In WBT, we practice, practice, practice! This week, my students were taking a Benchmark Assessment in Reading that asked questions about fiction/ nonfiction, nouns, verbs, sentences, questions, main idea, sequence, and author's purpose. As I walked around, monitoring, I observed students doing gestures as they read. I smiled to myself as I knew they were connecting their learning to the questions being asked. In the past, I have had students break down in tears because the assessment was too difficult. Today, when we completed it, they were all smiles. When I asked them how they felt about the assessment, they replied, "Great!" Then they said, "I knew the answers because we practiced a lot!" Oh, it was such sweet music to my ears...I had to do the "Happy Dance"! My friends, practice pays! That is a big "Oh Yeah!" for all involved!
Deb Weigel
WBT Intern

I have seen similar observations with my students using gestures on their tests, especially on their vocabulary tests (in math and reading). It is so heartwarming to see them quietly going through he gestures without a thought...naturally. I am just so happy WBT has given us solutions...something that works!! The students getting taught WBT are very lucky children and I am glad to be involved and have the opportunity to spread the word to as many as possible!!!