Talk to me about the UHM that is described in the new Model Classroom Manual.
Have you used it before?
Are you using it this year?

It sounds easy. I love the idea of the star system. I want to try it, but it is always hard to imagine how something new will work, so help me think it through...

-How can this be changed up over the course of the year so the kids don't get bored with the same thing everyday?
-Do you actually read or respond to the letters to the teacher?
-Do the parents like this?
-Any other input you can give me?

Thanks

Allisong,

I have just finished Parent Orientation and will be using the UHM this year with my students. My parents are so excited! They love the fact that we will no longer have homework every night...just weekly homework and they love that there is built in motivation in the classroom to motivate the students to do their homework because that seems to be the biggest complaint (their kids don't want to do the homework and therefore give them a hard time at home)!

As for changing it up over the course of the year...you could change the reward but I don't think you need to...I don't think they will get bored with Mind Soccer.

Letters to the teacher? I always read the letters that come to me and try to respond either in writing or personally when the student is picked up. Are you referring to "excuse" letters from parents about why homework isn't done? I get those sometimes and I just simply tell my parents are orientation that they can send me all the excuses in the world but ultimately it will be my discretion if extra time is given.

I think you will enjoy the model! I am excited about it!

Farrah Shipley
WBT Kinder
Co-Director Model Classrooms K-3

Thanks Farrah!

It's good to hear that the UHM had such a great reception from your parents!

The letters to teacher I was referring to are the 2 and 3 star homework choices described in the manual:

Farrah & Alli,

Thank you for your posts. I am excited to get the UHM up and running with my 5th graders. It's nice to hear how others are using it.

Tiffany

So, a I reading this correctly uhm I can ask for reading 20 min., super speed work, write a sloppcopy letter to your teacher, turn that into a "finished" copy and do this 4 nights out of 5. None of the assignments turned in until Friday, just hand or wild waves for one star, two star and three star. Just clarification:-)
Annette

This will be my first year using the Action 100 reading program at my new school. I plan on using the UHM to help encourage that my students are reading at home so that time will not be taken from the next day's lessons.

3 points = Action 100 reading steps completed and log signed, math facts practiced and log signed, summary letter to teacher completed

2 points = Action 100 reading steps completed and log signed, math facts practiced and log signed

1 point = Action 100 reading steps completed and log signed

My new grade level teammates are excited about using the UHM because it simplifies homework. We utilize the PBS (Positive Behavior Support) program at the school, so the UHM will align well with that program.

I'm using a modified version of it for my middle school self-contained ED classroom. It just has 2 more stars, for a total of five. 1 star each for the items listed in the MC handbook, then 2 stars for completing the 2-8 math problems I assign.

I love it because it provides a reward they actually care about, since most of my students could care less about their grades, and it makes it way easier for me to track.

WBT Intern 2011-2012

I am still trying to wrap my head around exactly how I plan to use the 3 star UHM. Since I have so many students at different levels, their homework will be different depending on their abilities and needs. For example, lower students may practice super speed 100 or 1000 and super speed math for their one star. My higher level students might be required to read and log it in a reading log, as well as super speed math. I am just trying to figure out how to include spelling. I would love to do away with the weekly written tests, but we will see how that goes. In my letter to the parents dicribing my homework, I will do a generic explanation that one star is the REQUIRED homework and that two and three star is extra, but students will be rewarded as a group. Does that makes sense? I am welcome to anyone's ideas.

I think this a good system as well and will be implementing it this year. I saw several references to people who have come up with a generic form that could be used, but haven't found anything posted here on the forum. Coach Biffle mentioned it as well. Any ideas? I'd also like to see the letter to parents explaining UHM. Thanks!

Allisong,

Hello! You need to check out the Livestream WBT UHM that Coach B delivered on Tuesday evening! It explained the model in detail and you can purchase the presentation from the WBT website through paypal using code 501. I believe that there will be other professional opportunities through Livestream on Tuesday evenings!

Gear up for great things to come with WBT!

Laura Caisse
WBT Intern, 2011-2012

Thanks Laura, I was at the webcast on Tuesday. It was great!

