I just learned about whole brain teaching while browsing the internet and am quite intrigued. At our last in-service, I shared some videos with a few other teachers. We are interested in learning more. I am an 8th grade Learning Support teacher in a "struggling" school district. I was going to try it out for the rest of this year and the next level teacher was interested in continuing next year. We are not sure how to get started. Do we need to be trained or just start from the instructions on the site? I think my students will benefit and would love to find a teacher in the area who uses the program.

Hi Marilynn,

Start by reading all of the 1st Steps at the top of this page. Continue through the Levels and Goodies, watch the youtube videos, read the blogs, and download the free E-books. Watch for FREE conferences near you, FREE Webinars online and FREE Livestream chats with Chris Biffle himself (facebook), and, finally, put a bug in your Superintendent's ear to have one of the experts come and teach the techniques to your staff (not sure who this would be -maybe someone else could answer that?. If you have any questions along the way please post them on the website or via facebook and one of us will help you out:)

Liann

WBT Intern
Kelowna, BC, Canada

Hi, Marylynn,

I started just like you - found a link to the WBT website on www.teachers.net, began watching the videos (Start withe the "1st Steps" tab, then go look at the "Levels" tab to get an idea about the levels of the ScoreBoard).


I found this was more than enough to get me started and I was very pleased with the results. Did I do WBt "perfectly?" No. But when I was consistent, I had some GREAT results, and I am committed to doing it better next year. Working with the WBT system also helped me to surface questions I didn't know I had until I started using it. Once I had these clarified, I determined to attend a conference in person. And my schedule worked out so that I could go to the National Conference in Louisiana earlier this month. I won't kid you - that did help me immensely - but it's NOT necessary to attend a conference to begin WBT.

The biggest issue I struggled with was ScoreBoard Rewards/Consequenes. I didn't think these through enough ahead of time. (I started with the More/Less HW (I teach 9th grade)). So, I really had to re-think how I used HW in conjunction with the ScoreBoard. Here's my basic approach:

FIRST: You have to KNOW/PLAN where the ScoreBoard will be at the end of the period
(remember ,it's fixed)
SECOND: Split the homework up such that they will HAVE to do the work you INTEND for them to do.


THIRD: Make sure the Board ends up where you want it.

FOR EXAMPLE: Let's say you PLAN for them to do Problems #1-10 at the end of the chapter and you also PLAN for them to "win the ScoreBoard." Write TWO homework assignments on the Board:
"A" is "Problems #1-10 on page 32" and "B" is "Problems 11-20 on p. 32). You point these out at the beginning of the period, and make sure they know that if they "lose" the ScoreBoard that day, they have to do BOTH (Mighty GROAN!) but if they win, they ONLY (!) have to do Problems #1-10 (Mighty OH YEAH!) Then, of course, you fix the ScoreBoard to let them "win"

OR, if you plan for them to "lose" that day, you tell them that the "A" assignment is "Problems 1-5" and the "B" assignment is "Problems 6-10") and then, of course, they lose, and end up doing BOTH A & B (which happened to be the problems you wanted them to do in the first place).


Anyway, previous to WBT, I didn't assign much homework - maybe one or two assignments a week of 10 problems or so (my urban, Title 1 kids don't have much time or space to do homework, what with babysitting younger kids or working a job after school to help support the family).

And, I didn't think splitting the assignments up into shorter amounts would motivate/de-motivate them. But that's where I was WRONG. They WILL indeed work hard in the classroom to avoid even a FEW extra problems of homework.

I hope this helps.

- Jen

Hi Marilyn!

Liann and Jen summed up the basics. Use this website and forum to it's fullest. Coming to the forum is the best place for help. I am also a learning support teacher. I teach 3/4 grade so my class will work a little differently than yours, of douse, but if you want any ideas, let me know. I would also welcome your ideas. Good luck with the new year!

Rebecca
WBT Intern 201112