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.

First Day of Whole Brain

This year I decided to do Whole Brain the whole day.  Granted it was only three hours but I fully invested myself in the method.  First of all I did the rules over and over and had the kids teach each other the rules.  I even initiated the class correcting students when they did not follow a rule.  I also implemented the class yes, the scoreboard with the frownies and the smilies and taught them how to work with a partner.  I know each day will be a challenge but I think they really enjoyed school the first day and I noticed less behavior problems because they were fully engaged and on task.  They also did not get upset when they were corrected.  I will add the Super Improvers Wall and the writing motions with college talk tomorrow.  So happy that Chris Biffle has shared this method with others.  It even works with special education!

Academics with Hopscotch

This summer was my year of trying various types of instruction using academics with helping children use the outdoors in a structured way. This included using hopscotch. I found that hopscotch taught many academic skills including:

Math

Skip Counting by 1s, 5,s 10s, and 25s
Adding and Subtracting
Fractions, money, and math vocabulary

Language Arts
Spelling
Phonics, Vowels, Consonants and Vocabulary and of course teaching dolch words

Basically you can play hopscotch with going from 1 to 10 or rolling on the right answer such as what is 5 and 5 with is 10 on the hopscotch board. No matter the formation of hopscotch diagram and no matter what country that they originated from most games are played similar. Letters, words can be guessed and stepped on or practiced with going from place to place.

Non academic concepts also taught are learning how to wait your turn, taking chances and learning how to maneuver over different type of jumps, movements and rules are also taught with hopscotch. Learning to work together, explain rules and help others are also part of the hopscotch experience.

So if you are looking for a cheap way to teach academics try hopscotch.

For more ideas on hopscotch check out my Pinterest Page.

www.pinterest.com/cchapan/hopscotch/

Learning to Live Life as a Whole Brain Teacher

I recently had the opportunity to attend a conference on Whole Brain Teaching. I initially was not able to attend the conference but circumstances allowed me to and I am ever grateful for the opportunity. First of all it gets the students actively involved with learning, teaching and moving. It gets kids taking responsibility for their learning by repeating what the teacher has said and moving around with teaching other students what they have just learned.

It is a change for the teacher who used to lecture for hours. I remember as a teacher I would do lessons where I would talk, talk and more talk. This changes to me only instructing for small amounts of talking with students talking on task in between.

I have started it with my class. It is slow going but I am excited to see them as they mimic gestures, repeat information and teach it to each other.

I hope as time goes on and I read the book on Whole Brain teaching I can become a certified teacher. I believe knowing this method will not only impact me a teacher, help my students but I will be able to effect my school and district as well.

Websites I can't live without!

I love my adventure as a special education teacher. I kind of found the calling by accident but it has turned out the be one of biggest blessings in my life. But I had to totally change my teaching style and make my instruction not for my own comfort but the comfort of the staff and students I serviced in my classroom as well as stay close to the standards, curriculum and testing prep that were required by my district. I have always had the passion for the left behind learner or the quiet kid in the corner. And the child that no one understood. Here are some websites both paid and free I depend on for my instruction.



Education.com

www.education.com

They offer a free service and paid subscription with various worksheets for themes and skills. I really like them for the lower level learner where they can work on skills with fewer problems and colorful graphics on every worksheet. It allows you not download with a paid subscription a worksheet, book or theme easily.


Teachers Notebook

www.teachersnotebook.com

They have games and worksheets at every level. They have made lots of improvements and I utilize the material for both Social Studies and Science but also for the core subjects. I look forward to their free material delivered to my inbox every week.


Teachers Pay Teachers

www.teacherspayteachers.com

They are absoltulely my go to for both sheets and games. It is neat when you don't have to recreate the wheel and materials are available from decorating your classroom to academic materials. I love their clip art form cute graphics to colorful borders and frames. My only complaint would be that they deliver their material Sunday night and that makes it tough to print out the material to laminate Monday morning.


Special Ed. About com

http://specialed.about.com/

It is so rewarding to have a educator who has been in various classrooms and environments. He has great worksheets and ideas for both the primary and intermediate learner.


Learning AtoZ

This is one of the most valuable websites my school has gotten a subscription to. It has leveled books and worksheets for various topics across the curriculum. My only complaint it is not always user friendly but definitely wonderful knowing that you can use it for especially suppliments to my Science and Social Studies curriculum.


And I could not leave the discussion without highlighting my own personal website for fitness and personal interest Pinterest Pages.

Fit 4 Fun Fitness

http://worknotes.com/IL/Chicago/Fit4FunKidsFitness/index.aspx


Cchapan Pinterest

https://www.pinterest.com/cchapan/