social skills, including behavioral expectations, routines, the meaning of language, and the “hidden curriculum” (refers to the set of routines, social rules, tasks, or actions that kids readily ...

What is a power card Dave and Busters? ›

A Dave & Buster's Power Card (the “Power Card”) is a stored value card with a magnetic strip or embedded Radio Frequency Identification (“RFID”) tag that allows you to play games at Dave & Buster's locations in the United States and Puerto Rico (“Participating Location(s)”).

Where do you write on a card with writing? ›

When using vertical or portrait cards, begin on the inner right side. (The inner left side is the back of the front cover.) When your message extends beyond one page, continue writing on the back of the card, and finish the message on the inner left side of the card.

Can power card be played last? ›

Uno: With a last card power card, are you allowed to play it after you draw a card? Assuming you play with the following rules: You can't end on a power card (+4, color change) If you can't play and draw a card you are allowed to play it immediatly if that card does match.

How do power cards work in slay the spire? ›

Slay the Spire: Power Cards

Power Cards have continuous effects that activate every turn, unlike most cards that only activate an effect once per turn. They make very powerful support cards for a deck and can do things like buff a character's stats or apply damage.

Can power cards stack slay the spire? ›

Powers stack. The only exception is if the second application would be superfluous (two Barricades, for example).

Which is power card in Uno? ›

Power Icons appear on various Number Cards and they match symbols on the Power Towers: U, N, O and ! (exclamation point). Each of the four (4) Power Icons appears twice in each of the four color suits in the deck.

What is a power card in animation throwdown? ›

Power Cards are pre-made Combo cards that can be played in one turn during Battle. Because Power Cards can be played without creating a Combo in battle, their swiftness is an advantage. Power Cards are generally not as powerful as the original Combo and lack the ability to benefit from Combo related skills.

What are power cards in slay the spire? ›

Slay the Spire: Power Cards

Power Cards have continuous effects that activate every turn, unlike most cards that only activate an effect once per turn. They make very powerful support cards for a deck and can do things like buff a character's stats or apply damage.

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