Updated Super Improver pictures

Here is my super improver wall as of Thursday.

My students recently asked me to join them on the wall and we got a new student. My new student and I are working hard to move up to the next level.

Smarty and Doofus!

I have to say when I first saw Coach B talk about the Smarty and Doofus strategy... I didn't think it would work for me. First of all I haven't started Prove It in my classroom yet. I thought I would at least wait until I had introduced that! However, I was losing my kids attention FAST during a rounding lesson today so I went for the Smarty and Doofus plan!

WOW! This was amazing. My kids were having a BLAST explaining how to round with sockless hand puppets! I will post more details about this later... but I had to share right away! I may not have done it correctly ... but this just goes to show... the goofier... or should I say DOOFIER the more excited your kids get!

Pardon the interuption!

I know I promised a blog each day about my first week of school... but I have to take a break!

I spent a lot of time in my classroom today getting ready to introduce my students to new procedures the next step in Whole Brain Teaching. I am going to tell them that they are now ready for WBT 2.0!

One of the changes will be from the Super Improver Wall to the SUPER IMPROVER... TEAM!

Another change this week will be to RULE 1... rule 1 is no longer going to be Follow Directions Quickly.... it will be follow directions immediately! I am going to have a lot of fun with that one!

I am also going to try to switch from using the YES/NO WAY for so many of my whole class responses... my kids LOVE it... but I need them talking in complete sentences!  I spent a lot of time writing notes into my lesson plans reminding myself to encourage complete sentences. I think the best way to do this will be to practice the wrong way with the kids so they know the difference!

Lot's of changes this week (during a Read-a-thon fundraiser for our PTO may I add!). Wish me luck!

LINES!

Have you been patiently waiting for my post about lines... GREAT JOB... Ten Finger Woo to YOU!

Your patience has paid off... here you go!

Wednesday, August 15th (Still the first hour)  ... CONTINUED

 I called them one at a time up to show them their places in line and once they were all in line I sat them back down.

"One of the ways we are going to follow RULE 1!" 

"Follow directions quickly (with gesture)", the students caught on quickly!

"One of the ways we are going to follow directions quickly is lining up! When I say LINES... you are going to say LINES, LINES, LINES and quickly and quietly (I just can't do the WOO!) get in line. I also need to you to push in your chair as you leave your table. When I say Lines, what are you going to say?"

I pointed at them and they said, "LINES, LINES, LINES"

"Great job! After you say LINES, LINES, LINES, how are you going to line up?"

About ten students said, "Quickly and Quietly!"  A couple of students said, "and push in our chair!"

"Great! Let's try it! LINES!"

"Lines, Lines, Lines" (Most students said lines and all lined up quietly. A couple of student forgot to push in their chairs).

"You all did a great job of lining up quietly! I am amazed! I am sad though because not all students said LINES, LINES, LINES and I see some chairs not pushed in. Okay, let me try something. I am going to say something and I going to see if you can read my mind and do want I want you to do! ......... (smiling and leaning towards them as I rub my hands) SEATS!" 

I heard giggling from a couple and most of them said "SEATS, SEATS, SEATS!" 

"WOW! I am so excited that I am going to ... OH NO!"

"WHAT?" 

"I was going to mark on the scoreboard but I haven't taught that yet. I guess I will have to wait."

"NO! Tell us now... mark on the board... we wants points" (I am eating this up!)

"I don't think you are ready. We only have seven minutes until Music and we need to practice lining up again!" 

A couple oh them started begging by putting their hands together. A few jumped up and said we are too ready!... WOW... if they only knew that they were playing RIGHT INTO MY HANDS! MUAH HA HA!

"CLASS"

"YES"

"Hands should be in the listening position. CLASS!"

"YES (all hands in listening position)"

"Okay I'm ready to tell you about the scoreboard. Whenever you do a good job of following the rules. Like Rule 1..."

I was interupted with... "Follow Directions quickly"

"Great job! Yes! Whenever you follow directions quickly I can give you a tally mark on the smiley side of the board. When I give you a tally mark on the board you will clap your hands together like this (I showed them the right way) and say Oh YEAH! Let's practice. Here is a smiley mark give me a Might Oh YEAH!"

