Now that we are settling in to WBT procedures, I'm finding a some of my students losing steam. I'm able to bring them back because I have plenty of steam and I'm not slowing down. I'm concerned about enthusiasm attrition as time goes on. The scoreboard seems to help as well. I changed the gestures/calls today to mix it up. They scored: lean forward and from the diaphragm, "HA HA!" at the teacher. I score: elbow up and bent and swing arm in a downward arc while snapping fingers, "Ah, shucks!"

At this time of year, the enthusiasm can wane...and so that is when you amp it up! It sounds like you are on the right track there with changing the gestures for the scoreboard. Let's just talk scoreboard for a minute...next week maybe you play boys against girls...oh that'll really amp it up! What you do is use the same scoreboard and then draw a horizontal line through it dividing it in half; girls on top and the boys underneath. Whoever has the most points gets the reward. Later maybe you play a version called "Double Day". Each mark is worth two points instead of one. I know what you're thinking...that's not going to do anything. Oh you just wait and see. They get all pumped up, but nothing has really changed. It's the greatest thing. Try different variations every couple of weeks to get you through the end of the year.

Power to the Teacher!
Chris

I am starting to have this problem with my students as well. We just hit our 103rd day of school today!! Since I am in a district that goes to school for 200 days, I definitely need to boost things up a little! I really like the idea of boy against girls with the scoreboard. I use boys vs girls with various tasks in class, but never thought about using it with the scoreboard. Thanks for the idea. I know my class is going to love it!!!

Thanks, I'll give these strategies a try.

The students have whiteboards on their desks, so another variation is that I have a student keep score for a section of the day (splitting score board into three sections for the day). Kids love keeping score and want to work hard to become the scorekeeper as well!

Hey there!!!

You know this time of year is when the kiddos start slowing down and getting well...a little lazy...and let's face it...us teachers can to! We can get a little less consistent with our WBT techniques and such and thus the kiddos start slacking off too! So first thing to do is check to make sure you are still using the WBT techniques with the same enthusiasm as you were at the beginning. Next...perhaps it is time to introduce MIND SOCCER or Super Speed...or THE CRAZY PROFESSOR!!!! These can be incentives that get the class out of the regular routines of the day but THEY ARE STILL LEARNING!!!! While mind soccer might not be new learning...review is always needed!!!

Change the scoreboard up....especially some of the new scoreboard techniques that have been released!

Farrah Shipley
WBT Intern
Texas

All of these ideas are great. If you haven't been to one of the seminars that Chris does on critical thinking, you should look into that as well. My students, especially the boys, are loving the "two finger action figures on desk world". After readings a passage they retell to their partner what has happened using desk world to tell the setting, the two finger action figures become the characters, etc. I'm sure you get the idea. Anything like this that changes things up a little helps to keep the students (and teachers) excited.

Something else to get the students excited are the student leader buttons. Let your students be leaders by allowing them to be the "class yes" or "mirror" person when you need them!

You are right. Those leadership buttons are very popular. I find they work wonders for those kiddos who sometimes hang back. I started by choosing a student who was always doing the gestures and participating. Then I would occasionally choose a student who would quietly respond, doing the gestures, but without a lot of expression. Being a class leader seems to bring out more expression and excitment for the use of the gestures and the lessons in general. I'm glad you mentioned them. There is just so much great stuff to use in WBT you just don't think of everything when you respond back to these forums. i find myself thinking at night, "Oh, I could have shared...."

I spend many nights awake thinking of things too! Too funny! There are so many awesome strategies and it seems they are always adding more and more! I like that there is always something new to keep the kids guessing what move you will make next and that it is unpredictable! WBT! WOOT-WOOT!

I just started using class leaders this week, to liven things up. The kids are really into it. I also change the reward each week. Some weeks it's a few extra minutes of PE, this week it's a few minutes of music of their choice. I've played one side of the room against the other, because my boys far outnumber my girls. I also told the kids if they ever get 20 stars for lining up, paper passing, or beating their records for rule #2, I'll give them a 1/2 hour game party. This class loves board games. I just look for what they want, and use it as a reward.

Mind Soccer is also a great reward, too! Sometimes when the White boards are being used by classwork (which happens frequently), instead of using the board to keep track of points and kicks, the team that gets five questions right in a row automatically get a point. I usually always make the fifth question a little more difficult for dramatic effect. It's very fast-paced and if we don't have time to use as their reward before class is over, we do it first thing in class the next day---they never let me forget if they've won!! That's so cool that you are using board games as rewards, too. I wish kids had more exposure to board games, there's so much problem solving packed into those games!!!

Hey all,

I just had a brain wave regarding participation. I have read it on this website before but it hasn't clicked until now. I do not emphasize enough to my class that they are trying to beat me. They love to beat me in math games. Therefore, they should love to be able to beat me in Smilies vs. Frownies. The problem is I never emphasize that the Frownies is my side and if there is more Frownies, I win!!! I have it in my head that I want them to have more Smilies and that is how it comes across to the class! Anyone see that happening in their class? I think I just need to be more silly when they get a Frownie - be more excited for my side of the scoreboard. For example, if they get a Frownie, I might emit a sneaky chuckle and grin broadly. I might boast a bit when I get a Frownie and really stir up their competitive natures. In return, in theory, they will be more excited for their side of the scoreboard. I shall try it! Wish me luck!!!

Liann

Liann,

You found me! Yes, it may be the time of the year, but my kiddo's are getting ho-hum about the scoreboard.

I do the same thing as you, we do our mighty groan for frownies and a oh yeah for our smilies but they don't see me being disappointed or excited. I can however motion during a lesson where we are not following all the rules- toward the scoreboard and they mumble "no,no".

I think your idea is a good one, I have to be more dynamic about "I WIN".

First grade teacher here--My kiddos are so accustomed to class yes... It still gets their attention, but maybe takes more repetitions. I do all the silly voices I can think of...are there any I'm missing? I've also done it in Spanish "clase clase...si si" which is fun. In the spirit of class yes, I've done "badaboom...badabing" which they love! Any suggestions for refreshing class yes?

Have you tried using concepts, such as "5+7", to which they would reply "5+7=12". I also call out parts of speech, such as "Noun" and they reply "Person, place, thing, or idea". What about calling out he definition to a vocabulary word they have been working on, and they need to respond with the word? My students also LOVE it when I call out a spelling word, and they need to spell it. All of these variations work for me in first grade!
Have fun!
Deb Weigel
WBT Arizona

Wow oh wow!!! You have got to try this! Last night on the Webinar we learned a new variation of the Scoreboard...called "Mystery Road"

I must say this was a success!!! My kids loved it...they thought it was so much cooler than the regular scoreboard because they could see tangible points that they were working toward. It was amazing to see them coming down the "hill" and hoping to not "crash" at the bottom having to send their car back up the hill the wrong direction. And their goal at the end? Just a star toward their field trip. Big deal since they have to get 20 stars (by winning the scoreboard each day) and they have 10 days left and need 8 more stars! They loved the "pit stops" along the road to take a break from me teaching so we could "play". Of course little did these guys know we were still doing what I had planned...just playing mind soccer to do it! I love I love I love it!!!!

Great motivator!

Farrah Shipley
2010-2011
WBT Intern

Thanks, Deb! I tried adding yesterday and they were enthused with the change up--they were eager to answer quickly with the rhythm! Thanks for the tip!! I'll be trying to spelling words soon too! Thanks!!