WBT During the First Week of School

I finally feel like I can breathe for a minute.
Maybe even two.

The first week was a doozie.  I've talked so much that my throat hurts.  Who's with me on that one?

I've enjoyed every minute of it.  Truly I have.  I'm not lying.  Swear.

Last year, I started implementing Whole Brain Teaching strategies (known henceforth as WBT...I'm so smart to have used such a big word.  Did I use it correctly?)

I really enjoy WBT.  I know that I've shared this video before, but it's worth a look-see:


I also love the video that Farrah Shipley posted.  Her blog is Mrs. Shipley's Fabulous Firsties and her video can be found at this post {here}.

Let me tell you how it works in my room.

First of all, I use five simple rules in my room. Here is a picture of my rules.  Click on it to make it larger.


(Sorry, I can't share these since I made them with Scrappin Doodles clip art and I don't have a license to share these as freebies. And, with WBT principles, I can't charge you for them, either.)  However, my friend Stephanie from 3rd Grade Thoughts has some excellent freebies {here}. 

I use movements to go with these rules similar to what you saw in the video above.  Since I am switching classes and teaching three periods of math, I go over these same rules with all three classes EVERY day.  It literally takes 15 seconds.  I know this, because I've reviewed the rules while watching the clock before starting our timed multiplication tests (more on that in a later post).

The fun part is using the attention getter, "Class, Yes".  It is amazing at how quickly they stop what they are doing to listen to what I have to say.  No more waiting for everyone to be quiet.  I have never been one to raise my voice to get their attention.  I used to say, "Clap two times if you can hear me."  But then, you have the noise of the clapping.  Some students say, "Clap, clap".  And so on......

With "Class, Yes", they never know what type of voice I will have when I say it.  It keeps all of us on our toes.  I love it.

I will say, though, that at first I felt a little awkward.  I thought other adults would walk by my room and think I was weird.  Well, I am a little.  Needless to say, if this works as beautifully as it has in the first week, I couldn't give a rip about what people think when they walk by.

It works.

I'm going to be sharing a lot more about WBT as the year progresses.  

Do you use WBT?  Do you have a favorite component?  I would love to hear how you use WBT methods in your room.  Leave me a comment below and feel free to link to a specific post.  I'd love to read what you might have posted about WBT.


23 comments

  1. I feel like I could have written this post! =) Last year half way through I started dabbling with WBT a tiny bit. We used class-yes for our attention getter, and I even implemented the score board in the last trimester, which really seemed to help with my more challenging kiddos. We just started our school year today, and I honestly feel like (knock on wood) this group was the most attentive I've had yet. I honestly believe it's because of the WBT. We spent a very large part of our morning easing into routines and expectations using the WBT class rules. I feel like you though. I keep waiting for someone to walk by my room and raise their eyebrows...lol
    http://cantmakethisstuffup-hmichaud.blogspot.com

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    1. WBT teachers unite is what I say...then they will be the weirdos because they don't do it. {I'm kidding, of course. But, not really.}

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  2. Yay, glad it's going so well! This is my first year trying WBT too and I'm loving it! I did worry about being weird but from the people that have been in my room I've heard "oh wow, that was neat" or "where did you learn about that?". So I've been sharing youtube links and ideas. :)

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    1. Glad it is working. Share the videos and get more on-board :)

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  3. I've only ever used "Class-Yes".. because I like to switch it up to be silly: "Classity class- Yessity yes" lol
    ❤Teri
    A Cupcake for the Teacher

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  4. I love this post!! I am so excited for you! I've used Class-Yes, Teach-Ok, Mirror, Switch, and the Scoreboard and can't wait to use more. I know exactly how you feel though because I am student teaching in High School and I am always nervous that my cooperating teacher/supervisor/EA's/etc may think I'm crazy! But they always agree its awesome once they see how it works :)

    Keep with it!

    Miss L (WBT Blog Bug)
    Miss L’s Whole Brain Teaching

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    1. Go with it in high school. I love the way Chris B. does with with college students. They seem to love it, too.