"OH YEAH"

"Great job! Okay, there is another side to the scoreboard. If the class is breaking a rule I will mark a frownie. When I make a frownie mark you will bring your shoulders WAY up to your ears and drop them back down while groaning... like this (I showed them the proper way). Let's try this. Frownie Mark, give me a Mighty Groan!"

(Mighty Groan)

"Your shoulders didn't come up high enough. Mighty Groan"

(Mighty Groan... with more students participating)

"Great shoulders on that one. Give me a Mighty OH YEAH!"

"OH Yeah!"

"Not everyone clapped their hands and said OH YEAH! Give me a Might Groan!"

(Mighty Groan... and some groaned too long... HA HA PERFECT.)

"OH I am sorry some of you didn't read my mind! When you give a mighty groan I want you to do it quick like this! Mighty Groan!"

(Mighty GROAN)

"Too slow. Mighty GROAN"

(Mighty GROAN!)

"That was awesome!" Mighty OH YEAH!"

"Oh Yeah!

"Okay all those marks were for practice. Time to do it for real." (I erased the marks I had made)

"Okay, time for music! LINES!"

"Lines, Lines, Lines" (Not all students said lines and many were SLOW POKES!)

"Not everyone said LINES, LINES, LINES. Give me a Mighty Groan"

GROAN

"Great shoulders on that groan! Mighty Oh Yeah!"

"Oh YEAH!"

"Seats!"

"Seats, Seats, Seats"

"Everyone did a great job of saying seats three times! Mighty Oh Yeah"

"Oh Yeah"

"Oh, bummer, not everyone clapped their hands when they said Oh Yeah. Give me a MIGHTY GROAN!"

Mighty groan.

"Remember when I say LINES, EVERYONE is going to say lines three times and line up quickly and quietly. We want to follow directions quickly so that we can get more smilies! ...... LINES!"

"LINES, LINES, LINES!"

"Great job! Give me a Mighty Oh YEAH!"

"Time for music let's go! (I took the scoreboard with us so I could show the music teacher (she is also using some WBT!)

The scoreboard is shown in this picture next to the Genius Ladder.

 
STAY TUNED ... for how our day continued after Music!

How is it possible?

Seventeen days of school... This doesn't even seem possible! TWENTY-FOUR days left until the end of the quarter! YIKES!

I certainly owe my followers a run down of the first days of school!

Monday, August 13th:

After a day of meetings we had the third grade Meet the Parents night. As always I got nervous... I love meeting the kids... but always worry how I appear to the parents! This year I decided to mention my WBT training and mentor status. I described a little about Whole Brain Teaching and mentioned how this will help their students become better learners! I didn't do the WHOLE lesson on the parts of the brain but I mentioned a couple, complete with gestures. Many parents REALLY nodded their heads and looked at spouses or other family members that were with them. I took that as a good sign!

Most of the students brought their supplies and I had them put paper, pencils, and Kleenex in a central location and the rest of their supplies went to their lockers. I did have names on desks however I mentioned to parents that the seats would probably change soon. This is what I said, "Many of you have already found your child's desk. I do not know your child yet. I look forward to getting to know them during the first days of school. The seats they are in right now are temporary and I will change them as I get to know them as learners. Please feel free to contact me if you have concerns about your child's sitting arrangement. YOUare the experts on your child. I am not... YET! (BIG SMILE)." The parents seemed to like these comments.

Wednesday, August 15th - FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL - (My tenth year of teaching!)

Our school day started in the gym with an opening assembly with the theme of Olympics. After welcoming the students, we showed them a slide show of pictures taken (using a green screen in our building) of the teachers and staff as Olympic athletes. I am working on getting my picture to share with you for your entertainment! One of the pictures even showed a picture of the royal family with our principal's picture placed over the Queen's face! The kids LOVED that!

After the assembly I took the kids to the side of the gym and taught my Class-Yes lesson. This was difficult because of the chaos of other classes leaving the gym. (Video coming soon). Laughter and giggles were immediate... and I saw a couple of stressed faces turn to smiles! On our way back to the classroom I showed the tables that we would sit at during lunch, I was amazed at how relieved the students seemed after knowing where to sit. Some of them REALLY do worry about that!

