The Whole Brain Teaching strategies have made a huge difference in my students this year. Engagement has been the biggest difference I have noticed because my students have actively participated in their own management instead of just listening to the me bark out commands.
The scoreboard has been a great tool and I plan to use it again next year with some modifications. I am working on adding incentives that do not require me to spend money everytime. Also, I have added levels of incentives and tied the levels to total points earned so that when I do spend my money it is on something that has been earned.
I am also goiing to focus on the teach okay stragegy and come up with a system to assign 1's and 2's. Sometimes I like for my students to choose their own seats so I may just number the seats with 1's and 2's so they will automatically know who to turn to for the teach okay time. It is important to use this strategy quickly and not take time to organize the teams.
My students have laughed as we have used the Class-Yes, Mighty Groan and Oh Yeah! At the end of the year a student asked me why we didn't use that Whole Brain stuff anymore. I laughed and said that they had taken over their own behavior management and we didn't need some of the strategies anymore! That is the best testimony to the effectiveness of WBT!!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
February 5, 2011
As I reflect on my WBT journey so far, I can see the framework has become embedded in the workings of my classes. Most of my students don't need to be reminded of the rules and procedures anymore. They earn scoreboard points and look forward to Prize Day. I rarely have to go back and echo the procedures for practice. I am amazed at how WBT works!! The "Class Yes" works great for refocusing and I rarely need to say it more than once or twice during a class.
I think that they key to successful implementation is taking the time at the begininng of the year to "plant the seeds" for WBT. This time is well spent in the long run, because less time is needed for management issues.
I still need use more "Teach Okay" moments in my classes and I am going to make that a priority. I also plan to incorporate some of the games. I especially like the reading game.
I am very happy with this framework and feel it is impacting my students in a very positive way!
I think that they key to successful implementation is taking the time at the begininng of the year to "plant the seeds" for WBT. This time is well spent in the long run, because less time is needed for management issues.
I still need use more "Teach Okay" moments in my classes and I am going to make that a priority. I also plan to incorporate some of the games. I especially like the reading game.
I am very happy with this framework and feel it is impacting my students in a very positive way!
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