Is there a document called "How to Start . . . " used at workshops by Andrea? Several of us have been hoping to have it posted under downloads. I had requested this hand out Andrea mentioned we could get from her my email but maybe my email is not a reliable way to receive it. Thanks for the Behavior Chart Cards! I am actually looking forward to the beginning of school - can't wait to try things I've seen or read about here!

Your wish is coming true--but I hope that it is not disappointing. I have just finished responding to all the emails I received regarding the document (I was out of the country and had a lot waiting for me when I got back:) and Biff actually made the same suggestion. I have emailed him the doc and he said that he would put it into the downloads section. Please keep in mind that this document is merely a pacing guideline that I use for kinder for introducing the techniques. When I moved from third grade down to kinder I learned that kinder is a very special place--in need of "smaller chunks" and lots of repetition. We start very gradual and then add on little by little. It is rough at the beginning but with plenty of opportunities for practice--and of course consistency--it definitely pays off. Hope the document helps:)

I couldn't find the document mentioned here in the downloads. Did it ever make it there?

Hi,
There is a post here on the kindergarten discussion board that says "Procedure for Starting Whole Brain Teaching". The post is by Andrea, but Biff put a note showing it in that thread. I copy/pasted it to a word doc so I'd have it. Here is my doc file.

Thank you for doing that

Andrea,

I have two questions about the list of items on the first and second days.
The first day list is:
Scoreboard Game
Hands and Eyes!
Criss Cross Applesauce
Bubble in your mouth
Lines, Lines, Lines
Seats, Seat, Seats
Cubbies, Cubbies, Cubbies
Backpacks, Backpacks, Backpacks

1. Do you teach these items on the first day? 2. I have not found information on: Criss Cross Aplesauce and Bubble in your mouth, Can you please explain what these are and how to use them?

The items on the second day are:
Tell your neighbor
It’s cool
Ten finger woo

I have been able to find references to these so know what they are. But the question remains, do you teach these on the second day.

Thanks for your help with this.

Jason

Jason,

Criss cross applesauce is a term not necessarily specific to WBT, those of us in early childhood have been using it for years! We use it when students are sitting on the floor for carpet time, story, etc. One of the challenges of beginning Kindergarten is getting the students to sit down on their bottoms, in their own little space. "Criss cross" means cross your legs. Applesauce is just a fun way to add a rhyming piece into it. Once we teach "Criss cross applesauce", it becomes part of our routine for sitting on their bottoms. Then, when a student is up on his/her knees, the teacher, or another student gently reminds him/her "Criss cross applesauce". Another term that I have found to be effective is "Park your pockets". At the beginning of Kinder I have a pocket shape attached to the rug with the student's name, indicating his/her special place for together time. I then teach them to "Park their pockets on the pocket". Once they learn the procedure, I remove the pockets, and just remind them to "Park their pockets". We have even taken it to the next level by diagraming our "parking lot" and labeling everyone's specific "parking space". Both "criss cross applesauce" and "park your pockets" are just reminders for the students to sit on their bottoms with their legs crossed.

"Bubble in your mouth" is used to get students quiet in line or whenever you need silence. When you say, "Bubble in your mouth" the students pretend to have a bubble in their mouth, which means their mouth is closed, cheeks puffed out. If they are concentrating on keeping the bubble in their mouth without popping it or letting it escape, they cannot be talking! Bubbles are fragile...be careful!

As far as Day 1 and Day 2, these are guidelines. Every class is different, and at the beginning of Kinder these things will be repeated daily until it becomes internalized as a part of the students routine. So, on Day 2, the teacher would review with the class all of the procedures previously taught, and then tell the students that they are so smart and are ready to learn a few more new procedures. Each day the teacher and students will practice the procedures, not just once, but woven throughout the day. The first six weeks of Kinder is all about procedures...once they get it, the rest of the year can build on that strong foundation.
I hope this helps! Let us know if there is anything else we can help you with!
Deb Weigel
WBT Intern

Deb,

These are great!
Thanks for such a complete answer. Since I have ZERO experience with kindergarten every thing I can get to pass on to our teachers, head teachers and vice principals of the kindergarten campuses is very much appreciated.

Jason

Ha ha! Kindergarten is a world of it's own! My director doesn't have an early childhood background either, so he asks me for guidance when it comes to the young ones! A wise administrator takes counsel and is always learning!
Deb Weigel

Deb~
Thanks for answering! Jason~ sorry I missed this:)!!! The pacing guideline is just that~ I guideline I use with my students when introducing the steps. But as Deb said, each class is different. To be specific, and in answering your questions:

*Class yes is taught almost immediately and is practiced throughout the day.
*Each day I teach one rule and I use the scoreboard to reinforce that rule throughout the day. In kinder, we do have one additional rule. "THE BIG RULE": "Listen (fingers pointed to ears) when your teacher (kids point to me) is talking (talking handmotion wit hands)> SO on the first day we are practicing and rehearsing what a good listening body is.
*Criss cross applesauce is just the way we sit on the rug. We do alot of stand up sit down in kinder and to get them sitting correctly, with a good listening body~ we rehearse like this:
I say "Criss cross" they say "Criss cross" and they cross their legs.
I say "Applesauce" they say "Applesauce" and that is where they sit down on their bottoms in their squares (remember the legs are already criss crossed)
I say "hands and eyes" they say "hands and eyes" and they fold their hands and put them in their laps.
In a WBT classroom "Hands and eyes" is used for important points. In kinder~ we use "Hands and eyes" in carpet land (on the learning rug) to avoid thos little hands getting those kiddos in trouble. IF they have their hands folded, they cant be on their neighbor, or finger vacuuming the floor, or velcro and unvelcroing shoes, etc. Carpet land is a very special place where some very off task behaviors continuously occur so hands and eyes helps:)!
*Deb is correct~ I tell students to put a "Bubble in their mouth" when we are being very quiet~ during learning time, walking in lines, etc. When you are holding a bubble in your mouth~ your mouth is very busy concentrating on that bubble rather than talking.
*Cubbies, cubbies, cubbies, is just another part of our pack up routine and is done in the same fashion as the seats, seats, seats & lines lines lines. Our pack up routine includes "Backpacks backpacks backpacks; cubbies cubbies cubbies; and then seats, seats, seats. You can add these "threepeats" into any classroom routine to make those potentially time consuming tasks into flawless fun:)!
*In general I wait for the second day for the next on the list because I want to build slowly but proficiently and then review the next day and add on. However, there are those classes that are ready for more so I can add more. Kinder is a special world and we can get there~ we just gotta build up. I find that taking the time to really rehearse each strategy and giving the students multiple practices~ and then adding on the next "layer" is our recipe for success. Hope this helps:laugh:
Andrea

I am so thankful for this imformation! I have been teaching for 11 years and used WBT the second semester last year! I absolutely LOVE it! It is single handedly the most effective thing I've ever used!! I can't wait to begin a new year and start from day one!!!

Thank you for all this great info!! I am so excited to try these things in a couple of months.

Thanks for sharing the document! I saw the Crazy Professor game listed at the bottom. Can it be used in 1st grade?
Katie

Katie, you bet it can be used in first grade. I started with them asking the questions when we did a "big" book and then moved into using it small groups, and just this week they showed the VP how they read a frog and toad book to him using crazy professor with their reading partner. Outstanding!

Annette