I want to motivate my pupils to do their best. I read about super improvers wall from one of the topics here in the forum. I think this is not mentioned in EBOOKS. Can you please give me an idea about this and how I can effectively use this for the benefits of my kindergarten and first grade pupils?

Watch one of the webcasts on super improvers. It's explained there.

did you have a chance to watch the webinar? If not~ this is how I used it in my class this year~

I wrote each students name on a white star and put it up on our super improvers wall. Each time my students improve in anything~ increasing in fluency, math facts, following directions, using test taking strategies, etc. they get a star sticker on their star. For every 10 stars they move up a color level (the color levels are displayed on the wall so that they can see what the next levels are). After two levels, they get their picture taken with their friends, but the picture faces the wall until they move up another level. After they move up to the next level they get to see it, etc. The beauty of the super improvers wall is that all students can improve and they are given specific positive reinforcement for preferred behaviors. It has really made the climate in my classroom extremely positive and motivating this year!

Hi Andrea... I love your video teaching small children... I am your fan here... Philippines... Your classroom management is the best... I am exploring and discovering a lot with this new method of teaching. I'm on my 2nd day of using it. Guess what? I regret a lot! Regret--- for not being able to discover it way back then. My goodness... never thought that having a class like yours (youtube video) is possible... Smaller children are the easiest to follow... Slowly they're getting used to teach-ok. I follow one advice that for kindergarten we can use "tell your neighbor" instead... it's working... Love WBT... you're my teacher angels!

If you want to use in addition to color levels you could also use pictures of animals, school mascot, pictures of buildings, nearly anything that will catch their attention and keep the kids looking to move up. To avoid the dreaded habituation you can start with one level theme and move to another.

I have been using the Super Improver wall since October with my Grade 2/3 class and the novelty has yet to wear off! Seriously - it's AMAZING.

I have a board with each student's name posted. There are 10 levels - each level is a different colour and I've named each colour after a parts of the Solar System. We're aiming to be "Shooting Stars" flying past the sun by the end of the year. I keep a sheet of star stickers right close by so it's quick and easy to celebrate.

Any time a student shows improvement they earn a star - it could be for academics or behaviour or even social choices. It's helpful to have in mind what you might be watching individual students for - I have one student who struggles with Rule #1 - so that's a target I keep in mind when observing him. I have a student with special needs who we've been teaching to put his coat on by himself - he earned a star when he finally did it! Students usually have one daily chance to earn a SI star when they participate in Super Speed Math. If they beat their personal record their partner is actually the one that signals they've earned a SI star. I saw a student yesterday get more excited because this PARTNER got a SI star than he was about the one that he earned! It is a huge unifying component of my classroom - students are willing to share their goal areas with their peers and their peers are so willing to celebrate. It also teaches them that goals sometimes take a while to achieve.

A student get's a 10 Finger Woohoo when they have earned 10 stars and are moved to the next colour (the colour they just finished is sent home for parents to celebrate their child's improvement). Once students have achieved going through the first 4 levels then I start the picture "bonus" - on the 5th level they get a silly picture taken with friends but they don't get to see it until they've passed the 6th level. This pattern will continue until they've hit the 10th level (ideally not until end of the year). So far - they are THRILLED - just to flip to a new colour.

The Super Improver wall is simple, free and POWERFUL.

How do you manage putting up the stars. Do you put them up? Do you have a student put them up? About how many are you putting up each day?

Thanks!

My Super Improver Wall is in the front corner of my classroom and I keep a little pocket where I can keep the star sticker sheet - I knew if it wasn't instantly accessible I wouldn't be consistent. So to add a star literally takes 15 seconds. The first place I hand out stars is at Super Speed Math - as soon as the first person has had a turn any body who beat their record gets a star (I just stand by the SI wall - the kids are on the honour system but I do moderate their progress) and then we repeat for the second person's turn. Outside of the Super Speed Math I try to make a point to give out 2 or 3 a day. It takes about a month to usually receive 10 stars. Sometimes they are quicker - sometimes slower. We seem to be moving along at a good pace so far. I'll see what happens at the end of the school year!

Tawnie, your plan sounds like it is working. Whole brain teachers have taught me that you always remember it is your classroom. I try to make a really big class 1 minute party each time a child moves up a level. I make an award for them to take home and have them announce to the class "I am an improver, you can be one too".

I'm on my second day of using super improvers wall. I've never seen my pupils as excited as they are right now. Everyday they keep on looking at the wall (They love to see their names posted on the wall). Everyday I ask them "Will you allow yourself to be left in level one?" Since the school year is about to end (We only have two months left before vacation here in the Philippines!), I just limit the improvements to three even the ideal is ten for one school year so that they have the chance to reach level 10. I use fastest running animals in the world (from horse- cheetah). I bought craft punch with an apple design so that there's no need for me to buy stickers and cut. So far so good! Super improvers wall is my great motivator in class (from behavior to academic). I am very excited for the next school year!

I have another problem with Super Improvers. It really works great with my students. So great, that it soon will be coming to an end! Some kids have only two levels left and they will probably finish them in a month or two! What would you advise? Shall I add levels? Thanks for help

Svetlana
WBT teacher from Russia

You can certainly add more levels, or simply start another Super Improvers Wall nearby. Call it Super Improvers Level 2! We suggest naming the levels to add even more excitement. Ten sports themed names I like are: Fan, Rookie, Starter, Leader, Captain, Star, MVP, Super Star, Hall of Fame, Living Legend. Or, as another teacher suggests, go with slowest to fastest animals. If you run out of colors, just use two colors for each level: green/ blue, blue/purple, purple/red, etc. The possibilities are endless!

Great! Thank you very much Coach B! Super Improvers Level 2 - as wonderful as can be! I am inspired again

Svetlana
WBT Teacher from Russia

I love the idea of having content themes with the Super Improvers Wall....like the Solar System, Plants and Animals, and Simple Machines....

thanks for sharing,

Laura Caisse
WBT Intern, 2011-2012

I run a class for students with behavior issues. I'll give Coach B the credit for this one: my level 2 is having the students pair up with someone who is still on level 1, and they get stars whenever their partner improves. Their job is to provide encouragement and be a mentor. It's been working great! I'm in a middle school, and I have the students put up their own stars.

WBT Intern 2011-2012

Here is a picture of my Super Improvers Wall for reference:)

Here is a picture of my super improvers wall in my classroom:

luria-learning.blogspot.com/2012/02/super-improvers-wall.html

Sacha

I have my students put on the stars. They love doing it. Some days they might not earn a star, and other days they may earn several. It depends on what we are doing and if the students have had an opportunity to demonstrate that they have beat a personal best, rather that be in Super Speed 100 or a behavior goal. That's the beauty of the Super Improvers cards, they motivate in all areas!

Susan Floyd
WBT Intern
2011-12

Hi All,
I have been doing Super Improver in my classroom since January, 2012, so just a couple of months. In my room when a student earns five stars they get thier picutre taken and after five more stars they get to become a class super improver where they get the job saying class-yes and teach-ok etc. They also get their picture turned around at this time. What happens after they get their second set of five stars? How do I keep it going for the rest of the school year?

The original idea of the Super Improvers Wall is that it takes 10 stars to move up a level and only about the fifth level do students get their pictures taken. The additional jobs that they earn are a good idea, but you've probably started them too low on the levels. Please look at the video on the Super Improvers Wall in the middle of the homepage on this website ... and then read the description in the Model Classrooms download under "Free Ebooks."