I am a teacher of Morocco I just discovered WBT, I'm really impressed, and I have some questions
1 how can we apply WBT in a multi-level class?
2 can we implement WBT for all subjects?
cordially

Glad to see you discovered WBT! The great thing about WBT is you can really apply it to any subject. I use it in all areas throughtout the entire school day. One key component with WBT is to keep lessons short. Teach your part and then allow students to teach each other. Micro lecturing is the way to go! Since you have students of of multi levels you can place students acordingly to their academic ability (high/low). They will be teaching each other throughout the day, so it is important they are grouped well. What grade/s are you teaching?

Toni Garcia
WBT Intern Level 1

thank you very much for your reponce, I teach first and second primary but in the same room, and that's what I meant by multi-level class.

I teach first grade and use WBT for every subject! It is extremely effective when teaching vocabulary. Teach the word and a gesture, and have them teach each other. Teach the meaning, and have them teach each other (with the gesture). Give an antonym or synonym, and have them teach each other (with the gesture). Use the word in a sentence, and challenge them to come up with their own sentence and teach each other, using the gesture. After all of this oral practice, we then write the word in our vocabulary notebooks, recording nouns in one section, verbs in another, adjectives in another, etc. We write the word and draw a quick sketch to help us remember the word. My students' retention of vocabulary words is terrific, because they use their whole brain to apply learning to a variety of tasks.
As far as applying WBT to a multiage class- I believe it will be unifying for your class. All students will participate in "Class, Yes", the 5 Rules, "Teach, Okay", "Mirror", "Hands and Eyes", "Switch" and the scoreboard. You can review these items under the "First Steps" option on the navigation bar on this site. If you have a chance, download the free eBook "WBT For Challenging Kids". I refer to it often when I have a question regarding WBT. And, you can't beat the price, whether it is in US Dollars or a Moroccan Dirham!!! Think of how much fun it will be to know that all of your students will be working together to create a fun, active-learning classroom! Please let us know how it is going for you!
Deb Weigel
WBT Intern, Level 1

thank you very much for your help, I already downloaded the document on the website is really rich and well done. sincerely since I started to gradually introduce WBT in my classroom, teaching became esters fun, same for my students more engaged and motivated
cordially

I am so happy to hear that WBT is making a difference in your classroom. The more you use it, you will see how students really grasp on to it. If you need any other advice we are all happy to help you. WBT is the greatest technique you can use in a classroom.

Toni Garcia
WBT Intern Level 1

salah
I am using WBT in a combination 4th and 5th grade class...and yes it works with this mixture as well as your class. The power of the WBT way is that it is engaging to all levels. Kids are totally involved in whatever level they are at, no matter what grade. The different levels still need to be managed and you need control when you are teaching, and that is where this comes in well.

It sounds like you are reading up on the levels and so on, so just keep doing that and posting your questions and thoughts here on the forum. We're here to help.

Power to the Teacher!

Chris

I am glad you have successful experience with multiple level classes. I must admit that I just assumed it would work fine as many of our classes are multiple level. The students attend their regular grade level class in the Vietnamese curriculum then attend International class based on general age group and English proficiency. First through third group, fourth and fifth group, etcetera all the way through 12th. Language skill is A,B,C,D. We will implement WBT throughout the school (all international teachers) in Jan - I'll note any problems that might arrise from the multiple level issue.

Thanks for alerting me to it.

Jason

dsweigel,

I am struggling with coming up with gestures for my teachers (they are all struggling in preparing for our upcoming implementation of WBT). Of course I tell them not to worry and just do the gestures that they can when it seems appropriate. That said, they and I continue to look for help with gestures.

Do you have a "vocabulary" of the gestures you refer to in your post here?

Jason

Jason,

A good place to start with gestures is by using the power pix, which are ready for download on this site. Each power pix has a state standard, a simple definition, and gestures to represent the learning. As the teachers introduce the power pix, they can be posted on the wall to be used as a reference for the students. As for other gestures to match my vocabulary, I try to think of an action that would cement the learning for my students. Often, I will ask them to come up with a gesture. Sometimes we video our words and gestures, other times we write and draw, but we always practice repeatedly! For my students, this practice is key in remembering the term.
There is also a forum for gestures on this site where people can ask for help with toughies. Have you checked it out?
Once the teachers begin using gestures with the students, it will get easier.
Have fun!
Deb Weigel
WBT Intern, Level 1

Deb,

Great info on the gestures in the Power Pix. I did not know the gestures were there. I have downloaded but not yet given them to the teachers. Now that you have shown me where the gestures are I will pass the books to the primary teachers and extract the gestures them for the teachers in the higher grades that will not use the Power Pix but still need the basic gesture vocabulary. This will be a great help for our system.