Before entering the classroom, they put ALL supplies in their lockers. I didn't want ANY of the supplies distracting from what I had to teach them. This was an issue most of the day. These eager learners really wanted their supplies in the classroom. A couple of them wanted to ask questions but I used Coach B's advice and said, "I will answer questions later. Please have a seat". As soon as they found their seats, I started following the cue cards (Available on Teachers Pay Teachers)  I had made using Coach B's First Hour/First Day Webcasts.

 

Program 532 WBT The 1st Hour

Program 533 WBT Day One

I pointed out the Morning's Lesson List on the dry erase board. I quickly checked off the first lesson telling them what a great job they had already done. We reviewed class yes. I reminded them about the importance of putting hands in the listening position. "Great, lets move to lesson 2!" My principal walked in at this point and said, "Lesson 2? You haven't even been in your class five minutes!" 

My kids grinned and I said, "Let's show her Lesson 1, that we learned before even coming to class! CLASS!" 

"YES"

"CLASS, CLASS"

"YES, YES"

"Classity, Classity!"

"Yessity, Yessity!"

Our principal clapped for them and smiled, "Well, I am certainly impressed! I don't think any other class in the school has learned their first lesson as quickly as you have! Keep up the good work!" 

At this point, I wished that I already had the scoreboard running! Oh Well, It would start soon! Time was ticking, I had to have them to Music Class in 15 minutes and wanted to teach them Rule 1 and introduce the scoreboard! 

I taught Rule 1. We practiced saying it over and over. We practiced in different funny voices. I wanted to teach the scoreboard at this point, however I needed them to know how to line up! I decided to teach them LINES because we would have to line up soon for Music.

THIS POST IS ALREADY SO LONG...  So you have to wait until tomorrow to get more! Tune in tomorrow to hear how I taught the three peat within 10 minutes of being in my class!

Teaching even when not in the room!

Hello everyone!

I am a victim of back to school BOG DOWN! I barely have time to make my husband dinner let alone blog! I am trying to get better!

OKAY... so I have started something really fun! I know that I am going to be out of my classroom AT least 35 days this school year. I can't stand the thought of not actually TEACHING my kids for that many days. Step 1 was get a reliable sub! CHECK! She loves the class-yes and is working hard to learn more parts of WBT.

NEXT step... make videos lessons!
I decided that even the days that I am gone (at least on planned days) I can still teach my kiddos. So I am making videos for mini lessons for the sub to show!

Here is the first video:

Here is the second:

I felt a little silly making these videos... but they were a HUGE success! When I made the first one I didn't really intend on making a video EVERY TIME! However, my kids loved it! They asked me to make another one. On the second sub day, my sub was going to reward my students with a Magic School Bus video and they asked to watch my videos instead! WOW! A couple teachers in my school have views the videos and have expressed interest in WBT. I am so excited! My next step... Math videos (I always dread leaving math lesson plans... now I may not have to!) 

Level FOUR!

I was so excited to see the following post on facebook and WBT forums this evening! WOWZERS! Congratulations to all my fellow Level Four Wibbeteers!

Let the Sizzles begin!! The First Level 4 WBT Certified List is in! Please give them your best Ten Finger Wooos!

1. Julie Gustin 1,443 CP
2. Becca Morris 1,348 CP
3. Deanna Schuler 1,318 CP
4. Lindsey Roush 1,160 CP
5. Melissa Smith 1,113 CP
6. Caroline Alexius 909 CP
7. Brandon Kerby 733 CP

If you'd like to see your name on this list, check out the WBT Certification requirements located on this site! Contact me (Nancy Stoltenberg) with any questions!

Super Improver Wall... slowly revealed!

Most of you know I am very passionate about the Super Improver Wall. I used it the last three weeks of school (last year) and noticed a change in my students I didn't previously recognize needed to happen!

I wanted to REALLY make my new students WANT the SIW. I decided that I would slowly reveal the SIW. Here is how I did it.

First Day of School

The First Day of school I had all the names on board. It wasn't even labeled. Many students asked what the names were for... I told them they weren't ready to find out yet. I got several pouty lips, a couple of scowls, and a few more curious looks.

