I've taught first grade for many years and this year I'm being moved to fourth. Will this work well with fourth graders? I'm concerned about classroom management and students who don't want to follow procedures. Advice would be great.

Thank you

Absolutely! That is the beauty of WBT. It is adaptable to all grade levels. Watch some of the videos with the older grades. That will help you feel better. I teach 3rd and 4 and they love it ! If you are a bit sceptical, once you get started you can even tell the kids a small white lie. Lead them to believe that you taught high school before and this was how you taught them. They might think it is really cool. Most likely though, you won't have to. If you have a few not buying into it, play on those that do and really work your scoreboard. If you still have trouble, that is what practice cards and the guff counter are for. Learn your levels and use them as you need them. It is your classroom. Good luck and let me know if you have further questions. Let us know on the forum how it is going. We would love to hear your experiences and ideas!

Rebecca Crooks
WBT Intern
2011-12

Thank you for your reply. I'm concerned about not having enough enthusiasm everyday and what happens when a child misbehaves in the hallway, bathroom, fire drill, etc. Any encouraging words?

You have to keep the energy up:) Students feed off your energy. Follow all of the steps following the scoreboard, work the scoreboard as long as possible. They suggest using the scoreboard until Thanksgiving, more or less homework may work well with 4th grade. You can change up the scoreboard by holding out on letting students know that the tallies count for two or five points each! If this still doesn't work, which it may not for a few rascals:), add practice cards. This is where students simply practice whatever rules they have broken for 2 minutes during their recess. If the students will not comply then they sit for 4 minutes. You just double the time. Read up on the Guff counter, if you haven't already:) It works wonderful! Then the Independents, bullseye game, and Agreement bridge. Try not to introduce each step too quickly. Save the practice cards for January, if possible. Finally, watch how WBT is implemented on youtube with Chris in 4th. Students totally love it! There is no time to gossip, send notes, or for that matter get into trouble! I am so excited for your 4th grade experience using WBT! Keep me posted:)

Heather Hansen
WBT Intern
2011/12

SOOO true Heather! The hardest lesson I learned during my student teaching experience was the whole students-feed-off-your-energy thing!

With that said, I have also seen quiet and calm teachers implement WBT and not be as necessarily "crazy" as some of the teachers you see on the videos like "The Crazy Professor" etc.

Check out The WBT youtube channel to watch lots of different educators demonstrating WBT with their students. Some are jumpy and crazy, others are calm and fluid.
Both are effective. The best thing about WBT is that is forms to fit YOU, not the other way around!

Last year, when we were walking in the hall or taking a restroom break I would carry the scoreboard with us sometimes. As we walked down the hall I gave and points. The beauty was that I didn't have to make make a sound! I just made eye contact with the kids and marked a point.

I did this most at the beginning of the year. Later I would carry the scoreboard with us when I could tell they needed an extra boost to do the right thing.

I did the same thing in between recess. My students were always great when heading to recess or lunch but.... When I was walking back up to get them they were always scattered or getting a drink. There were only a few students in line. So, I took the initiative to bring my tiny white erase board and documented my scoreboard as I walked up everyday. Boy... that was a quick solution!!

Heather Hanen
Wbt Intern
2011/12

Yes! I teach 5th grade and my husband teaches high school, and it works BEAUTIFULLY! You have to really sell it in the beginning and have them buy in, but once they do, they are putty in your hands! I hope you have a wonderful year. If you're interested in how it works in older grades, you can see my husband using it with high school on youtube.

Thank you everyone for your encouragement and advice. I'm excited about implementing it this year. Do you use small group instruction during your day? It's a school wide policy to implement Guided Reading and technology everyday. Do you find using WBT goes okay with Guided Reading/technology? Thank you again for all the great comments. I work in a title one school and discipline it's always the easiest.

WBT Model classroom e-book breaks down three various groups for small group instruction. They are broken up into high, medium, and low. It suggests that you have the high group work independently, the middle group work in pairs and the low group work with the teacher. If you have parent volunteers you could have them working with a group or just allow a chunk of time to rotate. It WBT works wonderful in every setting!

Good Luck!

Heather Hansen
WBT Intern
2011/12