Greetings WBT teachers,

My name is Crystal and I teach a 2/3 combo class in Gilroy, CA. I went to my first WBT teacher training yesterday and left giddy with inspiration. I'd already been implementing a few of the strategies (Class-Yes, Classroom Rules, and Scoreboard) after learning from colleagues and youtube videos. After yesterday's training, however, I was able to modify my strategies to fit the way they were originally designed to be implemented. For example, I already had knowledge of the basic scoreboard strategy. At the beginning of the year my students LOVED it and I saw student engagement soar. But right around November their interest/motivation seemed to plummet... I'd originally been using it for one semi-long term reward (we would have lunch together on Fri if they had more smilies than frownies.) Also, I was doing group points in addition to the scoreboard. (I think now they were competing for my students' attention.) I went back today and told my class, "We are at the point in the year where you are mature enough for Level 1 of the scoreboard. We will not be doing group points anymore because we are all in this together as a whole class. I will erase the scoreboard before every recess... more smilies, you get early recess. More frownies, I get to keep you for an extra minute."
One of the students asked, "What about our lunch together???" I answered, "That's not going away, we're just going to change the way we do it. Every time you go to recess with more smilies, I will give you a Room D-13 super star, once you get 15 stars, you will have earned our class lunch together." I also explained to them the +-3 deal and used it for the rest of the day... I felt like my kids and I were on our second honeymoon!
I also used Mirror and Teach-OK but I feel like I need to give more clear demos... my students were very eager to do the new strategies even when I was fumbling in showing them.
Last, I had my WBT Classroom Rules with gestures from the beginning of the year but only began weaving them into my instruction today... I love how the students responded to Rules #1 with the cheering and peer support! AND this is only my FIRST day after the training... Looking forward to writing more soon!

Hi, my name is Annette and I am in San Diego, California. You may have seen my post in here as I am a newbie and ask lots of questions. You and I seem to be at about the same point with our classes. I will be back at school after the Martin Luther holiday and plan to start the card system.

My class has used the score board since Sept. and even though we went through a reorginazation they too had a slump. I feel it is time to up the rewards and the cards for those who always show leadership.

I caught more of the WBT bug after my first seminar here, I am looking forward to doing more and more.

Let's keep in touch
Annette

Thanks for your reply, Annette!

I would be interested to hear how the card system goes with your class. The kids are loving the new scoreboard, as they are getting more instant gratification. We are still in our honeymoon phase, but I have a feeling we will be moving to level 2 at some point.

One thing I'm grappling with is that I use to give group point and reward each group weekly with a prize from the prize box... I put it in the closet but they're still asking how they can "earn" prizes. I wish I'd never started with it because now I'm trying to figure out how to reprogram them! Any suggestions?

Take care,
Crystal

Hi,, To stop this prize game,, which really looks like a magic part of teaching at the very beginning,, turns into a big disaster just after few days.. my suggestion to you is as follows,, tell your students that they are decision makers,, and you want their openion to have new ideas to praise them,, let them tell you the best things they mostly like to have or do,, while they are brainstormung, you come up with your suggestions as if you are offering help to them,, such as: what about stickers for Spongebob? or winning the class cup (a prize from the school for the best class, you might suggest to the admin. to start it) or giving a big star to the whole class, or start choosing (student of the week),,( student of the month) and on..
I hope this will work,,
thanks
WBT teacher..