Friday: Day 3 of school

On the third day of school (the first Friday), I put the initials, SIW, above the names. Many students noticed and started trying to guess what that meant. They asked me... I pretended to think about it then said, "No, you are still not ready!" Oh the frustration! Some of the guesses: Silly Invention Wall, Student Interest Wall, Students in World (because there is a map above it).

Monday of First full week of school

The whole title showed up! I heard a couple of students say... "Well that doesn't tell me anything!"  "What does that mean?" ... the one that got my attention most...."Improver... well I guess that doesn't mean me"

On Tuesday, one of my students that had been doing a lot of attention seeking behaviors (class clown type stuff) was doing a really good job (I almost think he was being sarcastic). If I said class class, he said yes yes and immediately put hands in listening position. The look on his face was comical and overly dramatic. I decided... I would POUNCE on that. So I bragged on him and headed to the wall with an excited look on my face ... reached for my stickers and then very dramatically... (what can I say he inspired me)  slumped my shoulders. "Class, Class (in a very sad voice)" "Yes Yes" "I was so excited for a minute I thought I was going to do something with the Super Improver Wall... but then I realized it isn't time. Maybe you can handle it"
(A few complaints and whines) "We can handle it!"   "I know that A________" is ready... he almost got a star... OH ... I said too much.... we better get busy on Writing before I spill the beans before you are ready" The rest of the day they all eyed the wall with curiosity. A_______, well he was putty in my hands for the rest the day... Yep you guessed it... Teacher Heaven was taking over! 

Wednesday - Officially one week of school under our belts!

Day Six: Notice the levels are on the board but face against the board. My students were curious... talked about the colors... but otherwise didn't care. Except A_______, he wanted to know if he would have been another color if the class had been ready. "Oh... good question.... you will find out on Friday" A______ was on his best behavior... the rest of my class... well... they were not! Wednesday was a rough day... and I should have realized they were telling me that they were ready for the Super Improver Wall.

Thursday... End of the day.

At the end of the day Thursday, I made a big deal out of saying I had completely forgotten about the Super Improver Wall... "Guess what ... you all are finally ready. I can turn these papers over...Oh I can't wait to tell you (all this happening minutes before afternoon announcements) Oh this great... I am so excited... You are going to love this (purposely stalling because I want the announcements to interupt so that I won't have time). The announcements come on and I let my shoulders drop, and lip stick out. I dismiss the kids the walkers and bike riders and say... okay I guess we have to wait until tomorrow. A_____ comes up and says... "So are we all rookie's?" "Oh... good prediction... wow... tell me why you think that"

OKAY.... WARNING... You may need to either sit down ...or grab a tissue.... don't say I didn't warn you.

"I think we are all rookies BECAUSE (clap) our names are in white and the word rookie is on white. Rookie is a new sports players and we are new third graders. So we are rookies BECAUSE  (clap) we are new!" \

"Amazing Critical Thinking A_____________! Let's tell the class that tomorrow!"


FRIDAY:
The kids come in a look at the board right away! "There isn't anything new!" "Nothing has changed!" "What is next?" "Will you tell us now?"

"Sorry kiddos... we have to go to Art right away this morning. I will tell you right after Art!"

I pick the kids up from Art and get ready to hear the already routine sounds of "Are we going to take a restroom break?" "Can we get our snacks?" "Can I fill my water bottle?" ... it didn't happen. First of all the Art teacher uses WBT too and had to give my notes for two of my students who had trouble with rule 1. Those notes would get stapled in their planners. NEXT, we started heading for the room and ALL of them are smiling... no one is asking about bathroom or snack. We get to the classroom door and the hands started going up (Ugh... here it comes... the questions as usual... even though it is OUR SCHEDULED bathroom time and we have been grabbing our snacks afterwards everyday!)

I was wrong... I called on a student, "Are you going to tell us about the name wall now?" SMILES and hopeful looks. Some calls out, "It's called the Super Improver Wall" I smile but say, "Rule 2" They respond raise your hand for permission to speak". I take them in the room... they head for their seats. They sit down ... hands in listening position. I soak it in! I say, "CARPET". "Carpet, Carpet, Carpet". They sit more quickly than I have seen... I forgot to count... and they forget to remind me!