My next questions are for a best guess, ball park type of answer. You say you practice repeatedly. How often, how long does it typically take for a new class to absorb the gestures? Also, how often and how long for a class used to gestures to absorb new gestures?

We do not have video / play back capability in the classrooms. Nor do we have projectors in the classrooms. We are bound to whiteboard, anything on paper and of course our bodies.

Thanks,
Jason

Deb,

Yes I have read every post on the gestures thread and copied every gesture offered by every teacher to make a single place list that I will pass on to the teachers when we get to that part of their training. At this point it is only a cut and paste of the posts - that took several hours of reading! If anyone wants the list as it is, I will be happy to forward it.

Part of the effort by the teachers this year will be to adopt or reject those gestures they find useful. I will pass on the distilled list to new teachers next year for continuity in the system.

Thanks.

In response to your question about how often we practice the gestures~
When I teach a new power pix with the definition and the gesture, we practice it at least 20 times the first day. I teach first grade, and I want to make sure the foundational concepts are solid. Over the course of a week, we revisit the vocabulary over and over. For example, when we are lining up, I may give them a word, and they give the definition and the gesture, or vice versa. During transition times, I quickly do a gesture, and they give me the word and the definition. If the phone rings, I can ask them to review vocabulary, and they quickly turn to a partner and practice. I put the concepts/words we lave learned in plastic sleeves in a 3 ring binder. I can flip through them and we review. Or, I take them out and put one on each desk, and we play a review game similar to musical chairs. I put some music on and they walk, and when the music stops they need to look at the word closest to them, identify it, give the definition and gesture, and then we move on. They really love this. You can pair stronger language students with ELLs if that helps.
I tend to stick vocabulary practice in whenever we have a few extra minutes. As I said, I teach first grade and often have a high population of ELLs. They need lots of oral language practice, constructing sentences and using academic vocabulary. The students beg to play " Guess my word", which basically consists of a student coming to the front and secretly looking at a word, then doing the gesture. The class gets to guess the word. This is similar to charades, except the students have been taught the words and gestures, so they are not just guessing random words.
Repetition builds confidence and cements learning.
Hope this helps!
Deb Weigel
WBT Intern, Level 1

Deb,

Thank you for your very well thought out and well described system of practice on the gestures. I am passing your words on to our 1st and 2nd grade teachers, and I thank you for them as well. Your explanation will help significantly.

Jason

Thanks from me as well!

I started doing a quick review of vocabulary as we were waiting in lines and during our morning routine. I was amazed at how much they still remembered!!

So I have been teaching addition and subtraction using the Power Pix. This has gone on over two or three months now. It is so helpful teaching the kids the vocabulary along with the definition so that when they are having a problem we review the definition and go from there. It is interesting to see the kids that are always participating doing very well. Overall, the entire class has latched onto the concepts very well. A BIG ohhh joy!!!

Deb,
I just started working on a sequence for WBT with vocabulary and mine is similar to yours. I begin with a short story, as I have seen C. Biffle do, and ask for feedback throughout. I am toying with the writing component. Sometimes I have them write as we learn, but it seems to flow best (in 5th grade) to complete the vocab word and all of it's components with gestures and teach ok, then at the end use thir vocab journals.

It sounds like you have a good plan in place for your 5th graders. By practicing orally with gestures before they write, you are building a foundation for writing. Have you tried "The Writing Game"? I believe your fifth graders would really get into it!
Keep us posted!
Deb Weigel
WBT

Jason,

Decided to read old posts looking for gestures and came across your post written 3 months ago. I would love to have a copy of the list of gesture you put together. I have downloaded the power pix from the site and use them daily. However, at times throughout the day I'm at a loss!

Karen

kread,

Your request was the motivation I needed. Thanks! When I posted about the lists I was asking about format etc. And the lists were still not completely edited and sorted. Unfortunately I was pulled away from the project for some time with a work crisis (way of life here in Vietnam). With your request I decided to finish editing and cleaning up the lists so others can use them. I just finished the "Language Related Gestures" and posted it on a new thread with that title in the major category of "Gestures". I'll get the math/physics done in the next few days and post it.

Jason