Thanks everyone who has answered my questions. My students start next week and I'm ready to use WBT! I think I may be the only one at my school using WBT, with most of the teachers using the card turning system with rewards for students at the end of the week who have had a good week. Has anyone worked with this situation? When I taught second grade before I didn't use many treats for behavior, except whole class filling a marble jar. I sometimes gave candy at the end of the day. I'm concerned that my students will feel left out if I don't have a treasure chest. Also, several teachers will be sending home daily behavior reports. I wasn't planning to do that, but wonder if I should because the others will be doing it. Any advice?!
Thanks,
Katie

Katie, I've done all of this and more and have spent countless dollars. Last year using W BT my kinder/first grade class was successful in only using the scoreboard no practice cards and only one independant. Now with out WBT they would have been labeled "a class". I only gave out a sticker on Friday, and a pencil when they earned a whole month of more than me. I used one minute parties, mind soccer. And free choices. Did they feel left out, hardly! I am the only one using WBT at my school now, lets see what happens! The wibiteer keeps the little wibbets happy with a fun and lively classroom.
Annette

Thanks Annette! That is encouraging! To nitpick you a little, did you give everyone a sticker on Friday after a good week of more smilies than you? Where or how do you keep track of the smilies earned each day?

Do you know if there is a list of ideas for mind soccer for first grade? I'm thinking of things like comprehension of the weekly story, math questions, science comprehension, is that the right track? I'm not too sporty, so I've not read too much about mind soccer.

Thanks!

Everyone gets a sticker and we sing loud and proud the stickery do-dah song (Andrea Schindler made it up I think). When the score board stars are put up each day they win they got both sticker Friday, and mind soccer. Most of my mind soccer questions came from the power pix we worked on with some other class review thrown in. Lots of people can help you here it really can be made to fit state testing or your own classroom review, states and capitals, math (doubles and doubles + one worked for me) and so much more.
Annette:)

Since I am a learning support teacher, I find the most challenging part is dealing with the regular classroom teachers and the emotional support teacher. The kids that had the most challenging behavior issues were in my room most of the day. I was already using scoreboard and the practice cards once the emotional suppot teacher was asked to intervene in the regular classroom. I explained what I was already doing, gave them handouts, and directed them to the website. They agreed to use it, but they kept trying to adapt it so that it included stickers and treasure chest toys! Give me a mighty groan! When I tried to explain that wasn't the point, the classroom teacher started to send home purple cards everyday for good behavior. It was frustrating! If anyone has any ideas with dealing with nonWBT and their old ways, it would be appreciated!

Rebecca Crooks
WBT Intern 2011-12

Hi Katie,

If you wanted to you could still use the Treasure box as a reward at the end of the week but I would save it for later on in the year or after successfully following Rule #2 and earning 10 stars. You could still talk about it on the first day just so students know it is an option.

As for the behaviour notes. examples of notes to send home to the parents, both positive and reminders to practice, can be found in the free Practice Cards e-book under the downloads. You could use these as your own behaviour letters.

Liann

Katie,

Welcome to WBT and get ready for the ride of your teaching career. As a REFORMED color card teacher, let me say that COLOR CARDS and WBT don't mix. They just don't. I speak from experience as I tried to adapt the color card system to fit the WBT system and it just did not work. FINALLY I convinced my principal to let me ditch the color system and wouldn't ya know it...the WBT model worked like a charm!

So..suggestion 1---stick to the WBT model and NO TREATS! So what if the other teachers are giving treats and rewards...let them waste their money! Save yours! The WBT system has reward intrinsically built in...with the scoreboard and extra recess or free time...AND MIND SOCCER (the ultimate reward). If you give homework...more or less of homework. Kids will do alot to get out of just a little bit of work! You need to use this to your advantage. They will do ANYTHING to get us to stop teaching so they can talk, play, whatever! So..they want you to stop talking...they follow the rules! Get it?

Suggestion 2: Behavior notes home are ok if you have time and feel it necessary! I put a monthly calendar in the front of their binders (like the Moose books) that at the end of each day the students draw a smilie or a frownie (depending on who won the scoreboard). Takes little time...students are responsible...and it gives that little daily note some parents want. It is your classroom so if you don't want to send one home...no biggie.

Suggestion 3: Being the only teacher using WBT in your school can be a challenge! But remember to stick with it...come here for support...and just bask in the glow of teacher heaven when your little darlings are learning, having fun, and you are not pulling your hair out or spending all your money on plastic junk treats. The others will see your success and slowly wonder...WHAT IS THIS WBT! Then you will be in the perfect position to tell them! Have you checked out the Model Classrooms E-Book? Thought about becoming a Model Classroom for your school? Check it out!

