Hi everyone. I teach 7th and 8th grade science. It's my second year doing WBT (11th year teaching). I came across WBT last summer and, like many of the rest of you, trained myself with the amazing youtube videos and read all of the downloadable material. It worked so well and last year was my best year of teaching so far! However, I started slacking on all the WBT stuff during 3rd & 4th quarter. I regretted it and am determined to keep up the momentum this year. In getting ready for the new school year, I knew that one of my problems last year was the placement of my scoreboard. I have a huge demonstration table in the front of my room, and it was often between me and my white board. I started to find it distracting to stop what I was saying/doing and walk around to my scoreboard and mark a point. So I let a lot of good and bad things slide in terms of points.

This year I went to Staples and got a smaller white board (probably about 2 feet x 3 feet. I am propping it up on my demo table and have easy access. School has begun and it is making a huge difference already. But here is the main thing that I wanted to share: Because it is not firmly attached to anything, it is portable. When we go out on the blacktop for a lab, or to the computer room, or even to an assembly... the scoreboard is coming with us!

The scoreboard is also magnetic and came with a couple of magnets. This is helpful for another kind of reward... During labs (or activities where they are doing something like coloring, etc), I like to leave music playing. I know it\'s recommended that they earn just a few minutes of music at a time, but I enjoy music playing during these long activities. I also have a hard time doing many points and interrupting the activity for points on the scoreboard. Instead my scoreboard becomes "Keep the DJ Happy!" and as long as they are working well, the music stays on. I can slide a magnet with a little music note on it back and forth between the 2 sides of the scoreboard and give them a visual of how happy the DJ -me- is with their behavior. Sometimes we evaluate it every 10-15 minutes, sometimes I just keep sliding the magnet and when we cross the line, the music goes off for 15 minutes (during which time they can try to earn it back).

Amy Kirshen
Pleasant Hill, Ca

Great idea to use the portable scoreboard!!!!!!

What a great idea!!! I really like how you have made your scoreboard an essential part of your day. Now I want to do that in my class. Thanks for sharing your idea.

I love how you made your scoreboard so inviting and how it draws the students' attention! I know if I were a student I would want to do what it takes to get those points! It also seems like it would make the students take the game more seriously since it is nicely put up. I love how the scoreboard is portable along with being magnetic. It is great how it can be taken anywhere!! Thank you so much for giving us the visual/pic. Great future idea!!!

I'm encouraged to hear how you are sticking in there and working out the kinks. Isn't it amazing that something as simple as making the scoreboard more accessible can make such a huge difference??? Ten finger rolling woo to you!!!
I also appreciate the scoreboard twist "Keep the DJ happy"!
What a great incentive for students!
Keep sharing these great ideas~!!!!!