Work For a Break Token Board
A work for a break token board lets a learner earn tokens while they work, then trade them for a short break. The sun tokens and the break picture in the reward box make the deal easy to see. It helps in classrooms and at the kitchen table.
Free to print with no account. The customized board also runs on a tablet in a session.
About this template
Here the reward is a break, not an item, so the board has a job to do at the moment work gets hard: it shows the learner that a rest is coming and exactly how far away it is. Because a break can be given on the spot, the exchange can happen quickly.
How to use it
- Print the PDF, cut out the sun tokens and put a piece of Velcro on the back of each one and on each spot.
- Show the board before the work starts and point to the break picture so the learner knows what they are earning.
- Give a token after each small chunk of work, such as one row of a worksheet or two minutes of a task, and name what they did.
- When the board is full, say "break time" and let the learner leave the work for the amount of time you have agreed.
- After the break, clear the board and show the next task.
Make it yours
- Pick a break that fits the learner, such as music, a movement break or time with a favorite toy, and change the picture in the reward box.
- Make the work chunks smaller by using three tokens instead of five when a task is new or difficult.
- Pair the board with a visual timer so the break has a clear end.
- Add a second picture to the reward box when the learner can choose between two breaks.
Questions
How long should the break be?
Keep it short and predictable, so going back to work is not a big step. Your team can decide the length, and a visual timer can show when it ends.
Is a break a reward or an escape from work?
It can be both, which is why teams plan breaks carefully. Earning a break after working a set amount, and returning to work calmly afterwards, is the pattern this board supports.
What if the learner asks for a break before the board is full?
Many teams teach a separate way to ask for a break, such as a break card, so the learner always has a safe way to say they need one. Your BCBA can help you set this up alongside the board.
Related templates
- First/then boardsFirst work, then break
- Token boardsToken board (5 or 10 tokens)
- Choice boardsCalm down choices
- Build one from scratch with the Token Board Maker maker.
- Read more: Choosing reinforcers for token boards.
- See all free templates.
General information only. Your BCBA or team can adapt this for your learner.
Pictures are from open symbol sets. See the credits.