I would love to hear your stories of successes and frustrations with 4th graders and WBT! I am new to 4th grade this year and would enjoy hearing about your class!


Dawn Nelson
WBT Intern

Fourth graders LOVE WBT! I use the scoreboard game as an incentive to leave "one minute early" for recess, lunch, or dismissal. Of course, the one minute is usually taken up with packing up and lining up, but when that bell rings...they are ready! It's amazing how much learning can get done when we are focused on a goal.

I think that this is the best age for WBT...and now this year I need to add 5th grade to also, but they are eating out of my hand. This takes practice, but it is so much fun.

My "Woe" is that I need to be consistent with my scoreboard game...don't you just hate it when it's 1:30 in the afternoon and the scoreboard has a total of 4 marks on it:whistle: . Now that could be for a couple of reasons, they've been really great today, you've been out doing other things (PE/Library/ etc).

I quickly start ping-ponging them and the rest of the day flies by...with excitement and energetic learning. It is a constant thing that I am working on...thanks for the spot to post this fiendly63!

Ping Ponging the scoreboard works well for my class in the afternoons after lunch. They play hard in the hot Arizona sun and they come in totally wiped out! After a cool down story, I revive them with the scoreboard and some rowdy gesturing. I guess you could say that I enjoy controlled chaos! I too can slack a bit with the smoother days and need to keep up with the scoreboard!

It was so exciting to see my students managing the classroom with the Class Yes and Teach Okay! I also had students take turns this week reviewing the rules as needed. I drew sticks with their names on it to keep it fair. Has anyone else tried this, and if so how did it go?

I use equity sticks, but I put the stick back in the mix right after I pull it - it helps students learn about probability and it keeps them from getting to complacent once they have "had a turn".

I prefer to have the whole class respond because it keeps everybody busy and my ELs and less proficient students have opportunities to use academic language repeatedly.

One thing I have done is "speed round" where they go as fast as they can reviewing the rules or academic subject matter. I give them 30 - 60 seconds and they see how many times they can get through it. It is definitely controlled chaos! (and sometimes a little out-of-control!)

Great idea about doing it as fast as you can over and over! This is great for ELL students as well! Thank you for your ideas! I use sticks as well and they really like the suspense of who is next!

This sounds like a great idea. Thanks for sharing!

This year is my first full year teaching with the WBT strategies. Last year, I introduced it to my class and my EL deployment class in the middle of the school year. I also taught my summer school class with the WBT strategies. I have noticed that I keep improving my techniques and I'm more familiar with all of the strategies and variations, so it keeps it exciting! My students are doing an amazing job and they are learning so much. I have always done a ton of TPR and songs/chants, etc.....but I LOVE how WBT has added an amazing component to my teaching. It helps me to LOVE my job, enjoy my class and my students LOVE school! (And me! Lol!)

I know that I need to work on something for my transitions though. When they are putting something away and getting something else out, they tend to lose focus and start chatting. I have started timing handing in papers, so I may do a countdown to time their transitions and they can earn a point for that.......

My next step is to create Power Pics for CA 4th grade and then I think I'll be good to go. I'm starting to implement oral writing tomorrow and I can't wait!

Thanks WBT!!

I am starting WBT tomorrow when I join a 4th grade class. They just found out I will be their teacher last Thursday when their previous teacher took leave since her cancer has returned. Many of the students know me from the school already (7years) and I was also doing the after school program after budget cuts.
Any words of advice...

Good luck, take things slow use as much WBT as you can and keep us informed. Establishing that class yes and scoreboard will get you rolling. Find your energy and the class will follow.