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  5. I LOOOOOOVEEE the Teach Okay!! It is so awesome and exciting to see the kids teach each other!

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  6. I haven't yet, but would like to implement parts of it this year. I love your honesty about feeling awkward, 'cause I totally would feel that way initially!! I look forward to reading more about what you do with WBT Elizabeth :)

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  7. Thanks, Kristen. I'll be posting more soon :)

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  8. I started last year with Class yes and scoreboard. Now we do the rules. I LOVE them. My kids actually know my rules and they love the gestures.

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  9. I just learned about WBT this summer, so I started implementing it day 1 this year (4th grade). So far it is going great! We trade classes, too, and I teach 3 blocks of AL History, Science, and English. I have 45 mins of Sci, 30 for Hist, and 25 for Eng. We always run out of time! And we are going through the curriculum very slowly because of the "Teach, Okay". I hope that I will get through the whole COS this year! :/ This is my 1st year teaching 4th, so I have no idea how to pace myself. Previously taught 1st grade.

    I really like the Teach, Okay and the Class, Yes. The Class, Yes is great with how quickly it gets their attention. I've done Mirror and Switch, too, although I am not sure if I am doing it right! The only thing I don't do is the Scoreboard, because there cannot give them awards of free time or stuff like that with the crazy way our schedule is.

    I scour the 'net looking for more info on using WBT, so anything anybody has to offer would be appreciated!

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  10. I am doing WBT for the first time ever and I am loving the results that I am getting! At first I was very worried because I teach 6th grade and I thought that the kids would think it was too juvenile. Boy was I wrong and I am so glad that I was! Right now I have only implemented the rules, but I think that we are going to review them every Monday to start the week. I only have 55 minutes with them so it is hard to even just give up the one minute each class period. We have been doing the Class-Ye response and it works like a charm each time. I too worry about what people think when they walk by my room, but that's okay because I know what I am doing is going to benefit my kiddos!

    Miss Klohn
    Adventures of a 6th Grade Teacher

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  11. You inspired me to try the class, yes tomorrow! I'm a bandwagoner and lots of people are talking about. hahaha! I need to learn more about, so keep posting! :)

    Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher

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  12. Loved reading this! How exciting that this is working so well! I am excited to start implementing some WBT for the first time in my 4th grade classroom this year when we start up next week. Thanks for sharing your success story and inspiring me! I don't mind making a fool of myself either ;)

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  13. I have used the class-yes part for the past three years and it is hands down my favorite attention getter. Mostly because I can change it up and be silly with it-- classity class class = yessity yes yes. It is still but man does it work!

    ❤ -Stephanie
    Falling Into First

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  14. I have used the attention getter you wrote about-my 6th graders LOVED it! Now I clap. But might use this again. Can't wait to hear more about your WBT! :)

    Shannon
    http://www.irunreadteach.wordpress.com

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  15. I have to agree with you about the first week of school. By the third day my voice was already hoarse from talking so much. Thanks for sharing your WBT. I have heard so many good things about WBT. (Makes me wish I would have started the school year with it.) Have a great rest of the week.

    Krista
    stellar-students

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  16. I just wanted to let you know that I've been reading your blog for a while and I just love it. I had it bookmarked on my browser before, but I finally just became an official follower. I don't know why I didn't do it sooner! I hope you keep blogging through the school year, because I always love your posts. Check out my new blog if you have time :)

    Kelly Nelson
    Owl Inspire You

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  17. I really enjoy reading your post! I would love for you to come by and join my new linky called "Fun Friday" if you have a chance. This linky is for any fun activities, games, ideas, etc. that you'd like to share. Please come and link up. I'd love to have you!

    Kelly
    Teaching Fourth

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  18. Love your WBT posters! I am implementing WBT this year in my classroom--a little at a time.

    Shelly
    Smiling and Shining in Second Grade

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  19. I really like the Teach, Okay and the Class, Yes. The Class, Yes is great with how quickly it gets their attention.!
    cool math for kids

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