kneading the dough!

Boy....I can see so much growth in all of my students!  Also, the classroom management is fantastic.  I had another teacher comment on how well behaved my students are.  Using the scoreboard, and all of the other WBT techniques, is like kneading the dough and the end result is going to be a beautiful loaf of golden bread! I have been in school for 12 weeks and I just introduced the practice cards.  There were some lit up faces, when my rule followers realized that they were not going to suffer for the other attention seekers.  I sent home the practice notes, for the disruptive students, and to my surprise their parents had them practice lots!!  One student practiced for 15 minutes and the other for 2 hours!  Yikes!!  He was an angel today!   I reminded my students that there will eventually be purple cards of praise going out.  It will accompany a letter stating how wonderful you are in class..They are so excited!  I said,"Who wants this letter starting off their weekend?"  All hands shot up so quickly, you would think that I was holding a nugget of gold! I plan on getting on those a little closer to Christmas.  This week went really well and my students are working really hard.  My goal this week is to try to maintain the energy after lunch.. Most of my students provide half a gesture and are very delayed in their response.  Energy is crucial, as this is the time I am teaching Social Studies and Science!!  Happy Halloween!


Heather Hansen
Wbt intern
2011/12

Brain toys and Gestures Amazing!!

I have been having a wonderful time watching the evolution of my class over this period of time!  There are so many of my students, that came into the class showing a very timid personality and weak academically. Now!  There is a power that has overwhelmed them!  This power is the brain toys and the gestures.  I mean so many students reference these tools while talking with their classmates.  For example, I can't even say "because" in the classroom without them repeating it and clapping their hands together.  It's fascinating.  Also, while they are reading their weekly story, there are hands flying all over the place.  I love how effective the gestures are and how amazing the brain toys work, in the classroom environment.

Heather Hansen
Wbt Intern
2011/12

Week 11 and seeing great Changes!!

I have held out, as long as I possibly can, in regards to practice cards.  I think that it is the appropriate time because we have been in school for 11 weeks.   I will be implementing it on Monday and I have given fair warning!  One of my challenges, that so worried that he is going to get a note home next week!  I told him that he has complete control of himself and he chooses his destiny, in this regard.  I think I really got through to him. I believe this because at the end of the day, I had my students write me a little note on three things that hey would love to improve on.  Oh my...they were so random from educational to individual.  It was very appropriate.  For example, my students that are virtually perfect in the classroom chose AR goals, writing, and multiplication improvement. However, my challenges said Rule 2, Rule 5, and Rule 3!!  All on their own!  Amazing...I love that they are taking ownership. I plan putting them in their portfolios!  We are climbing mountains of positive behavior and constant engagement!!

Heather Hansen
Wbt Intern
2011/12

Week 9 wbt instruction

Well...I have students that came into the classroom with zero confidence! I'm amazed at how well these students did in our district benchmark tests! They were excited to take the test. Another teacher came up to me, this morning, and told me how her previous student comes to her every recess and tells her how good she's doing! That was such great news! Im convinced that prove it is allowing students to engage in an academic conversation, while building confidence. I am eager to continue with the wbt practices. I know that students are actually grasping the information and using it at home. Many parents, during parent conferences, told me how excited their child comes home!!! Great week!!!

Heather Hansen
Wbt intern
2011/12

Week 7 & Prove it!

Well..It was a very exciting week in room 24.  We had an awesome week practicing the game Prove It.  The kids absolutely love it!!  They can't get enough of it!  This is a game that gets every student involved and engaged with academic language.  I love how quickly it moves and the looks of excitement on everyones face is priceless. On Fridays, I have to do my assessments so, we can't play Prove it. There were so many grumbles in the class because students love answering the questions generated from the State tests.  Who would have ever guessed?  One student said, " I can't believe I'm saying this but I love school"  This statement is absolute music to my ears.   Another wonderful fact about this game, is that most students are engaged in academic language.  I hear because slappers and also adders going on.  As a matter of fact, they are oral writing the entire time they are proving their answers right or wrong on the white boards.  **I need to get the Wacky Fun Star up and running during Prove it!!***  I feel like my students and I can take the world by storm ,when we are so excitedly engaged, on one third grade standard!

Heather Hansen
Wbt Intern
2011/12

Super Improver strategy

I have been using the super improvers wall diligently.  I have found that, when I tell my students that I will update the wall on my break, every student stays engaged during the entire period.  For example, while I'm having students teach one another, I remind them that I am looking for super improvers.  I am providing my stars for SS math, Reading, and energetic gestures.  I noticed that every time a student comes in from recess, their little faces are beat red and they want to rest for a little while.  So, I have to incorporate more incentive via the wall.  It has worked wonders this week.  Students enter the classroom and they walk the perimeter of the classroom.  While walking the perimeter, they say the rules and pass the SI Wall.  Every student comes in with a burst of energy eagerly waiting to see if they earned a star during the last period.  When a student earns 6 stars they earn a classroom leader pin.  One of my most challenging students, academically, reminded me at the end of the day that she only needs one more star to be a classroom leader!  These are the days, that remind me of how lucky I am to be a teacher!  It is truly rewarding!

Heather Hansen

Wbt Intern

2011/12

Super Improver, update, Wacky Star Fun Button, and Palmdale Hotflashers room

Today was another learning lesson.  I worked on giving each level a name, on my super improvers wall.  I decided to go with various species of snakes because we study the desert.  All of my students were beyond excited!  Also, I decided to wait to provide each student their stars.  I write myself a little reminder and while the students are at recess, I put up their stars.  So, I write a note to myself, students go to recess, they enter the classroom after recess, walk past the super improvers wall, and while staying in line, walk the "Perimeter" of the classroom.  While they are doing this they are rattling off the rules.  This was so exciting!!! Smiles, smiles, smiles!  I have decided to work on paying extremely close attention to who is really improving.  Coach brought to light a very good point.  Why am I putting my most ideal student up on the board and giving her tons of stars?  What is she improving on?  She's just being the wonderful role model, that any teacher flocks to.  Tomorrow my eyes will be peeled for more super improvers!!

BTW, I have attached my updated pictures of my SI Wall, My Wacky Fun Star button, and a first grade Palmdale Hotflashers Power Pic Walls:)