Here is a blank blue Power Pix frame that you can use to add your own graphics, question, answer, and gesture for those not covered elsewhere. Will add a red one when I get it finished. Planning to make a lot of music related Power Pix and add them as they are available. Thanks, Diane, for helping with this!

OK, these aren't as good, but I have one now in red and green (for other disciplines besides language arts and math).

LOVE these! Such a smart idea

You can download these files here below.

Thanks for making them downloadable! You are the best!

Hey, thanks so much for doing that.

Thank you thank you thank you

Hi Everyone,
Diane Woodward, a local fellow music teacher, and I have also designed a set of buttons for Leadership. Here are the jpg files for the designs, as well as a photo of the finished product. I couldn't locate the actual pics for the jobs in my files, so we created these in Publisher. We have a teacher resource center in our school system that charges 50 cents for buttons to be made, and each had 2 sets made. They are about 2" in diameter, a little bigger than the WBT buttons available at the conference.
Jason might have to convert these to downloadable files as he did the blank Power Pix frames for you to download them from here. But if you go to my blog at wbtmusic.blogspot.com you can right click them and save as picture files.

Thank you for sharing your creative ideas!!!

OK so obviously you are using the method. Would you please tell a bit about how you use. I posted a question but will ask you directly. Can this work effectively if I only see them once per week? How do I begin? I teach grade 4 & 5 general music.

Yes! Absolutely! The students look forward to a class where they can interact with their whole person, rather than just the lecture type presentations they get most of the day. They will learn the rules quickly, and be ready to use them to advance their music knowledge. The students who have been in my class so far greet me on the walkways singing the last song we did in class!

GotAnyGourds,

I think any exposure is great! You want to try to have all of your power pix up by December and just practice, practice, practice!!! Then, Voila! MAGIC!


Heather Hansen
wbt intern
2011/12

This is an answer for you, MusicMav. AuntPam can't seem to sign on so she asked me to come onto the forum and give you some ideas for beginning WBT in music.

I teach music from Early Childhood through 5th grade and have used WBT going on three years now.

YES, you can use WBT if you only see them once a week. I only see mine twice for two weeks and only once the third week. Children are very adaptable and they can change how they respond according to your expectations. I have always believed that you must first have an engaging lesson. What WBT gives you is a way to deliver it in a fun way where they will really learn and remember. And when the other teachers start seeing it in action, they will adopt at least parts of it. I have found that it doesn't work to tell them about it. At least most of the teachers at my own school were very resistant to even hearing about it. Now "a bubble in your mouth" has spread across the entire campus and I've heard other teachers using Class/Yes and "Hands and Eyes". Some of the new teachers have actually requested information on what I am doing. If you would like to write to me directly, my address is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . I would be glad to answer your questions. My students are excited to come to music because it is a positive and fun place to be. I have thirty students signed up for Advanced Choir and 27 for Beginning so far. Whew! I can send you photos of how I have my room set up, etc. I am in a very small temporary building so it is not totally ideal, but it works. I have a "Use Your Whole Brain" bulletin board this year. For the first time, I have shown the older children why we do what we do and how it relates to their learning. I think understanding why we do gestures has helped with more full participation using them. I use Scoreboard...easy once you are in the habit. I don't even have to reward very often...they just like beating me, LOL! I have added "It's cool" (thumbs up when a child gives a wrong answer)and the ten fingered "woo" for a good answer (told them it gives them "power" and making it a short woo gives more power). They have really enjoyed these additions.

Start with Class/Yes, the rules with gestures, and Hands and Eyes. Do the rules at the beginning of every class in every way imaginable. Some suggestions:

Use a puppet to lead.

Use a child leader. (child should say "Mirror words" then say the rule with gestures)

Have the computer say them (with voiceover).
If you have a Mac, there are a lot of different voices.

After they know them, do them silently with gestures only.

Use a robot voice.

Use a squeaky voice.

Do them with the fastest "tempo" they can.

Say them "Largo".

You can use the rules to teach them how to do "Teach/OK". My kids really love doing "full turn" (to their partners)and (me: Switch!) Uh-oh, Switch!To reinforce, after they do it, I ask, "Did your partner tell you "so and so" with gestures?" Then give your partner a pat on the shoulder (ten-fingered woo, a salute, whatever).

I'm sure you can think of many other ways. Same with class/yes...whisper "class", say "Oh, class", Classity Class...the secret of why it keeps working (where other attention getters don't) is that the ways to do it are infinite. That way the children don't habituate and stop responding. Be sure to post all the rule pictures in front of the room. I have the other pictures (such as class yes, hold your questions, etc. on my front bulletin board and over the top of Scoreboard. I have signs that say "Mighty groan" and "Oh, Yeah" on each side of the scoreboard. I don't like smileys and frownies for the older kids...seems babyish, so I use points, since I teach all ages.

I don't start Practice Cards until Dec. when the natives start getting restless. I have had to modify how I use those. But I have found ways. You want to hold off on each level as long as you can. For instance, you don't introduce the Guff Meter until someone actually gives you guff.

After teaching 20 years, I had to really work at changing old habits for the first few months. Now it is second nature. Hope this helps some!

Diane Woodward
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Shreveport, Louisiana

I have some Power Pix that I have made or Pam has made and I have illustrated. We collaborate with DropBox....awesome way to share. But most of my Power Pix are tiffs and I don't think I can upload them here. If anyone would like to have them, just email me and I can either email or dropbox with you.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

or email me here on the site.

You can add your power pix as an attachment on this forum for users to download. I prefer not to have to have anyone that wants them to download and signup for DropBox.

Please add them as an attachment or send them to me and Ill take care of it for you.

Thanks

Jason

Use a puppet to lead.
Use a child leader. (child should say "Mirror words" then say the rule with gestures)
Have the computer say them (with voiceover).
If you have a Mac, there are a lot of different voices.
After they know them, do them silently with gestures only.
Use a robot voice.
Use a squeaky voice.
fastest "tempo" they can.
Say them "Largo".

These are priceless! I have used Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse voices too!

I totally agree with not telling teachers about WBT. For some reason they don't get excited about a teaching method that can change the lives of your students, not to mention your own.