The Lights in Their Eyes: WBT Magic

It has been an interesting road for my adventure in the Whole Brain.  I teach two different types of learners.  I have a self-contained class of both low level and high level but behaviors in my classroom.  I also do a resource room.  I am finding that both groups are very interesting.  In the resource room I can move more quickly with the WB procedures.  My class continues to find challenges as I teach and have to vary my speed with the low and high level learners. 
I did have a visitor and she really liked my class.  I think she appreciated my positive attitude and the various WBT and technology learning I did in my classroom.

My greatest joy though is when I watch my students in either class have their eyes light up.  Grateful that I have found this method and can discover again why I went into teaching the first place. 

Whole Brain Teaching Lessons with Eyes Unaware

So many times we do things in our classroom and life that no one seems to see.  I was reminded of that with two incidents that happened to me this week.  First of all I was on my way to the gym when I noticed in the morning a cat hanging out in the middle of the street.  She just stood there and did not move.  I wondered if she was sick or startled.  I stopped the car and she ran away.  Behind her was a baby bunny.  I talked to the bunny because I know how to talk to them ( having two as pets myself) and he hopped across the street. 

It got me thinking about how God sees when we do the right thing.  That cat was willing to protect the bunny.  We want to help our students even if it is not comfortable or convenient for us to do so.  I am so glad to have found a method that works and gets kids excited about learning. 

The second thing that happened was on Friday.  I was doing recess duty and I was calling a fairly large group to order. Seventy kids are pretty hard to control.  But I got them  focused on in control with the rules and class yes.  My boss who is always encouraging told me that I had really good control of the students. I did not know she was listening or looking in the class.   It was the type of compliment that I could tell that she was really surprised. 

These two incidents taught me that when you do the right thing the important people see.  And that's what counts.  Make an impact today even if no one is looking.

Power of the Scoreboard in Whole Brain Teaching

Every Friday I have to supervise lunch recess.  Today it was raining and the kids had to stay inside.  It was incredibly crazy but I kept my cool by reviewing the Whole Brain Rules that apply to recess and used the scoreboard as a way for the kids to be quiet down the hall and relatively stay calm with over 60 students in one room.   


When you make it a game it is amazing how the kids will just work for one extra minute of recess!

First 14 Days a WBT Teacher

It has been an interesting adventure as a Whole Brain Teacher the first fourteen days.  First of all it has made me focused more than ever before the first 14 days.  With all the responsibilities that I have been added this school year it has forced me in a good way to stay focused on my main job; teaching routines and helping kids achieve order in the classroom. 

I have been using the rules with integrity and practicing them all day everyday with my class.  I also do recess duty once a week and it is a rush having the kids who get up to 100 in number say the rules before they play out at recess. 

I have been using the class and yes and the kids love the change in my voice and how they are called to order.  I have been using the Super Improver Wall and working on finding a easy way to have kids go from one level to another.

I have struggled though with teaching kids to work in teams and I think that has been because this is a new concept for me.  So I am really backing it up and practicing how to work in teams as working with a class as a whole.  I have also used possible student leaders to teach and instruct.  It is such a good feeling to see those students who in the past been kind of quiet get the confidence to get in front of the class and teach.

I also see a difference in the teachers lounge.  Even though it is stressful often to teach special education I am not frustrated like some teachers as much and it has helped me keep a positive attitude. 

After the first three days I was visited one of the special education coordinators and I think she was impressed how things were going.  That made me feel good.  I am excited about the future week instead of the past dreading the coming week.

Thanks WBT for keeping me positive and focused on this exciting new way to be a teacher even after 24 years in the classroom.