Hey there, I'm a 5th grade teacher here in Emmett, Idaho.
www.kidsatwork5th.com

Just wanted to let you know I JUST introduced WBT techniques to the 5th graders today, 10/7/09. And one day, I hope to be exactly like those YouTube WBT teachers that I admire so much!

Here's why I started doing it - and it has nothing to do with behavior. Behavior is fine here. It has to do with student participation, apathy, etc. I have been starting to notice that after I teach a lesson on something.. grammar, math, etc etc.. and then I'll call on someone at random by pulling sticks, they can't explain what I JUST taught only 20 sec before. They can't "teach" it back to me and to the class as it were. That 20 min of teaching that I just did to explain a concept was a waste of time! Why was I in front of the room for 20 min teaching something, when the kids have no idea on what it was that I was just teaching - or, they THOUGHT they understood it, but after calling on a random sampling of kids, they didn't know!

So, today was the day I introduced some of teh power teaching techniques that I've watched the other teachers do on YouTube. I am now doing shorter micro-lecturing bursts, where I teach a main concept, stop, then I say, "Now I want you to teach someone next to you what it is I just taught. Ready, (CLAP HANDS), TEACH." The kids then immediately turn to the person next to them and explain what I taught. It actually worked! But we need way more practice. It was actually a shock to them for them having to do this with someone, in the manner that they did it in. But, what I discovered was that they are more "on the ball" with what it is I'm teaching. But I don't stop there. I then pull some random kids and have them explain what it is that their PARTNER taught them. So now they have to teach me what their partner told them.

So again, today was the first day of doing it. I just said to myself, "You know, I"m sick of these kids not being able to teach anything back to me that I just taught them." So I just pulled this out and said, "From now on kids, we will do it this way until the end of the year." I watched a lot of the YouTube videos of teachers doing it.

Regards,

Jonathan Dale
www.kidsatwork5th.com

Howdy all! This is my update to my first post.

It's working! Learning is a lot more fun for the kids now. Do you know why? They get to talk! I say to the kids, "You know, before I talked for a long time then did practice on the board and then you did it indivdually, and perhaps you didn't understand it at first, but I believe that was my fault for talking too long! From now on, I want you to talk in class. But ONLY about the topic at hand.. I'm walking around listening to each one of you too."

Bam.. it worked. I teach short, they teach each other, I give examples; I teach short again, they teach each other. The kids are loving it.. especially the clapping patterns. And you know what? I'm loving teaching a lot more too!

Jonathan Dale
Emmett, Idaho
www.kidsatwork5th.com

Hey Mr. D,
Your website is out of this world, and I am very interested to see how WBT/Learning affects your scores this coming year. I too believe it works! My little guys are engaged in learning, and material sinks in so much better because we are practicing what we learn often! "Doing" is "Keeping"! Keep it up! Your kids are so lucky to have you.
Maggie (also has a son named Jonathan who is 30 now!)

Jonathan
We are glad that you have come from the "Dark Side" ...the old way of teaching! Using the "Teach, Okay" is going to revolutionize the way things are done in your room. As you mention, keep practicing...and when you hit a wall, don't give up...keep going. Great post!

Howdy all, it's me from Emmett.

Well, I video recorded some of my WBT teaching and posted it on schooltube.com. YouTube is blocked here at the school.

http://www.schooltube.com/video/47859/Whole-Brain-Teaching-WBT

I've got a long way to go, but this is my amateur video of me implementing WBT in my classroom. I'm using WBT with reading vocabulary and reading class. I've used it in other subjects also, but for now, this is my first video.

After analyzing myself, I don't appear that excited on film. So I will have to see what I can do about that. But you can see for yourself, 100% student participation about the studies at hand.

Jonathan Dale
http://www.kidsatwork5th.com
Emmett, Idaho
5th Grade