Want to learn more about WBT?

3 Ways!!

The website!  Check out Upcoming Events Calendar!

The weekly Monday night seminars - free online!!

The videos!!  New ones coming out all the time!!!

Here is the first one that inspired me!!!!!

Free Common Core Whole Brain Teaching Lessons You Don't Have to Teach!!

So I have been able to tune into the free webinars every Monday put on by Chris Biffle and his latest series has involved free lessons, using Whole Brain Teaching, that cover Common Core concepts!!  Genius!!  This is just perfect for May and June!!!  

All you have to do is be a free member of the Whole Brain Teaching website, select Free Ebooks from the menu at the top and click on Common Core.  There are several different Adobe files to download and use IMMEDIATELY in the classroom!!!  Topics include verbs, comparing, contrasting, sentences, topic sentences, paragraphs, inferences, evidence, using because, etc!

I have used two lessons in my Grade 1 classroom with GREAT success!  The first one I used was on topic sentences!  Students get to attend Whole Brain College and Coach B had them so revved up and ready to learn!!!  All I had to do was read what was written on each slide!!  The second lesson I used was on verbs and boy was it effective!

Some little tips: in Adobe go to the view menu and select Full Screen Mode.  Use the arrows on your keyboard to move from one slide to the other or back.

I'd love to hear if you tried it out and how it worked for you!! Let me know!!!

Why didn't I start them earlier??!!! Practice Card Freebie - Happy Valentine's Day!!

So I have been taking my time this year to introduce the practice cards to my little muffins.  I wanted to exist with just my Super Improvers Wall for as long as I could.  After a few tough weeks and with so many interruptions because our school is SO busy - wonderful BUT busy - I just felt like I was losing my sanity!  I thought - why not try the practice cards?  Why not - what could they do but move our behaviour to the next level.  That is exactly what they did.  I introduced them as Level 3 in our Whole Brain Teaching game.  Just like a video game, our classroom game keeps getting more difficult!  Who thinks they can beat Level 3, I said!  Most muffins were super enthusiastic and there were more than a few who did not like the results of a practice card.  For those of you new to these cards of joy, here are the guidelines:

1. Students receive practice cards for breaking any of the 5 Classroom Rules.  Cards are placed under their name or number (for privacy - although the kids know each other's numbers anyway) on a pocket chart in the room.  Often I do not say anything - I just go and place a card below that child's name or number.  Sometimes all it takes is me to walk towards the practice cards for the behaviour to stop.  Sometimes, I will give a child a card to keep at their desk to remind them to follow a rule - they must give it back to me if they break that rule - works great for Rule #2!!

2.  Students may receive a maximum of 2 practice cards per session or until they are able to spend their time practicing that rule.

3. Students miss out on any games, free time, centres, etc. earned by the Scoreboard, until they have practiced the rule/s that they broke.

4. Students practice rule/s broken with gestures and repeating of each rule for 2 minutes (a timer works well for this or I just keep them practicing until I say their time is up).  Time spent practicing increases as the months of school go on.

5. Students start fresh again in my classroom after recess, after lunch, and after centre time as we get a reward for winning the Scoreboard at these times.

I LOVE these little cards!  They have really saved my sanity and the kids love the additional difficulty in winning our classroom game.  If you wish, you can send home letters to parents outlining rules that were broken for them to help their child practice at home.  Download the Practice Cards free ebook at http://www.wholebrainteaching.com.  You must sign up for free as a member to have access to these free downloads!

Get your own free bug themed practice cards by clicking below!!!  Please let me know if you have any questions!

Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Whole Brain Teaching!

First Free Webinar of the Year!

Hey all - the first free Whole Brain Teaching webinar of new year starts in half an hour!  Be there or be square:)

Dear Whole Brainers! Nervous about Common Core? Tune in to the free, live, webcast Tuesday, January 8 at WholeBrainTeaching.com, 5 PM Pacific, 6 PM Mountain, 7 PM Central, 8 PM Eastern. Dig this! The program features a HUGE, MULTI-DAY lesson, in cartoon form, that you can pop into your classroom computer projector and let me, Coach B, teach your kids ... while you sit in the back drinking foamy lattes! Isn't that ULTRA COOL??? Power to the Teachers! Chirs "Coach B" Biffle -- want up to the second news on Whole Brain Teaching, check our Facebook page.