I begin telling them about the Wall. I talk about the levels. Many ask about what the words mean. I help them make the sports connections. My boys nod their heads eagerly and laugh when I struggle to think of examples of athletes at the various levels.

I talk about the stars that they can receive. I tell them examples of how to earn them. We talk about academic improvements and behavior improvements. We do teach okay and they teach each other the difference.

"Any Questions?" More than half of the class raise their hand. THREE TIMES (at least) I heard the same question. "Can you take a star away?" "No once you earn it... the star stays there" I answer this questions three times. Finally, they ask again. So I say, "HANDS and EYES!"

"Once you earn a star NO ONE can take it away! Not Mrs. Schuler (me), not Ms. Picky (my other WBT personality), not Mrs. R_______ (my para), not Ms. R______ (our principal), not Dr. P______ (our superintendent), NOBODY!"


We go take our restroom break and get our snacks. TIME FOR READ TO SELF TIME! We had reached 10 minutes of Silent, Focused Reading. They all get started right away. I look at the students who yesterday after 2 minutes closed her book and crossed her arms. I see her look up once, then again. She is pouty because she got a note in art. So she is staring at her book. She has really been defiant this week and I have been frustrated. Then I a light bulb went on! YESTERDAY she put her book away. Today she is looking at it... not reading... but isn't that an improvement? (small yes I know... but I need her to buy in). I go over and say "I am so excited! I know who the first improvement star is going to. (She looks at the girl across from her who is reading quietly) Do you know who it is?" "No" in a little murmur voice. "It's you" she looks at me in disbelief. "But... I got a note in Art" "That was in Art, and I know next time you are going to follow directions quickly. I am giving you a star because yesterday you gave up during read to self time. Today you have been looking at your book the whole time" HUGE SMILE "So I improved?"  "Yes you did. I will give you the star at the end of Read to self time."

I made a HUGE deal out of the star... and she loved it.

Okay by the end of the day... there were six stars on the board. My day was better... Super Improver Wall is going to change some lives again this year!

Amazing...

I can't help but be amazed! I used WBT all last school year and loved it! I am using it this school year and I must say ... I am so blessed! My kids love it! I can be silly and the kids are still learning! Today was the fifth day of school. We had a regular reading, math, and social studies lesson! PLUS we did red/green marker writing (which the kids LOVE by the way!).

I am not getting mad when I have to repeat something or if they are breaking rules. I just simply follow WBT! Teaching is Repetition... Repetition is Teaching. I don't call out individual behavior I just call out the rule being broken and my kids call it out!

I plan to sit and walk through what I have done the first days of school... but I am SO enjoying the moments... that I haven't been able to sit down and write it out yet! Look for more little updates this week, with a BIG run down this weekend!

Wib on my friends!

Classroom pictures... a work in progress!

Many of you have asked for pictures of my classroom! Things are not finished yet... but I know you are anxious!

Current Topics Power Pix wall

I am going to put Power Pix on this wall full size that we are working on. I may have to move to a bigger board for this. The Pix up there right now were just so I could place my letters and numbers. As you can (or maybe can't)see the green letters don't show up very well. You also see my Scoreboard in this picture. I have decided to have mobile scoreboard this year. I have placed command strip hooks around my room where I teach so that the board can always be close!

ELA / Math Power Pix Wall

This is where the power pix will go once the kids have grasped the concepts. This is on the side of my classroom. The posters above are the classroom management posters found on wholebrainteaching.com in the ebooks. I cut them out to place them on PAWS themed paper for my classroom. One of my tasks for Friday (my next classroom workday) is to move them UP so that I can put a title above the Power Pix wall.

Super Improver Wall - with "Rookie" cards 

SIW - see the mobile scoreboard?

I will put "SIW" on the tag above the white cards on the second day. 

I plan to slowly reveal my SIW over the course of the first week and a half. They will hopefully spot out the gradual changes and start asking questions so that I can build suspense.

What is that... this is the first big reveal of the Genius Ladder I made.

I have to move my mobile scoreboard over because I forgot to leave space to label the levels of the Genius Ladder!

NOT WBT... but I had to share!

