Hello, everyone! My name is Kathy I am teaching 4th grade this year it is my second year teaching, but it has been 7 years since I taught my first year. So I consider this year my first. I started using WBT at the beginning of my classroom, I am in my 2nd week. I have 19 children and they are all pretty social I feel like when I use class yes they don't respond the way I do or get silly and laugh. I feel like they don't take me seriously. When I do say class they respond yes but don't stop and listen. I really need help on this part. The other thing is I do the scoreboard but I feel like I change the game up or reward up to many times. I really can't do recess time since they only have 1 recess. I tried to get them to earn to play mind soccer but they weren't interested because they have no idea what it is. So if anyone could shed some light on what do I would love it.

Hi Kathy! Great job starting your year off with WBT. Don't give up and keep plugging away. Really use your scoreboard everyday to get them to respond. Make it clear what you are working towards. Don't worry about recess. You are not taking the whole time away,just one or two minutes more or less recess. Try ping ponging your scoreboard where you go back and forth maybe starting with a mighty oh yeah for responding followed by a groan for not cheering enthusiastically enough. Just remember the three point rule. If you have recess in the middle of the day, you may want to erase your scoreboard following recess to keep them on board with you. You can try less or more homework or getting ready to leave one or two minutes earlier. Since I teach 3/4 learning support, I don't have much control over their recess. Tricks in my back pocket are sitting next to a friend for a couple minutes, free talk time or drawing time. I also have some math and language arts games and card games that can be played really quickly. Save Mind Soccer for a couple of weeks, but start posting up the signs for anticipation. Try playing this for the first time maybe on a Friday as a homework reward to give yourself a few extra minutes to explain how it works. After playing just one time, they will ask for more. I hope this helps. Let us know if you have any more questions. Keep us posted on how it goes!

I'm experiencing some of the same difficulties as Kathy. The first couple days were great and then it seemed to go downhill. When using class YES! my 4th graders can't seem to stop and refocus. I'm worried as we are one week into the school year and I know how crucial these first weeks are to the success of the school year. Any other tips that will help? Thank You!

Don't worry I know I've been exactly where you are. When you first start WBT there is roller coaster effect. Some days you think you are in teacher heaven, then something will make you second guess yourself "am I doing this right "? Give it time change thing up, reward more often, ping pong the scoreboard and keep the WBT report card. Give yourself Congrats when things are going great and focus on the things you can change. This dog had to learn a lot of new tricks you an too!

Annette.

Hi Kathy! Welcome to the WBT world. KEEP IT UP! That's my FIRST bit of advice. Give yourself time to figure things out and the kids a little bit of time to adjust.

I use class/yes and it works great, but there are some things to consider and do to make it most effective. First, consider if you were in the middle of talking and you were IMMEDIATELY expected to stop when someone asked for your attention. I changed my expectations! When I say class/yes, I'd LIKE for everyone to stop and listen, but if they don't, I give them another chance.
If you need them to focus on something very important, use "hands and eyes" Also, make sure to reward them when do it right - give them a happy mark on the scoreboard. If many kids DONT respond, you can recognize a few individuals who DID do it - either by having the kids verbally recognize the student (Bobby responded right away, everyone, tell Bobby OH YEAH) or with tickets or positive stickers, whatever you may have (we are a PBIS school and hand out "positives" to our kids)

Also - Another teacher on this forum said he sometimes does sound with his class/yes. For example,
Teacher: Clap, clap, clap, "Class?"
Student: Clap, clap, clap "yes?"

Or
Teacher: Clap, Clap, bang on desk, "class class class"
Student, Clap, Clap, bang on desk, "yes, yes, yes"

I think this helps when it's noisy because kids hear the claps and banging and quickly join in.

Good luck and keep the questions coming!

I've been using the 5 rules, class, yes. But I have trouble keeping up the the scoreboard.
When I do, my class runs smoother but how do I keep up the energy.
It's exhausting.

Well your doing something right your exhusted:cheer: and you teach kinder, I am just saying:laugh: you will be tired but are your students? Then you know you are really doing good. Use a small portable scoreboard when going places, when you are with small groups etc. Remember the plus three rule. Sometimes just verbally tell them that earned a smile or frown then as soon as you can viually put one on the board. I hope what little I shared did some good-we all need score board areobics.
Annette

Kathy, It is my first year teaching 3rd grade (and something other that pullout and inclusion) and I have been struggling since school started. My first year with WBT also. The second grade teachers have told me this is the chattiest year they had ever seen and I can testify to that. I have the same problem with the kids responding then continuing with their conversations. However, today I witnessed a miracle. Just before lunch, I was trying to complete the reading lesson and battling multiple side conversations when one of my high-maintenence girls stood up and started leading the class in the rules! I was stunned but joined in. While they did not entirely settle, we did get to complete the lesson and for the rest of the day, she would remind everyone before I did when they got too sidetracked.

One of the things I did yesterday, was give the students double smileys for a specific time period when they were following the rules we were working on. i think maybe that made an impression on them.

Good luck and keep plugging at it.

Megan- Thanks for the class/yes variations!!!



Tiffany