I'm glad to be back in the forum.
I finished out 2010-11 using WBT strategies in my 5th grade elementary class, loving it the whole time. I'm starting 2011-12 in middle school - 6th grade math/science. It's been an interesting experience because most of my students were already familiar with WBT since Gilroy Unified elementary teachers received training last year.
I am continually amazed at how students' brains seem to be reset by a 1 sec. party, a moan, hands-and-eyes, or anything done energetically in unison. This "resetting" allows me to avoid conflict and immediately begin teaching no matter how hard some students are working to derail the class.
Strategy to get students refocused after a brief teaching break during independent work: "Pencils-up (lifting pencil above head and sitting up straight); "Back to work" (lean forward, eyes down to desk, pencil on paper).

I discovered WBT from a link my cousin posted on Facebook. One of my colleagues at school and I decided to give it a try. We are both amazed. Other teachers are starting to hear about what we are doing and are also going to give it a try.

We had to pick up our textbooks from the textbook room yesterday. After only two days of practice, when I said "class," the entire class would say "yes" and get quiet. This was not done in my classroom, but because they had become so accustomed to responding in this way, it just happened.

I did not teach the scoreboard well the first day, but went back to it yesterday. It made a huge difference! Even my most challenging group behaved much better yesterday. They didn't want to let me win.

After 16 years of teaching middle school, I feel like I am starting over again. It is very exciting.