Another teacher in my building was getting rid of this shelf! I was so excited. This has most of my biography books. (There is a basket with larger books behind the shelf). In the cabinet below, I am going to store my seasonal books. Easy to get to... but out of the way!

First Hour Cue Cards!

I finished the DAY ONE cue cards! They are available on TPT in PDF and word format. 

These cue cards are a continuation of the WBT - First Hour Cue Cards. The main focus in these cards is the review of information from the first hour and introducing the "Teach - Okay"

Due to procedures and content being covered being so different, this set of cards is not as long. Further card sets will be added that cover additional first day lessons (Power Pix, Oral Writing, Red/Green Marker Writing).

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/WBT-Day-One-Continued-PDF

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/WBT-Day-One-Continued

Lost in the classroom!

I am so sorry friends! I have not forgotten about you! I have been working hard in my classroom (and I had to go across the state to pick up to teachers helpers, my brother and my niece).

I have done a lot in my classroom. I have my Power Pix board created. I decided to do two Power Pix Walls. One wall with FULL size Power Pix for the topics we are LEARNING. The second Power Pix Wall will be for the concepts I feel the student have a good grasp on!

I also have my board ready for my Super Improvers Wall... however I have decided to SLOWLY Reveal the board the students. So on the first day the board will only have the students names on white cardstock.

The Day 1 Cue cards are coming along and should be posted before tomorrow's LIVE Whole Brain Teaching webcast on Week 1 Goals. This second set of cards basically helps you review the first hour skills and teach your students how to use Teach-Okay. The rest of the first day is so varied (depending on grade level and school requirements) that I didn't feel that I could make cue cards for everyone.

I will post pictures tomorrow! I hope all those who have started school are enjoying Teaching Heaven!

FIRST DAY ... in classroom ... time to organize

TODAY WAS THE DAY! (8/2/12)

I was able to get into my classroom today! I really didn't to much as far as WBT is concerned. However, I thought you would like to "meet" my classroom! (Plus I kind of want to show off my hard work!) I did not have to put up bulletin boards... because they are the same from last year.

View from the door.

In the picture above, you will see three bulletin boards. I am actually taking down the map and the material to the left of the map. That area will be my Power Pix Wall.

 

Carpet / Library Area

I LOVE BOOKS... the books in this picture are not the only books in my classroom! I use Beth Newingham's book organization system. The yellow bulletin board is going to be my Super Improver Wall.

More books

I haven't decided what this bulletin board will hold. My Super Improver Wall was here last year... but I want it in the front of the room!

Tomorrow I am hosting a WBT Study Group in my classroom. I will let you know how it goes. PLUS, I hope to have my Power Pix Wall Created.

WBT 1st Hour - Cue Cards are HERE!

The Cue Cards are finished.

Right now they are available on Teachers Pay Teachers!
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Whole-Brain-Teaching-First-Hour-Cue-Cards

This is my first posting to TPT... so let me know how it works for you!

Did someone say giveaway...

Did someone say giveaway...  YES ... I did in my last post!

It seems that Julie is the only one interested in my give away... so she automatically gets a copy!

However, I want more people to guess my classroom project mentioned in my last post.

So, here are some pictures of the give away project. I thought of this idea during Tuesday's broadcast (Program 532) about the First Hour of the First Day! So many people kept saying they were afraid they would forget something. So here is my solution. I haven't finished yet because I keep watching the video to make sure I didn't forget anything. When I am finished I will post the finally product on Teachers Pay Teachers... for free of course! This will be my first product on TPT!

However, anyone who guesses my BIG project will get a printed copy mailed to them! WAHOO!

Guess my new project!

I am getting ready to start a wonderful WBT project for my classroom! Can anyone guess what I am making just looking at the picture of the supplies I am going to use?

Make your guesses here... and you might win another fun WBT project I am working on! (This freebie is actually ANOTHER project I am working on!)

Summer Preparations ... part 1

I have been busy this summer with little preparations for my classroom both WBT and otherwise. I am going to outline in this post what I have done so far this summer.

