I'm feeling a little frustrated today. This is day 4 1/2 of school, as well as 4 1/2 days of implementing Whole Brain Teaching. The first 3 1/2 days were fabulous. The kids were (mostly) well-mannered. Their little eyes lit up every time I began to speak to them. I could actually see the learning taking place on their sweet little faces.
However, today is day 4. And a half.
And the honeymoon seems to be over.
I had my first struggle with getting the kids to participate. Everyday I've had 2 or 3 kiddos who have been reluctant to participate in the gestures, or who were talking to neighbors instead of working together as a class. Today, however, I found myself trying to battle over half of the class. Here's the problem I kept facing today:
I attempt to get their attention:
"Class, class!"
"Yes, yes!"
talk, talk, talk, talk
ignore the teacher
talk some more
So, as you can imagine...I was feeling a little frustrated with my class, and with myself by the end of the day.
I chatted with a fellow WBTeer, and she encouraged me to make more liberal use of the scoreboard and including more practice. I also took another look at rehearsing procedures from the free download of the WBT e-book. Feeling a little bit better now that I have a plan.
Other than that little hiccup, WBT is going really well! I'm very excited to see my students really latch onto Teach/Okay and Switch! They're doing a great job of continuing to teach even when they "finish" the teaching material, and most of them are doing really well with gestures.
My next challenge is to more fully implement the full 5 step lesson template in my daily lesson plans. It's not something I want to try to do off the cuff. But it certainly is something I'm excited about pulling in, especially now that my kiddos are starting to get the idea of Teach/Okay.
Here's to another day of learning, for both me, and my students!
Fear not! We have all been there. Don't forget to Ping Pong using the Scoreboard and really emphasize how quick the entire class must be to earn a smilie. Maybe even have one side compete against the other side. Also, a few "Rule 1" call outs might be in order. Perhaps even a Rule 1 How To and How Not To skit would bring the message home:)
ReplyDeleteI teach third grade and had the same kind of day today (day 3). I think my kiddos need more rule practice and I need to make better use of the scoreboard. Thanks for letting me know that I am not the only one struggling.
ReplyDeleteI had that exact same problem. Class? Yes? They look at me, then the minute I start talking they turn away and start chatting right over the top of me. I just stand at the scoreboard now and I tell them that every time they talk when I am talking I will give myself a point and when I notice that they stay in "learning position" with eyes and ears open then they will get a point. If they can't do it in two practices, then we stay in at recess and practice. It has been getting ever so minutely better with each passing day. I've been in school for 10 days now. I think my kiddos see the fun we are having and they misinterpret that fun for "anything goes!" I had to tighten up and remind them of right place and time for fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the tips, guys! I'm going to have the kids show me the wrong way to do the rules tomorrow, and do a little skit with them, all silly and fun, and see if that pulls a few more in to doing the right thing. I'm also going to make more liberal use of the scoreboard and really be on top of that as well. Thanks for the encouragement!!
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