So I have been MIA, but not sure anyone reads this so no biggie :)
This school year I have started doing some Whole Brain Teaching. My kiddos LOVE it. I have read some wonderful blogs of others who do this and was able to get started. Here is what we are doing so far in my room.
Rules: We have the rules posted and at this point are reviewing once a day. We are working on reciting them quickly. I will soon be introducing reciting them in fun and different voices.
Scoreboard: Smilies and Frownies. Just recently started calling them this. Also up until this point we did not have a reward. I was just haphazard about doing it at all. Starting this week we play Smilies and Frownies for each scheduled block of instruction time. The reward is quite simple: Brain Break. I make this kids earn them as they absolutely love them. It also is motivating for them. Along with scoreboard I introduced "Oh Yeah" and "The mighty groan". Smilies get an "Oh Yeah" from the class and Frownies get "The mighty groan". Keeps kids involved and alert.
Class Yes!: We have been using this since the beginning of the year. I actually started using it with students from the other third grade class as well. We switch throughout the day so I don't always have just my kiddos in my class.
Mirror: We just started this and kids are eating it up! So am I! I need to get more hand gestures though. I am using the same ones over and over.
Oral Storytelling: I know little to nothing about this. Only the "errrr" sound :)
Also we have student involved conferences next week. We have been busy writing goals. This weekend will involved putting portfolios together and gathering documentation that will match my students goals. I also need to get all the required documentation ready for conferences. 20 minutes will go really fast and the students do most of the talking :)