Before I even left school in May, I copied the SuperSpeed Math. One set (blank and with answers) for each student. I then purchased enough 3 prong folders for each student. The copies were placed in page protectors (with my mom's help). I went into to this wanting all the same color (one that most students wouldn't buy themselves)... and I have come up short... so I am still searching every Wal*Mart for more of this style and color! Below is a picture of five of the folders. I have 22 completed so far.

SuperSpeed Math Folders

Attending WBT conferences has been the most important thing I have done for my classroom this summer. I tried and TRIED to get a huge group of people to go with me but I finally decided I would go no matter what.

I attend the Reading and Math Conference in Jackson, MO by myself. I meet two new friends at this conference, Susan Floyd and Staci Glass. They are Co-Directors of Whole Brain Teaching Missouri and will be hosting six Saturday WBT workshops throughout this school year. Jackson is just a SHORT (LOL) five hour drive from my town, but I will still be making the drive to help these wonderful ladies with the workshops! 

I will be traveling from just east of Kansas City to right about where the hwy 55 symbol is located.

At this conference, I became more aware of the importance of the scoreboard and how to tie it into ALL aspects of the day.  We practiced over and over to become more natural with including the scoreboard and various forms of Mirror.

Reading and Math handout with copies of the WBT Lesson template

In between conferences, I decided to print off the Power Pix at my local Office Depot. This was a significant cost because I had them printed in color on cardstock. Each Pix was also printed twice. The first printing was on a full sheet (for when I introduce the topic) and the second was a half sheet for placement on my Power Pix wall. I didn't use Power Pix last year except towards the end. I really look forward to using these powerful tools.

I am also working to transfer the third grade math power pix to the common core standards. That involves relabeling the pix and MAKING new ones. Thanks to scrapbunny ( http://scrapbunnywbt.blogspot.com/2012_06_01_archive.html ) getting this started and for creating a Power Pix template!

My second conference for the summer took me to Union, MO. This time I had the pleasure of bringing along two co-workers. Our librarian and before/after school care director came along. Also at the conference were 12 co-workers from another building in the district. EVERY fourth grade teacher from that building attended!

At this conference I was able to join Coach B in the ADVANCED WBT sessions! So exciting. Once again I was able to practice the Five Step Lesson Plan, Class Yes, Score Board, and Mirrors (I even learned a new version of mirrors... check out my other blog on the subject http://pawsitivelywbt.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-four-mirrors.html) At this conference, Coach B introduced me as an intern! I was so excited! (Imagine my excited hands gesture here!)

Scoreboard page in Classroom management handout on the right. WBT lesson plan format on the left.

From the left: ME (Deanna Schuler), Jeff Battle, Chris Biffle, and Chris Rekstad.

I had barely settled in at home before I realized that I needed cardstock for my Super Improver Wall. I went to Michael's and bought LOTS of cardstock.

I have been trying to decide on the colors. I think I have decided... what do you think? My second color HAD to be green, because of my experience with the SIW this year. (I will include this story on my other blog soon). Of course the STAR level has to be yellow! :)

My SIW level colors.

This is all I have right now...the power pix is going to take a lot of time. I will post again next week as I continue the countdown to the classroom! Stay PAWSitive!

Common Question

The most common question or concern I have seen on the WBT forums has been how do I start... what do I do next? As I was making myself a chart for how to implement various WBT strategies and tools in the first two weeks of school, I realized that other teachers could benefit from this information.

I am still new to the WBT scene so I am not an expert... but I will be an expert on how WBT is working in my classroom. I have another blog (PAWSitively Wild for WBT), however that is a place for me to go into detail. This blog is going to be a SHORT and sweet timeline of my first FULL WBT year. Last year I used the Core Four and Big Seven all year. This year I CAN'T WAIT to use Super Improver Wall, Genius Ladder, and Crazy Professor Reading Game all year (rather than the last month of school). I also plan to use Super Speed, Red/Green Marker, Writing Game, Prove It, and SO much more!

My first official day back in my classroom will be August 10th (that is the first teacher workday). First Day with kids is August 14th. I plan on being back in my classroom working by August 3 (fingers crossed for August 1st).

As I do things to prepare for the year I will post what I am doing. I have already done a couple of things this summer. I will make my next post about those preparations. Stay tuned for a PAWSitively awesome year!