“Puzzle
Pieces” is a strategy that can be used in the classroom to help promote task,
completion, task participation, and/or appropriate behaviors. This is an
effective strategy for students who are motivated by earning rewards in the
classroom. Puzzle pieces can be used for the entire class, small groups or for
an individual student.
Throughout
the day/activity/period, the teacher will give the student(s) a piece of a
puzzle when she/he observes them demonstrating the desired behavior(s). When the
student(s) obtain all the pieces to form the completed puzzle, they will earn
the pre-specified reward. The reward could be free-time, extra recess time,
computer time, or any activity that will be desirable to the student(s). The
rewards represented on the puzzle must be such that the teacher can easily and
quickly provide. Examples might
include a puzzle that illustrates a playground, signifying that when all the
pieces are earned then that group or student will earn extra recess time.
Another example might be a picture of children having a party. The picture could
be cut into many pieces and at the end of the week if all pieces are earned then
the class would receive a party. Another example might be a picture of a snack
(candy bar and a coke), when the individual earns all the pieces then they will
receive a snack.
This
strategy is especially good for student(s) who are motivated by rewards and need
lots of incentive and reinforcements.
This
strategy can be used with an entire classroom. Having all the students working
cooperatively towards earning all the puzzle pieces for a class wide reward.
Individual students can work independently towards rewards that are reinforcing
to them.
This
is a good way to get parents involved in increasing homework output. They can
supply their child with a reward for completing homework in a timely, neat, and
cooperative manner.
If
you have a child that is particularly challenging, the teacher can use “puzzle
pieces” to encourage desired behavior at school and then at the end of the
day/week teachers can inform the parents how many puzzles the child earned. If
the child has earned the pre-specified number of completed puzzles than the
parents can additionally supply rewards at home.
Puzzle Resources on the Internet
| Puzzle Clonzz – This website offers a printable paper that is already cut into pieces, so any picture can be printed as a puzzle. http://www.compozapuzzle.com/jigsaw-puzzle-clonzz.htm |
| Printable Jigsaw Puzzles- An online resource for printable puzzles that includes Clifford the Big Red Dog, Blue Clues, and others. |
http://www.dltk-kids.com/type/printable_jigsaw_puzzles.htm
| Jigsaw Puzzles Online Fun – A page that has jigsaw puzzles that are done on-line. |
http://www.thekidzpage.com/onlinejigsawpuzzles/
| Basket Makers- Another site with on-line puzzles, but these have holiday themes. |
http://basketmakers.org/topics/fun/fungamesdir.htm
| Blank Jigsaw Puzzles – A variety of blank jigsaw products that can easily be turned into puzzles. |
http://www.optimall.org/family/children/cj/blank-jigsaw-puzzles.htm
| Winnie the Pooh – A site containing a couple printable puzzles with a stuffed Winnie the Pooh. |
E.T.S.U. Make A Difference Project, 2002-2003