so while watching the kindergarten Whole Brain Teaching video: i realized...
and maybe this is obvious to so many people, but it wasn't to me

Whole Brain Teaching isn't about Chris Biffle's techniques, and I'm sure Chris Biffle knows that. IT's about STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, about using the methods we've seen and then making your own (well you don't have to, but it makes it awesomer) adjustments so that your class runs smoothly!

I really enjoyed that she didn't just use the rules 1-5 that Mr. Biffle made (cuz that's exactly what I did) and that she made her own gestures and incorporated her own style into everything...I guess it's such a eureka moment for me because I'm always thinking inside of a box. You know, if you give me a book to teach from, instantly I'm locked down and i can't think of anything creative? cuz i think I have to follow the book, i have to follow the book!

anyways. i'm actually not quite so sure why i posted this. I guess I can share a little about my power teaching experience..

I started using it last week - it's been pretty awesome. I'm actually an English teacher in Korea, part of TALK it's a program run by the Korean president to bring native english speakers into the country to improve the english level of their students. The only requirement was that you have to be at least a junior in college (that's me!)

anyways, my experience has been quite good so far. I mean, it's a lot different for me because I can't speak Korean fluently, I have a co-teacher who translates for me (why they don't just hire Koreans who can speak English and Korean fluently beats me) and so I have to explain to them about whole brain teaching - so it's like Im teaching them and then teaching the students! haha and it's quite difficult - they say the rules in korean, but I say RULE 1 haha and the only thing is it's a little difficult for the younger kids to get it.

Anyways (thats the second time I've used it!) I have a looooooooot of crazy kids. My largest class is only 20 students, but it's not them that's the worst. IT seems like my school has a big problem with student attention because they're not ENGAGED! And what is whole brain teaching all about?! STUDENT ENGAGEMENT! what was it, take out your hanky and wipe tears of joy? i totally feel ya anyways, my 2nd graders..i counted, there are 9 students, and 5 of the students pay ABSOLUTELY NO ATTENTION. it's like NO INTEREST THEY JUST DON'T CARE. o my i certainly have my work cut out for me, but you know, this is life ain't it. I just thank God for the opportunity to work with these kids - and I know this is also a training opportunity for me.

Anyways, what is this point about. I'm still not sure - but in korea, they say FIGHTING!!! even if you don't know korean, i hope you understand, it's just how they encourage one another.

so FIGHTINGG!!!

mynameistruth
Great post and we're glad that you are realizing that STUDENT ENGAGEMENT is the key. Try thinking this way...what do your students want; ie more recess time, free time, etc. Then play the Scoreboard game with them. This will engage them even more...and it sound like that may be something that they/you need. Read up on this game in the download section, "Teaching Challenging Students...and the rest of your class too!". This will help with the "Buy in". Have fun!!