HI, I'm new to WBT and would really appreciate it if anyone could explain how they use it with their class of 3 and 4 year olds!

I am teaching Prek 3 and Prek 4. Thanks in advance.

Hey there and welcome to WBT!!!

Let me first say that ABSOLUTELY THIS CAN BE DONE WITH PRE-Kinders....

My first year with WBT was in Pre-Kindergarten!!!! I had taught Pre-K for 5 years before finding WBT and man I don't know how I survived without it!

Here are a few things that I suggest you start with!

Step 1: READ READ READ the EBooks available in the free downloads section of the website! They are packed with great information and really at great reference tool when you "forget" something. I have read them all and still pick one or two up(cuz I printed them) and read at night just to refresh and find new things every time that I didn't see all the previous times.

Step 2: Watch Andrea's videos (and the few I have if you want) and take notes! She really is the greatest model on earth. I strive everyday to make my teaching look like her's and I am far from it but it's good to have goals.

Step 3: Download the document HOW TO START YOUR YEAR OFF IN KINDERGARTEN on this website in the free downloads section. Andrea was kind enough to share her secret with the rest of the kindergarten world and I highly suggest you get it...AND FOLLOW IT SPECIFICALLY...especially in pre-kindergarten.

Step 4: ASK QUESTIONS!!!!!! OVER AND OVER AND OVER!!!! That is the way we learn and grow in WBT is to ask questions. And no question is stupid or dumb!!!! Wanna know how to get the kids to sit on the carpet for even 5 minutes and not pull their neighbors hair? Ask!!! Wanna know how to get 4 year olds to go to the bathroom and not play in the water in the sink? ASK!!! Seriously these seem like no brainers but ask!!!!

STEP 5 (and probably the most important step): TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND SLOW DOWN!!!! As a first year WBT in pre-kindergarten I was so gung ho and ready for all my pre-kinders to look like those videos that I went way to fast and before I knew it I had exhausted the entire repertoire of WBT classroom management techniques. And for those that know the whole slew of cards in our pockets...some of them were not even appropriate for PREK but by golly I was gonna do it!


Just breathe and remember that it is a long year. I will say that while my pre-kinders did eventually get up to the teach/okay part of WBT it was almost the end of the year...however those kids were very much ready to go a little faster with it in Kinder the next year when I moved up with them (and stayed!!!! Wouldn't go back to Pre-k for my life LOL!!!)

It is possible, you can do it, and it will be awesome!!! Write that on a sticky and stick it everywhere and tell yourself that everyday!

BTW: Pre-kinder teachers often complain that they can not get their kids to really pay attention and often they just chalk it up to "they are 4"...However I am here to tell you that if you change your lessons so that they have gestures and movement they will pay attention and most of all learn...because they are getting to move and wiggle and be loud but they are doing it within your system and your rules!!!

BE PREPARED!!! YOU WILL BE TIRED!!! LOL!

If you have any questions (AND I MEAN ANY) let me know!!!

HAPPY WBT!!!!

Farrah Shipley
WBT Intern 2010
Lubbock, Texas
Kindergarten

It is really great that you are exposing children who are 3 and 4 to WBT!!! I don't see why they wouldn't be able pick up on it. You are teaching them the foundation for school anyway. Farrah had a ton of great advice. Let us know how everything is going for you!!!

So what do you teach them first. Class, Yes?

Absolutely! This is the foundation! And the Scoreboard. I remember in PreK teaching them the class/yes, scoreboard, and Tell your neighbor(1st step before teach/ok for younger students)! It worked like a charm...by the end of the year we had "started" teach/ok!