Hello all,

I am new to WBT this year and I'm struggling a little. There isn't anyone else for me to discuss things with or problems solve with so I'm spinning my wheels a bit. I am having a hard time getting my kids to respond to the class, yes consistently, I forget to use the scoreboard enough, and although I LOVE Teach, Okay I am having a hard time working it in enough. Can anyone offer any suggestions? I'd love to collaborate with anyone in Missouri who is using WBT. I am willing to travel!

Thanks,
Bethany

Hi Bethany,

You are not alone!! We had the exact same discussion going in the Kindergarten forum a month ago and WBT's Andrea Schindler gave us the following amazing dialogue that worked wonders for me! Go to the Kindergarten forum under Grade Specific and click on "Funny thing please respond?" for more!

Question, how many times do you repeat Class! ? do you only say it once? You've got to say it a couple times, varying it up a bit. If they make a mistake, practice. For example:

"Claaaaaaasssss" they say "yeeeeeeesss"
"Class! Class!" they say "YEs! YEs!
"Classity class!" they say "Yessity yes!"

Now if you don't get their attention after a couple variations, you say "Mighty groan!" (saddy point on the scoreboard)
I didn't have everybody. Would you like to try again? They say "Yes!" Then you say:
"When I say Class! You say Yes!"
And try it again. NO matter how many students you get you say:
What's rule #1? (they say "Follow directions quickly"!)
You say: what was that? Follow directions sloooooowly???
They say no! "Follow directions quickly"!
You say "Well when I say "Class" everybody must say "Yes!", but also you have to stop what you are doing and look at me as fast as you can. Like lightening speed fast! Can you be lightening speed fast?
They say: yes!
Tell your neighbor "I'm lightening speed fast, are you lightning speed fast?"
They tell their neighbors.
Tell your neighbor "I bet your not as fast as me!"
They tell their neighbors.
You say "Okay, let's see who is lightening speed fast. Practice being busy." (they practice looking down or doing their work~ you will probably have to model at first."
Then call: "Claaaaassssss!" They say: "Yeeeeesssss"
Say: "Class! Class!" They say: Yes! YEs!
Now point out a couple of students who were really fast. (I saw Sam was fast, Michael was fast and Sarah was fast! Their heads almost spun off they were so fast!) Give a smiley point. Then say: Buuuuuuuut I didn't have everybody. Give a saddy point.
Would you like to try again?
They say yes!
You say: Can you be as fast as Sam, Michael, & SaraH?
They say "YES!"
Tell your neighbor: "I'm faster than Sam, Michael, &SaraH!"
Okay! PRactice being busy!
Say: Claaaaaaaasssss! They say: Yeeeeeesss!
You say: "OOOOOOhhhhh Class!" They say: "Ooooooohhh Yes!"
Great job, let me hear your "Mighty oh Yeah!" (smiley point)

this is just a sample "Rehearsal" for CLass yes. It should help to "iron out" the problems. the better they get~ the less rehearsal they will need~ and they will eventually just graduate to mini~rehearsals occasionally. It has to be a challenge, a game to see "how good they can do".
Plus, ping ponging them back and forth on the scoreboard keeps them on their toes.
Hang in there:)! It sounds like things are progressing from your first updates!

Andrea

Keep us posted on how it goes!!!!

As for the Teach/OK I find that if I use it in my Opening Calendar activities it works well. For example, I get the kids to teach each other the date. Then I might do a mini-lesson together with the morning message and First Grade Power Pix to teach about sentences. As for the scoreboard a portable one is a must - the imaginary air scoreboard works well when you are in different areas of the classroom or school and the scoreboard is out of reach.

Liann

Hi, I am new too, and this forum has helped heaps! I have a "busy" kindergarten class and class yes did not always work. I too got a little down hearted. Have no fear the version Ms. Shipley uses on this post will really help, it worked for me. Plus I added a special "yes" I clap, then snap my fingers (hands out to the side) so that their "busy" little hands stop (they do it too and mirror me).

Then there are times I include what we are working on, "Class, super reading class" (they say super reading yes) or "Class, number thinking class" and they will repeat.

The more often you vary it, use it and get their attention the more they will respond. It always helps to add a smiley to the scoreboard too.

Hope this helps, hang in there I am doing the same thing...Annette

I am in the St. Louis area (transferred here from the Kansas City area 5 years ago) and am currently the WBT ringleader in my building. Would LOVE to chat with you more. You can email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Excited to hear about another WBT teacher in MO!!!!
Melisa

Classroom Management through whole Brain Teaching
Master the Big Six:
1. Class-Yes
2. Classroom Rules
3. Teach-Okay
4. Scoreboard
5. Hands and Eyes
6. Switch.
1- Class-Yes (The Attention Grabber)
(Use this technique whenever you want to quickly gain the attention of your class. For maximum effect, occasionally vary your tone of voice.) You may use it fifty times a day.

