I am a long term substitute (have 3 years of professional teaching experience too) in a 5th grade class currently. Long story short, I implemented WBT today. I introduced class-yes, the 5 rules, the scoreboard and teach ok.

One of the main problems I saw today was that the smart alecky boys put two fingers to their head like a gun when we rehearsed rule 4. Does anyone have suggestions? This is a VERY chatty and VERY difficult class.

I'd appreciate any feedback.

Thanks

Hey there!!! First of all a ten finger woooo hooo to you for using WBT as a substitute!

Ok...here is my suggestion..now take this with the understanding that except for subbing in middle school (6,7,8) for two years and never on a long term basis...I have only taught Pre-k to 1st grade! But...

1. Start with the class-yes, scoreboard and rules. Practice Practice Practice until they have those down the way you want them repeated and gestured. Ping Pong to get them there!!!

2. After they have the rules down...for 5th grade I would say a day or two...introduce teach/ok. Tell them that you usually only do this with the high school students but you think they are ready for it!

Now...since you have already introduced all the above this may not work in your current situation. In that sense you will just need to rehearse, rehearse, rehearse and stick with it! You can do it!!!!

HTH!

Farrah Shipley
2010-2011
WBT Intern
Texas

I agree with Farrah, and would do everything that she says, with a bit of spice. The spice being for those most challenging boys/kids.

WIth them you need to just say, "I'd like you to practice with me at recess." Once recess comes you have them practice the rule correctly for 1 minute, silently. They may start goofing off or telling you that they aren't going to do it, so then you tell them this, "You can do it one minute my way, or 4 minutes your way!"

You may want to peruse the ebook called Industrial Strength Whole Brain Teaching or Teaching Challenging Teens and look in the section Rebel Clicques. What you have is a situation where you're the new gal coming in on their turf. You're going to have to break them down one by one, starting with the Alpha Dog.

Keep us posted right here on this great forum!

Power to the Teacher!
Chris R.

I couldn't find the Rebel cliques in the e-books you sited.

I'm finding several things - one is that they HATE the ping ponging and doing the mighty groan and oh yeah. They also have a very hard time being silent after the class-yes - even with me varying my tone, etc. I'm feeling super frustrated so am open to ideas. I have been rehearsing the rules, etc with them but on average 1-2 times a day.

Thanks

Is it just the group of tough to reach kids who are not liking doing the ping ponging, and the celebrations?

Hat's off to you, sounds like a tuff crew. Just a suggestion, you may want to limit the scoreboard to giving more frequent rewards. Do everything the experts are telling you and stick with it. I would try using the scoreboard and make the "celebrations" more frequent (keep the celebrating to a short time but also when and how often they get to celebrate).
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My thinking is this will keep the rest of the class motivated and keep the rebels on their toes. Use the old trick catch it before it happens.

Stay positive we've all been there.

I teach reading in a 3-5 building. Most of our teachers use the Class/Yes, Rules, and Scoreboard. I know they had a discussion not long ago about the scoreboard losing it's effectiveness. One of the things they did was make the students aware that every time a mark went up under the "frownies" that they were actually helping the teacher win. They started saying things like "Great! A point for me." That put a new twist on it and made the scoreboard fun again. (When the boys are acting smart alecky with Rule 4, that could be a point for you.) They changed the scoreboard to Teacher vs Class. One teacher also had a Girls vs Boys scoreboard with the winners getting to choose the reward from a pre-approved list of choice rewards. I hope some of these ideas will help you in some way. Good luck and stick with it.

No, it isn't just the "tough" crowd that doesn't like the ping ponging. They don't like the celebrations and mighty groans because every time they do it lasts 5-10 seconds and I earn a point as a result.

The other thing that is hard about this group is that there isn't one clear leader. There are 5-10 boys that compete with each other for attention in the class though.

Hi! Hang in there! It can take some time to win them over!

Look in the e-book "Teaching Challenging Kids" and read the chapter called "Charting Progress." This should help you get back on track with your class. I think this is what Chris is referring to. Also, check out "Industrial Strength Whole Brain Teaching." It explains all about how to win over your class leaders and use them to your advantage.

Also, I agree with Annette. If they win the scoreboard before recess, reward them. Give some examples of rewards you are happy with and have them vote to choose a reward before hand - something they really, really want (I suggest Mind Soccer). Make it short but extremely fun. Then, choose another reward or the same if they didn't win for before lunch. Last, they may also win before the end of the day.

Finally, if they are "too cool" for the funny stuff involved in WBT try making it purely competitive and fast. Change the "Oh Yeah!" to a quick "Yah!" and the "Oh no!" to a quick "Groan!" If they make you happy - give a point for students - if not a point goes up for you. You mean business and this game is going to be difficult to win - above all you control the game - don't let them win unless they REALLY worked hard and deserve it.

