I do wonder how to make the class-yes strategy work as strong at the end of the school year, as it is at the beginning of the school year. In April, after our MAP testing was completed, the students began to check out of school. I continued to use different variations of the class- yes strategy, but it seemed to lack something. The students would respond back, but some students would continue to talk. We would repeat the procedure, sometimes a couple of times before the students would be ready to go. On some days, we would have to practice rule one at recess.

Thoughts, ideas, or suggestions?

Thank you,

Laura
2011-2012 WBT Intern

Laura, I am having some of the same issues. So here is what I did. I made a row under my scoreboard and told them the smiles they earn here have to be the fastest "yes" and "hands and eyes" in the west. No monkey business (they want to clean up, put things away, situate themselves before they say yes). I even hid the stop watch in my pocket (did not get it out yet).
Man, did things shape up and we've got until July 21st

Annette

An old idea of ours for reinvigorating the class-yes is to introduce core knowledge in your call out ... you say "capital of California" ... they say "Sacramento" ... or you say, "4 x4" and they say "16 ... another useful technique is to use a hands and eyes after your second or third attempt to make "class" work ... best of all may be the following ... write this list on the board
Champions
Winners
Team
Class
-- then explain that learning is a team sport ... when the kids are doing "normally" you'll call out "class!" ... when they do a little better, they've advanced to being "team" ... and that is your excited call out ... wow, they really are doing good and you signal this with "Winners" ... how long can they stay at that level ... gee will they ever get to be champions? You get it ... right? Maybe use a magnet to show them what level they are at.
Biff

Keep these idea's coming it is a long way under July for me. I have been expecting more team work and I will use all of these suggestions on Monday.
Hall-la-lu-ya, Annette

Annette,
Another trick that worked for me towards the end of the year was to have the students setting and breaking records throughout the day for many different things. For example, if it is time to get whiteboards out, they not only give the triple repeat, "whiteboards, whiteboards, whiteboards", but use a stopwatch to time how quickly they have their boards out, markers ready, hands folded, sitting up straight in ready position. Or, time them to see how quickly they can put their supplies away, get settled in and ready after bathroom break, etc. I wore a purple stopwatch on a lanyard, and they were begging me to time them!
Try it...you might pleasantly surprised!
Deb Weigel

Oh, Deb you rescued me again (and all other wibbeteers) you are going to make your dear teacher happy and sane until July. I'll try everything. I love the bright stop watch, going to a web site and looking for a bright fancy one right now. I used a modified score board Friday. This one had a happy face for "yes" one for "hands and eyes" and one for "lines, lines, lines" (or in our room "ducks in a row is how we go...quack, quack, do you see my back).

Then only a frownie side for me. Wow, they loved it.

Annette

Some other alternatives that my middle schoolers like is choosing how to respond for that day. Among their favorite choices were:

Class- Ooh Ah!

Class- What?!

Class- What do you want from me?

Class- OMG!

Class- Si!

Nice! The responses come straight from Top 40 songs!