This post is for my own benefit as well as others.
I recently had an email question about the scoreboard. Below you will find a transcript of the questions as well as my responses.
I hope it will be of use to some of you that are just starting out with WBT! I've let my scoreboard number slack off and am hoping to get that excitement and energy back into my class.
Hi,
I am just trying bits of WBT this year. I’m not having
as much buy in to the idea of the scoreboard as I wanted. I think there’s
a few reasons, but could use some ideas. I don’t think I’m using it often
enough. When do you use it? I find kids are very slow at transitions
and getting a smiley or frownie doesn’t mean a lot to some of them.
Another point I’m struggling with is how often and with what
can I reward them for smiley frownies? I was trying the “minute of extra”
recess based on count @ end of day. The transition issue, impacts this
extra time… I haven’t trained them well enough somehow to line up quietly so we
take too long and the extra minute is gone (so they don’t see the reward for
smiley / frownie). It’s a challenge to stop and count the total at the
end of the day. I often don’t do it with the class until the next morning
(which isn’t too terrible since the extra recess time is the that day) Any
suggestions? Should I build in more small rewards (we have an am
recess and then a lunch recess)? Should I do the scoreboard from after AM
recess until AM recess the next day?
I don’t understand “fun bursts”..could I mix these in
somehow?
Interested in WBT but confused,
________________________________________________________________________________
The
key to the scoreboard is using it to the max! When you are putting 30-40
tallies on each day—you are keeping the kids pumped and “in the game”. I have
to admit…it can slide by! I only had about 10 marks up last Friday! That’s the
worst I’ve done. And I can tell a big difference when I let it slip!
Someone
on the forums put together a nice list of rewards for winning the scoreboard.
You might search for it. Some other ideas are:
A
hand stamp, a sticker, 1 minute more center time, 1 minute more story time, get
the principal to come in and congratulate them, let them choose where to sit
for one class period, let them read with a friend during silent reading time,
let them read with a stuffed animal during silent reading time…find things that
will motivate them! Give them a few of the options and let them vote at the
beginning of the day. Their buy in is crucial!
I’ve
also done long-term rewards like giving one letter in the word MOVIE for each
day they win the scoreboard. When they spell the word, they get the reward. We
eat lunch in our classroom, so this is an easy reward for me to do during
lunch.
Fun
bursts are short periods of “practicing” the behaviors you are wanting—and ping
ponging the scoreboard. Like this:
“Rule
1-“ (follow directions quickly)
“Oh,
not fast enough!” –frownie/mighty groan
“Raise
your hands.” (they do it quickly) “That’s what I’m talking about!” –smiley/oh
yeah
“stand
up” too slow, “sit down” yes! Etc….back and forth—giving smilies/frownies and
getting ENERGY flowing in the room!
As
for lining up, I NEVER thought the 3peat of Lines, Lines, Lines would work for
me. I thought it would be chaos! But, after really introducing it, modeling it,
practicing it…my kids do it marvelously! It is quick and easy.
Another
thing that has helped me this year is a portable scoreboard and mini dry-erase
marker. These help me keep track of points whenever I need to give them. I made
the scoreboard small enough to fit in a badge holder on a lanyard. It is great
having it so handy!
Hope
some of these ideas help! Keep at it! It is the most amazing way of teaching
I’ve ever found.
~Melissa
_____________________________________________________________________
One last scoreboard
question/clarification…what about when you win the scoreboard? Like I
said, I just did 1-2 minutes on or off recess. Do they lose something
every day or just NOT earn the priviledge?
On the positive, you do reward
it daily? Do you count the total at the end of the day so they see where they
stood. Do you feel it’s more effective to have the reward be that day
(rather than the following day , like I’ve been doing with earning extra recess
time).
Thanks again,
__________________________________________________________________
Sometimes they can lose recess time, or lose a
privilege. Or they can just not earn the agreed upon reward.. Daily is best!
The kids can see the scoreboard and the tallies. I will also announce near the
end of the day if they are really close, or "even Steven", so they
can try to earn those last smilies...especially during dismissal!
It doesn't
really take much time to see the total if you keep both sides even...remember
YOU are in control of the scoreboard. Use it to your advantage!
~Melissa
____________________________________________________________________________
Thank
you so much for your quick and detailed response. I know there’s the You Tube
videos, blogs etc. but I sure wish I could visit a classroom with it in place.
Thanks again,
______________________________________________________________________
There is it! Hope it helps some of you, too!
