I am still puzzled with the scoreboard. We only have one recess after lunch. Do I complete the scoreboard before lunch for the recess more or less reward? Or do, I hold until the end of the day, carry on until Friday..?? What is your suggestion? Thanks P.D. Enjoyed the Midwest Conference in West Plains!1!

Well depending on how long you've been using it and what grade you could do a few things...

- break the day up and have 2 rewards for the day...an extra __ minutes at recess half way through and a couple minutes of mind soccer or some other game at the end of the day. This gives the students a chance to be successful two times and redeem themselves if they didn't make it at the start.

-don't use recess at all - use mind soccer or some other game at the end of the day.

-switch it up...the kids will probably get bored with whatever it is.

- I actually only do a weekly reward. Here is how I do it: I do tally marks each day and at the end of the day the side that wins earns a face (i.e. more happy face tally marks I erase all tallies and make a mini happy face). Come Friday, the one with more faces will determine an extra 5 - 10 min of recess, a fun vocab game from Houghton Mifflin site, mind soccer, heads up 7 up, etc.

Hope that helps.

M, thanks soooo much for your quick reply. I am a third grade teacher and began using WBT last year after viewing on YouTube and the WBT website, spring webinars, Saturday morning Brain Toy discussions, and finally got to a real person seminar this summer in West Plains, MO. !! Enjoyed so much and learned ALOT!! Especially the lesson plan format. This will be very helpful this coming school year.
I used the scoreboard last year, my students LOVED WBT, but I was always unsure about the scoreboard. I love your Friday idea. This will make it easier for me, but I was wondering if the kids do ok, since they are not receiving the reward until Friday.

Thanks again. I will share your advice with my peers.

P.S. Look for me again, I am sure I will have MANY questions.

Anytime - we are all here to help and learn. I was surpised when I saw some of the expert boarders posting questions! LOVE IT.

They usually do great waiting until Friday, however, if you sense it's a rough week then mix it up and give them something as needed. That's what I LOVE about WBT - it's SO flexible and adaptable! Some days my scoreboard has a few points (much later into the year) but then if needed I have nearly 20! Of course, at the start of the year, I have a LOT and always around the rough times (spring break, xmas break, etc.)

Do you split up your scoreboard? That's another way to mix it up and do something mid week if you feel it's needed. If you split your board up boy/girl or right side/left side, etc. and Wednesday the group who won gets to...pick from prize box, gets a no homework pass, gets xyz...

When do you begin your school year? Mine doesn't start until September 6th!

M, I report on Monday!! Yes, that is this coming Monday, the 8th!!! Students begin on the 11th!! It is 112 degrees here!! Lots of indoor recess until the temp falls below 100 degrees!! What grade do you teach?

Oh WOW! Our indoor recess in Oregon is because of...RAIN...a good chunk of the year!
I am entering my 4th year of teaching (I found WBT this past March) and did 1st grade, then K for 2 years and now I'm on to 3rd (my principal honored my request!)

Well, 10 finger WOO HOO to you and your colleagues for teaching in that heat!