Keep the questions coming!

Liann

WBT Intern

You could also probably do silent cheers/groans. Like raise the roof when they get a happy mark and thumbs down for a frown.

Also - are you giving them the reward or consequence daily or weekly? If weekly then maybe they need daily to get more immediate feedback. At that age kids like to be involved in their fate so maybe have them brainstorm a list of ideas that would be GREAT for when they win and things that would be AWFUL if they lost...this way maybe they'll have more buy in and feel like they have a say.

Keep us updated.

Megan, what is raise the roof?

I'm giving the reward daily. I had the kids brainstorm a list of things they wanted to win. I've found the most success when I give them a short amount of time - say 1-2 hours - and then determine the winner.

As I may have said before, this is a very immature group. Right now, even the class-yes is difficult. Sometimes I have to do it 3 times before everyone will stop talking. I'm feeling pretty frustrated right now.

thanks for all of the input thus far!

Raccoon teacher~
Hang in there! Change is always tough, but it will be soooooo worth it in the end! Practice the wrong way to do things, and then congratulate them for doing such a great job on the wrong way. Then, practice the right way. Continue rehearsing throughout the day, until they get it.

The "oh yeah" and "mighty groan" should be really quick, almost stacatto-like. We also call the "Oh yeah" our 1 second party.

In answer to your question, raise the roof is when students put both hands, palms up, by their ears and gradually raise them above their heads, as if they are raising an imaginary roof.

Keep asking questions. We will guide you and help you as you continue to implement WBT with your tough class.

Deb Weigel
WBT Arizona

Hi Raccoon teacher. Deb explained raise the roof very nicely. I also have to do class/yes a few times, and I honestly don't mind. Anytime I want everyone's IMMEDIATE attention I do hands and eyes. I realize that some kids are quite involved in their work and aren't quite focusing on listening to outside stimulus. Just like when I read a book, my husband could be talking to me and I'm clueless! After 2 - 3 times though when most kids are responding then everyone should hear and participate.

I rig my game for when I know the kids NEED to win. Maybe instead of a FULL ping pong you can do the imaginary tally - keep the marker cap on and say "ooooooh, I ALMOST gave you a happy/sad face for xyz but didn't because xyz"

I'm still learning myself! Keep up the questions!

Today was the first day of standardized testing coupled with rainy day recess. I thought I'd had my worst day but this one far exceeded it! If I could afford to quit financially and career wise I would.

Anyway, I've been doing WBT since 3/28. I'm wondering when I should go to level 2 or level 3 on the scoreboard. I've been doing Hands and Eyes as others have suggested but today even that took 2-3 times before it was remotely effective.

What have you found to be the best incentive for the scoreboard? I've tried extra recess and running the track. I'm thinking that maybe my scoreboard goal should be changed?

OH, no please do not let testing and rainy days make you think twice about the power you have being a teacher.

You are in a very difficult situation with testing, your students are on over-load and stressed to the max, as I am sure you are.

Take a deep breath, remember it is not the end of the world. If you have not seen the mystery road as part of the scoreboard this may be a good week to use it.

Draw a curved road with stops along the way on your white board (if allowed during testing). Put some stop signs in 3 or more places. Draw lines down the road instead of happy faces, if they get sad faces they move off the road and have to earn the way back on the road. At the stop signs put in some quick rewards, and then at the end of the road make a "big" reward.

Someone help me explain this better, please. But in this way during this stressful time you can make something new and keep the rewards coming. Also when they go off the road, they have to earn the way back on to get to the end.
Does this make any sense? Regardless-please hang in there! Annette

Ohhhh testing plus rainy day recess = bad day! Tell me about it!

I can't answer about the scoreboard as mine is still effective so I haven't changed it up yet but here are some hypothesis.

Do as Annette suggested.

Divide your scoreboard into 3rds. Girls/Boys/You. When they are in competition w/ each other it could help.

HOMEWORK - No homework for a night or an extra assignment for the night.

Regardless of the game try to rememember how overloaded they are. That's why it's so tough on you right now - all the kiddos are exhausted and drained. Try giving movement breaks a few times during the day. Always concluding with stretching and deep breathing to help yourself and the students relax.

One of the things that has changed my teaching this year - I have the POWER to decide how my day will go. EVEN when the kids are crazy, I have the power to CHOOSE how I respond. Getting upset only makes it worse for me AND them. If I wake up cranky I work very hard to self-talk before I walk in the door of the school.

Sorry I couldn't give more specific advice! Hang in there!