2- Five Class Rules (The Organizer)
(Rehearse classroom rules and their gestures many times a day. During instruction, when a rule is broken, call out the rule number and students, with gestures, will respond in chorus with the rule.

1. Follow directions quickly!
2. Raise your hand for permission to speak.
3. Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat.
4. Make smart choices.
5. Keep your dear teacher happy!

3- Teach-Okay (The Whole Brain Activator)
(Speak briefly and then ask students to paraphrase, with meaningful gestures, what you’ve said with a partner. Move around the classroom to monitor your students’ comprehension.)

4- The Scoreboard (The Motivator)
(Frequently reward positive behavior and penalize for negative behavior. Observe the plus/minus 3 rule and keep the positive and negative scores within three points.)

5- Hands and Eyes (The Focuser):
(Use this technique whenever you want maximum attention.)

6- Switch! The Involver:
(Count your class off in 1’s and 2’s. Use this technique so that every student has an opportunity to practice speaking and listening skills.)

Mrs. Amina Abukhalaf
Hope this summary will give every one the power to be a power teacher!!!
best wishes for all

I am a First Grade teacher in Reeds Spring, down by Branson. I just started WBT this year. I love it. i have seen results in Math I have never seen before. Students pick up difficult concepts the first time taught. That is awesome for First Graders.

I am doing some tweeking on my way of doing things. When I do Teach/OK I repeat what I said with Mirror words for each group to teach. Several kids were having trouble remembering what to say and what gestures to use. This has helped especially with new and difficult concepts. I get much more student engagement. I hope this is OK. I also am teaching a short mimi lesson first and then going back and doing "mirror words, teach OK of the lesson. The kids get it one more time and seem to do better. I hope this is OK too. Thanks.

rmwalker...what you are doing is called making the system work for you. This is key in what we are doing. Too many times our districts give us a new program and then we find it dictates what we are supposed to do. With WBT, you are able to use our techniques and they work well, but they are open to small tweeks here and there. There are some fundamental areas that can't be messed with for the purity of the system, but what you are doing is totally fine.

I'll be in your area in February...the 26th I'll be in Joplin. Check out this website in the next few weeks for an updated on the time and location. I'll also be in Poplar Bluff on the 22nd of February also, but Joplin looks closer.

Power to the Teacher!

rmwalker,

I am new to WBT so am not clear on exactly how you are using the Mirror words. Please explain in more detail.

Thanks,

Jason

Hi Jason:)

Welcome to Whole Brain Teaching. The idea is to use "Mirror" first so that the students watch, listen and copy your gestures. Then you say, "Mirror, Words" and repeat the whole thing, this time allowing the students to say it with you as they copy your gestures.

Keep the questions coming:)

Liann

Hi,
I want to tell you about my methodology in using the scoreboard technique..
I write on the board: Teacher/Students
I say: claaaaas, students say: YYYYYes. I say: I will ask you a question (related to the taught subject)
I say: if ten of you could answer this question correctly, you will have one point on the scoreboard (for students)if not, I will have the point (for the Teacher).
I ask the question, I tell the students to write the answer on a small sheet of paper, I glance the correct answers and count them,,, then I announce the point winner..
There are lots and lots of ways and methods,, just be creative and do your best,, You will come up with new techniques everybody may make use of it,,,
thanks all,
Sahar/Ameena

Hi Bethany,

Welcome to WBT in Missouri. Where do you teach? I teach Title I Reading in the Jackson R-2 school district. It seems that you have already gotten some great advice on getting WBT up and going in your classroom. I use WBT with my small reading groups with some varations for groups of 3-8. For example, I don't use the scoreboard hardly at all, because I switch groups all day. That would mean trying to keep up with at least 10 different scoreboards. Thankfully I really haven't needed the scoreboard at all. We do have several classroom teachers that use WBT. Staci Glass has a lot of success using it. She has had several teachers come and observe her in her classroom. It might help you if you could see it in action. I'm sure there are many WBT teachers that would love to have you in their classroom. We certainly would if we are within the distance you are willing to travel.

Hi Bethany!

It does sound like you've gotten a lot of really great advice. I hope things are going well for you.
I teach with Susan in the Jackson R2 school district. I use WBT with my 3rd graders and it works wonderfully. We've had a lot of fun this year, and my behavior issues have drastically decreased since the implementation of WBT. I have had several teachers in my room this year and have done a couple of different presentations, one with Susan Floyd for our Professional Day here at West Lane. If you are able to travel and would like to visit Jackson at some point during the end of this school year or at the beginning of next school year, you are more than welcome to visit my room. I'm sure Susan would love to show you how she uses WBT with her Title 1 groups as well. I also have to share that we have been taking our MAP test and it is amazing to see how the students are responding. They told me today that they thought the test was easy because they remembered their PowerPix and gestures that have been taught all year long! Keep me posted on how things are going, and I am happy to help in any way I can. If there is something specific that you have a question about, post it, and you'll get all kinds of great suggestions!

Thanks,
Staci