Hi everyone! I used WBT in my 4th grade classroom this past year. I used a lot of the stratrgies (class/yes, mirror/teach, guff counter, superspeed, etc.) Now I am looping with my class to 5th grade. How do I keep things still exciting and fresh for them so they don't feel like they are getting "4th grade, part two?" I did attend a week long Kagan Cooperative learning institute as well this summer, and plan on implementing the cooperative learning structures and continue to "power teach."
Any suggestions? I am attending the WBT workshop in Missouri next week.
~Tracey

I've actually looped a lot (same core group from K to 5th one time through). I just did 4th to 5th grade these past two years. My advice is to keep the core the same, but implement things that you haven't used yet, or tell them they are now at the next "level" or the 5th grade level. What specifically have you used? I have a ton of little tricks I'd be happy to share with you, but let me know what you have used or plan to use.

Jay

Those are outstanding suggestion Jay! I would also suggest keeping the core the same, but changing up the outer layer. When I feel my kids are numb to the smiley/frowny face on the scoreboard I introduce "The Mountain". The kids are rewarded by climbing the mountain and singing, "Ain't no mountain high enough" and I am rewarded by them singing "I'm going down down baby sliding down the mountain" [our version of a Nelly rap song].