This is my first year teaching high school. I taught middle school for seven years and every time I played mind soccer the kids went nuts for it. I was afraid that it would be hard to motivate high schoolers to play, but today proved that this game works anywhere. I only played for about 5 minutes, but the kids were yelling and cheering. They suprised me with how much they remembered when I asked them questions from two units ago. I guarantee if it were on an assignment they would not respond well, but because it's a game so they are less restricted.
This allowed for the really wild kids to yell. Many of them were sort of calm in a couple of periods, but they still enjoyed it. I figure if I am complaining that 14-15 year olds are too calm, my life is pretty good.

Hi, Angela,

I remember meeting you in LA this past year, and I remember you said you would be moving from middle to high school this year. Now that you have, I really enjoy hearing from you, because I teach ninth-grade and have been trying to figure out how to implement various aspects of WBT at the secondary level. I too have had success with Mind Soccer. It DEFINITELY works! When you think about it, why wouldn't it? Heck, it works with adults (I remember Chris leading all of us in a game at the LA convention, and even though we KNEW what the higher purpose was, we all still participated eagerly....)

I too have found that at the high school level, there are some who are more "into it" than others. But that's OK. (As you said, if I'm complaining they are too calm, then life is pretty good.) And I have a few who actually groan when we play it (not sure exactly, but I think they just don't like competitions, or maybe feel self-conscious). Oh well,you can't please all the people all the time....

Also, I am careful not to overdo it - about once a week seems good. My admin discourages assigning homework over weekends, so I often have them play for Mind Soccer minutes on my Friday scoreboard and then play at the end of the period.

- Jen

Angela,
I am thrilled to hear this news! There are so many, upper grade teachers, that say WBT teaching is for the younger classes and it would never work for the upper grades. I always encourage them to look on the forum and teacher tube... I look forward to sharing your response!

Thanks!
Heather Hansen
Wbt Intern
2011/12

Thanks Heather and Jen!
I am excited to speak with more upper grade teachers about how WBT works for them in various classes. I know that it does seem some kids are less excited than others, but you have to remember that often teenagers will groan about anything that happens to be the teacher's idea. I found that sometimes I will pose it as if it is a choice, such as "Would you like more time to work on homework or mindsoccer with this free time you earned?" Most will then beg for the game. Some kids are nervous about academic games, but in mind soccer they get to yell out answers so there is little pressure. I tell my kids that the more people on the team who answer, the stronger of a kick they get. Then pretty soon they are almost all participating. This way even the kid who doesn't have all the answers can take a shot or at least shout the answer that the quiet kid is saying. So far they love it. Keep the comments coming!

I am a long term sub teaching 8th grade Algebra. WBT works like a dream with my Advanced Algebra & Algebra Honors. However, I must admit after trying Mind Soccer, and having it bomb, I’m a little leery of my ability to pull this off. The students just milled in their team and did not get involved in the game. I must not have explained it correctly but I am not sure what I did wrong. I am not really a sports person, and I do not know the game of Soccer. Some of the students were trying to help me out with how Soccer works. The other problem was some of the students did not know the answers to the questions even though I thought I had written easy ones. I believe my problem is how I gave the directions for the game.

One of my other concerns is the classroom has thin walls so I didn't want to psyche them up by having them cheer or pump each other up. My neighbor teacher already seems to have an attitude about how noisy my classroom gets.

I divided the class up into two groups. I had the students stand on either side of the room on their team. And that is when I lost them. They talked even when I did class-yes, and they didn’t know some of the answers to the questions I wrote. (This was Friday of my first week teaching them.) I had a difficult time getting them on board with the game. I would like to try again later after I teach more lessons. How do you get them to be excited to participate?

I think maybe you might have started too soon. I usually don't start Mind Soccer until after at least the first two weeks - and often I do it as part of a review for an upcoming test. You have to make sure they (or at least a critical mass of them) actually know the material. Also, keep it moving FAST. You DON'T have to be a sports fan to do this game! (I'm not!) And, besides, you can make up your own rules. I tell them that if only one or two kids shouts an answer out, then they will get only a weak kick, or maybe even have the ball stolen from them!

To get them really going, try offering a prize to the winning team - a homework pass, or an extra day -something you might put on your ScoreBoard as a reward.

The neighbor is a dilemma....maybe if you explained to her/him what you're doing and that you'll keep the games short (5 minutes) and only once a week or so? Or you could have the kids celebrate "Quiet Riot" style....

One more suggestion - if they are talking DURING your Class-Yes, then maybe you should back up and just focus on getting that down. Make them EARN a Mind-Soccer game by following your rules & procedures, ALL OF THEM, perfectly. I use more/less homework, and it usually only takes one extra-HW night for them to get back into line....

I hope this helps. Also, some classes are just more "into" it than others...

- Jen