Hope this all helps!

Farrah Shipley
WBT Kinders
Co-Director Model Classrooms

Farrah, you are just the coach I needed. Even as a lone model teacher at my site your post to Katie gave me so much inspiration. I am tweeking my success and failures so I can really be a 10 finger wooo WBT teacher.
Annette.

Totally agree with Farrah! Save your money. My kiddos loved the scoreboard and winning against me that I had no need for other treats last year. Mind soccer was their absolute favorite even over a little extra talk time, which made my day because they were still learning and reviewing! Whole Brain Teaching will work for you if you follow the eBooks and keep coming to the forum for advice. I've learned so much from others posting on the forum and have come away with some great ideas. Stick with it! You'll be so glad you did. Last year was absolutely awesome for me, and my students commented several times how much they enjoyed school last year because they got to move and talk and teach each other.

Thanks,
Staci Glass
WBT Intern, 2011-2012

Gosh Farrah - I am such a chicken! Thanks for being so inspirational - reading your post makes me willing to give it a shot!!! No trinket box!! Gonna rock the boat!!!!

Thanks for the suggestions, Farrah! I have just set up my classroom today. No treat box! We're a school that focuses on good nutrition, so I can't give candy anyway. I really don't want to give little toys! No cards either. I always thought it was too complicated anyway. I may send the behavior letters home a little later. I like the idea of the kids putting the smilie or frownie earned for the day.

I appreciate the encouragement. When talking with the other teachers asking about what we are doing for behavior, I was hesitant to say what I am doing. Plus, everyone talks about how bad the kids are at this school. I am really excited about WBT, but I don't want to brag about it until I actually put it into action. I'm rereading the ebook for challenging kids this week. It's great to have all of you for encouragement!

Katie

Thanks, Staci! I have a feeling I will be on the forum a lot! Lots to learn.

You go Katie, just let the "others" struggle and whine. Coach B. Had an oath on a video on this site I believe it was a conference where he asked whole brain teachers to just say "wha, wha, wha. . ." To the teachers who always talk about how bad this kid is or that kid. Once you feel so much more relaxed and happy with your students, they see you have fun with your class, your students will na-na-na that they get to play games to other kids those other teachers will take note! I am a lone ranger at my school but once I got comfortable in my own wibiteering, I started asking the VP to join us in a game of mind soccer, I used it on field trips in front of other classes and parents, I kept my families involved and "they" talk. Something new to others is always viewed with skeptics. My class just ended their school year a week ago, using the scoreboard only no prizes, toys, food (I stress nutrition) or extas. It works.
Annette.

Katie,

You can do this! And I know the feeling! When I first came to my school all I heard was how horrible the kids were and how un-involved the parents were and how I would never get them on board and taking the kids to the office for licks was the only way! Well I will report that this past year (a totally WBT year with no exceptions) I had not one student go to the office for "licks" and my parent involvement rocked. So much that Annette is right...parents talk...and many of the parents in Pre-K requested my classroom for their child! I have great parent involvement and have my kinders texting and calling me all this summer! Can't wait to see all the new 1st graders on August 15 and all my incoming Kinders!

Keep it up! Stay strong! Power to the Teachers!

Farrah Shipley
WBT Kinder
Co-Director WBT Model Classrooms

I just discovered WBT last night, and can't wait to use it in my 4th grade class. According to other teachers in my school I am getting a very challenging group. My principal is requiring us to use a ticket reward system. Students gain tickets for good behavior,and lose them for bad behavior. Every week students can "buy" things from the treasure chest, or homework passes etc. How can I use tickets and have a successful WBT classroom?

RWilliams,

You may want to talk to your principle about WBT and have him/her view the website. Ask for the opportunity to try this classroom management plan before having to do tickets. That's the whole purpose is to try to eliminate candy and useless trinkets. If administration will not go for it, then you will have to find a way to utilize the scoreboard and manipulate the tickets. Maybe you can give each student a ticket if they beat you in scoreboard. Hopefully you can convince them to let you try all the levels first. It does work with consistency. Learn the plan and all the levels so that you can be confident explaining it to them. If theybrealize you have a definate plan, chances are they will go for it! Good luck and let me know how it goes.

Rebecca Crooks
WBT Intern
2011-12