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

Hey Farrah, I need advice on how you did this with your little ones. I got so excited seeing the mystery road but did not take enough notes to stick with how I might present it to my class. Since you have tried it can you guide me through the "traffic"

Annette,

This was quite simply the easiest thing to do! I simply drew the road (with sharp turns) on the board. Now mine looked like mountain peaks and valleys on the road. At the top of the "hills" I put question marks and at the bottom of the "hills" were crash zones...if they crash they risk having to go back up to the top of the hill. They don't get to play the mystery game (question marks) again but they do lose ground. At the end of the road is the "Y". One way leads to the GO BACK to the beginning, the other to a BIG STAR that represents their goal for the day.

Now...our car is a magnetic car. Every time I would normally score a smilie for them I move the car along the road. If would give them a sadie..I move it backwards on the road. Now...each time they come to a Question Mark they get to stop class and play a mystery game, such as mind soccer or super speed or something else. We only play for 5 minutes but the kids love getting to stop class. They feel like they have control over the class!

Now when we played it on Friday, they made it to the end of the road with the star by the end of the day...but it took all day and we went back to the beginning of the road twice! So they actually played the "scoreboard" three times with me winning twice and them once...but they don't know that! I love this Mystery Road!! I don't know if I will use it everyday...probably on Fridays...but it is an amazing creation!!! Kudos to the one who came up with the idea (not sure who it was since that wasn't clear on the webinar!)

HTH
Farrah Shipley
2010-2011 WBT Intern
Texas

Farrah,

Thanks this really helped. I have used the doubles one shown on the webinar and the one for "acts of kindness" my group really liked those. I'll give this one using your helpful notes a try.
Thanks!

Annette

I didn't participate in that webinar but I love the Mystery Road idea. Thanks for the detailed explanation! Is there anywhere else that I can look on this site to get more info on this scoreboard twist? I think I will definitely try this tomorrow!!
Karen Chavez

Not sure if it is available in the downloads yet. However the Webinars should be posted soon so just keep an eye out!

Farrah Shipley
Texas
WBT ROCKS!

After reading about the mystery road variation of the scoreboard, I am very excited to learn more about it, so I can implement in my fifth grade classroom. Where will I find more information on the mystery road variation? I think this will work great throughout the day of learning because students always need a "brain break!"


Thank you,

Laura Caisse
2011-2012 WBT Intern

Oooohhh, Mystery Road! I like it and can't wait to use it with my 5th graders next year.

Farrah, I love this line in your post: "We only play for 5 minutes but the kids love getting to stop class. They feel like they have control over the class!"

I can really see this working as my students get a bit crazy towards the end of May, after we've attended 6th grade orientation. What a great way to refocus them for those last couple of weeks.

Thank you for posting this information!

Tiffany
WBT Intern, 2011-2012

Wow, is this the coolest. My first graders love the mystery road. If they can make it work any grade can. I added little touches that only they knew about and they really loved the "side trips". I have used the doubler too, and used one of my own called "tic-tac-toe don't you know you get a one minute party if you win". The leaders play me for smiley faces and I get to block with frownie. Keep the god new coming we are getting ants in our pants since everyone else is done!

Annette