I'm an education major and a substitute teacher. This is my second career, sort of. My first career was that of a homeschooling mother. Along with that, I have taught some co-op classes, fostered, taught young children, taught privately, and have done some parent coaching. I have a high interest in child development, discipline, education, and the like.

Okay, so I *love, love, love* WBT for the most part. I think most teachers probably use a piece here or there naturally enough. I think it's WAY under-utilized though. I definitely think children (and teachers) could benefit a great deal if they'd do considerably more. I saw there is a seminar in Louisiana this summer. I think that would be a great addition to my education

However, I have a concern. As is usually the case, my concern comes from personal experience (my son's and my own).

How do people (students, but teachers also) who are more easily overstimulated sensory-wise do with this?

I figure that I, as the teacher, can set MY style. If I need it a bit quieter, I can adjust things how I need it. We might do deaf applause or whisper a whole lot more. I may do smaller groups of students walking/chanting rather than the whole class. I found reference of the volume-o-meter also which is nice. I'm still having trouble with teach-ok because even if half a class is doing it at a time, it's gonna be a bit loud (and BUSY!). But I'm working it out in my head a bit.

But I'm still thinking of my son. This child was WAY overstimulated CONSTANTLY in an average 1st grade class (in one of the best school districts in the country and with a sweet, loving teacher). I really think the noise and busy-ness would have made things worse. As it was, he spent a good bit of time crying (or near tears), often in the hallway (semi-open concept school so there wasn't a full wall or door separating the rooms and hall). I obviously don't want to give too much information, but this situation became quite serious and in time led to his removal from school (we had homeschooled our children before this and ended up homeschooling throughout).

(note: son is now much older and has grown out of most of his sensory issues as well as learned to cope appropriately with what's left.)

So how does one make it work for a student like that? Is it really even possible? I realize not every class has this child; I just want to be able to tweak effectively if one of mine (while subbing or later teaching) does.

BTW, my kids have seen/heard various videos. They get the concept and agree with it (they see it very much like what I did with them and have done in other situations). But they still think some aspects (esp Teach-Ok) are a bit busy and loud. I realize we're generally quiet people, but I'm sure we're not the only ones.

Thanks in Advance!
Pamela

Pamela, I think you said it exactly - WBT teaching should be worked into your personality style. The videos give examples that are meant to get people excited and while that is how many classrooms are run - in that high energy manner, many people also have a calmer relaxed approach to the system.

I teach 7th graders, many students through the past few year have been special education students with varying needs. In particular I had a student who had many problems, learning, emotional and physical - one thing that they always told me was that if the classroom was crazy he would be crazy. I am a high energy WBT teacher, but he found the structure of the system to perfect for him. He understood when it was appropriate to talk and when he could be high energy. He also understood when it was time to chill out, the use of cues, like class/yes and teach/okay helped him to be very successful.

The thing about WBT is that you control the level of noise, size of gestures, and how long your micro lectures are. Sarah is a high energy WBTeacher, while I'm more of the laid back kind, but the great thing is both of our classrooms are very similar in the structure in which we do things. Procedures are crucial to the success to any classroom, but ultimately it is up to the teacher to decide how those procedures are to be performed.

Also, students NEED time to sit and do independent work; you can't micro lecture 7 hours a day, kids need to be able to transfer the visuals, gestures, and verbal parts of the lessons into their own work.

Good luck and I hope WBT can find a place in your routine.

Jay