So I fell off the wagon...

I can't believe it has been so long since I've posted on my blog.  I definitely fell off the wagon!  Overall, WBT has changed my classroom.  I am not using the scoreboard any longer because it was creating some issues with a few of my very challenging students.  Even as independents they were taking away too much time from my class.  It wasn't fair to those of my students who were always on the game.  However, I am still using all of the Class-Yes and lesson keys like Hands and Eyes.  I know that as I perfect my use of WBT I will get better at it.  I feel like this  year has been a success so far.  I am hoping to make it through the last few months and spend some time this summer perfecting my skills.  Hoping WBT is coming back to Phoenix for a conference in July - I'll be there for sure if they do!

Keeping it Strong

Whole Brain Teaching works!  It is so amazingly obvious when I am off my game that I typically laugh inside my head.  There have been many days when I take a breath after the kids all leave and realize that things would have gone smoother if I had stayed in the scoreboard game consistently or remembered to rehearse the rule each time someone broke it.  There have been many other days when I have such a beaming smile on my face because my kids have been so amazing all day.  I am struggling slightly to incorporate it effectively into all of my lessons.  But I am staying strong and reminding myself often that I just need to keep practicing each day and I'll turn around and it will be second nature.  I am so excited about the great things WBT is adding to my classroom this year.  It is truly allowing me to show each student what a star they can be!

My kids ROCK!

My students are doing so well with WBT!  They are really getting into the rule practice every morning and I've stepped up the fun by telling them to do it so loud the teacher next door will come over to see WHAT is happening in our class.  They are working well together and really having fun playing all of the great WBT games every day.  I feel like I have created a fun environment for my kids to learn - and WOWZA are they growing already!  I'll be posting a video soon so you can check out how awesome my students are!

WBT Works!

I can't tell you enough how much I love WBT!  After only 2 really pumped up WBT days my students are working so well in class.  I am so proud of them.  They worked silently on a project today for 15 minutes.  I am elated that they are doing so well and I know that I will be able to teach them so much more simply because they are engaged and working along with me.  I can't wait to post a video showing how well they are doing in class.

One week down...

My first whole brain teaching week is over...and boy was it harder than I thought!  Getting used to the techniques and using the scoreboard properly took me all week - but finally, after showing my third graders the YouTube video of Farrah Shippley (you rock!) and her kindergarteners, they started to respond and we fell into a groove.  What a difference!  All of a sudden they were focused and listening.  We were able to get some work done and I didn't feel like I was asking them to stop talking all of the time.  I would say this week was a success with many more to follow!

Yeah to my third graders!  You are all so awesome and I am so proud of your work this week.  Let's keep it up!!!

A few more days...

We had our 'Meet the Teacher Night' this evening which was AWESOME!  I had 12 of my 20 students come in with their families to meet me and see our classroom.  I was so excited to discuss my upcoming use of WBT with the parents and ease their nerves about their students struggles.  Last year I didn't feel confident that I would be able to reach all of my students stuggles but I feel SOOOO prepared and ready for my kids this year.  I know that using WBT will absolutely help them each and every day!

Setting up my WBT Classroom

I start teaching in a week and I am working hard to get my classroom set up for my students return.  I am very excited about having a WBT classroom this year.  The AZ conference was AWESOME and I look forward to using the many strategies I learned.  I have already set up space for my power pix on my walls and I am printing out SuperSpeed 100 and SuperSpeed Math to use as well.  The rules are already posted on the front board and one of the first things I have planned after introducing myself is to teach my students the rules and gestures.  I look foward to using this blog as a journal of my first year using WBT and hopefully there will be other teachers who see it as a helpful resource to using WBT in their classroom as well!  To every teacher - Great Luck and work hard.  Your students will give you what you give them!