I like your idea, rcrooks. I think it could be really easy to differentiate with the UHM.
For example, lower students could
1) practice superspeed 100 and addition facts
2) read for 10 minutes
3) write 3 sentences about their reading

Higher students could
1) practice superspeed 1000 (or even content vocabulary) and multiplication facts
2) read for 20 minutes
3) write a page+ about their reading

I could just give out a certain homework framework to each student based on their level.
Hmmm...this is something to think about. I have parent orientation on Thursday, so I have 5 days to come up with all the details to explain to the parents. I'm excited about this

Thanks Allison! That is exactly what I am doing with my groups. I actually have a nonreader also. He is going to do super speed letters and phonics along with having mom read to him. For 3 star homework, I will have Mom write something he tells her about. He can then copy one or two words hopefully increasing to a sentence eventually. I am excited to get started. On the second day of school, I had a 3rd grader ask when they were getting the homework model. After reminding her that it starts on Monday, she said she couldn't wait because she was going to do three star homework! How great is it to have students this motivated already!

Esnover,

Attached to last weeks UHM presentation is a sample cover sheet for the homework. Also, for more insight download the WBt classroom model 2.0 document and look at the way they break down the homework model, in regards to percentages and points for Friday Mind soccer. I used this page for my "Back to School Night" and explained to parents what my intentions were, with respect to the students." HTH!!

Heather Hansen
Wbt Intern
2011/12

Allisong,
I know that you have already been informed wonderfully on this matter....
I just want to share with you my experience. I have been in school for over 3 weeks and I started UHM the first week!
My students have been doing wonderful and the parents love it! Many parents told me that they often fight with their child to do their homework. Well... not any more when all that they are required to do first, for a 1 star homework, is super speed Math and Reading. Not mention, they are all dying to get up on the Super improvers wall.So, I have had 90% 3 star for 2 weeks. The first week they barely made it. I think so many students were excited that they didn't have to complete packets of homework. However, we didn't get to play Mindsoccer. At first, I was concerned that there would be parents worried that I did not have very high expectations. I had to let them in on statistics and how many students do not benefit from homework, with respect to the classroom. They all left my class with big Now, for the first time in 11 years, when I say hold up your homework, students are eager to show me and receive that big cheer for completion of their work. This is a WIN ...Win situation! Just wanted to share:)

Thanks!
Heather Hansen
Wbt Intern
2011/12

I'm starting my UHM tomorrow. I've already explained it to the kids and I'm pretty sure they get it, but I'm worried about how I'm going to explain it to parents...especially since one of my kids' parents don't speak English (the kids does, but Mom and Dad don't). Has anyone put together a parent letter that explains UHM in simple terms that they can share before I take the time to write one? I'd hate to reinvent the wheel if someone else already has it rolling.

Also, in last week's Livestream, Biff said to use a list of 400 words for 4th grade. Does that translate to 500 for 5th? I printed a page of 500 words and used it to practice with my class on Friday, and it took us just over 5 minutes to complete, with me reading out loud more slowly than usual. Is that too much? Should I scale back the list to 400?

The last thing I don't get is why you'd ask for the neat letter for 2-star homework, then ask for the neat letter AND the sloppy copy for 3-star homework. Doesn't it make sense to ask for a sloppy copy for 2-star homework, then add on the neat rewrite for 3-star?

I don't have the letter for you, but once you have one if you need to translate to Spanish I use translate.google.com

You can copy/paste your text in, it translates it to whatever language you want, then copy/paste back to your document. Extremely useful for communicating in languages you don't speak. It's not as good as a dedicated human translator, but does well enough to be understandable for most situations like this one.

Also, you're only asking for the sloppy copy for 2 star; 3 star they take their original draft and write it really well.

WBT Intern 2011-2012

So, I did send the requested 5.01 through PayPal, but was never given a comment field where I could mark Program 501. I hope I can still get the slides which include the homework form and parent letter, pretty please????? Thanks!

I am already having problems with the UHM and I just started it today! I have parents who feel that they should not have to do homework with their kid at home. They feel that we should do it all at school. I wish they knew how much time I put into planning for their child, teaching their child, then going home to do homework with my own 3 children! It amazes me the way they think. I also sent home a letter last week describing the model. Parents were already confused today. I think people just don't know how to handle work that is not plain old worksheets! Ok. I am through venting! It will be a long year. On the bright side, the students were excited to get the homework. Some even volunteered already for 3 star. Anybody else having any good or challenging experiences? I will report back on this after we have it a few days.

Esnover ... send me an email using the "Contact Us" button at the top left and I'll send you a pdf of the 501 program.
Chris B.

I just posted about my first week of the UHM.

awholebrainteacher.blogspot.com

I like it. I think the parents will get use to it. I explained it to my students last week with teach-ok. We probably need to review it next week the same way.

We need to practice cheering. I had to explain that it is impolite if you choose not to participate when we are applauding other's accomplishments.

I'm not sure how Mind Soccer went...it was my first attempt at playing. We played girls vs. boys. The girls were thrilled! The boys were mad. I probably should have given them more chances to answer.