Tuesday, June 26, 2012

My WBT Power Pics Wall is Up!


I am so excited to get my Power Pics Wall figured out for next year! I changed my previous "focus wall" to it. I will use magnetic clips OR as shown in the lower left picture, suction hooks. I have a whole bag somewhere in my classroom, but can't find them at the moment. I think hole-punching the cards and hanging them as needed will work out very nicely.

I have numbered the top of each section and have letters going down the middle. I will use that for both sections even if it will be backwards for the left side! This addition will be such a great tool in my classroom.

Some of you may be wondering just what is a power pic wall? I'm glad you asked! It is a strategy used in a Whole Brain Teaching (WBT) classroom. The pics are incorporated into lessons and then placed on the wall for reference. Each pic has a question, answer and gesture for key concepts in language arts and math.


This is an example for tally marks:


Question: What are tally marks:
Answer: Tally marks are marks in groups of five.
Gesture: Hold up four fingers on one hand and then cross them with one finger from the other hand, symbolizing four tally marks crossed by a fifth mark.

 I actually modified this gesture: when we answer, "Tally marks are" we hold up one finger for each of the last words and cross with our thumbs on the last word, "marks (1) in (2) groups (3) of (4) five (cross with thumb)."

I used this power pic once a day each week during calendar math (on Tally Mark Tuesdays)! I didn't get into many of the power pics last year, so this year I am excited about intentionally incorporating them into my lessons. They will fit in nicely with the common core standards we will be using next year.
Power Pics are very useful in getting students to think about the things they are learning. As they learn each power pic and revisit them often, it reinforces key skills and concepts. When you throw in the teach/ok strategy, students are given the opportunity to internalize the concept and explain it to others.
This is a free download on the WBT website! Hop on over there and check it out—along with other amazing strategies to help you get pumped about setting up your classroom, teaching standards and dealing with those challenging darlings!


9 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing this. I haven't read about the Power Pics yet but they sound very interesting. Heading over now to WBT to check them out.

    April
    Wolfelicious

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great job, Melissa! Power Pix are Powerful. I have a video on Power Pix currently being edited by Coach B. Hopefully, that will be available soon. If you view my You Tube video, Whole Brain Teaching: Critical Thinking, you can see images of my Power Pix Grid Wall and the Power Pix on the White Board still being introduced in class. The Pix on the board stay there for intro and practice for about a week. I usually have 2-3 Pix from LA and math. They are then moved to the grid wall for daily practice along with other Pix. The Pix on the grid wall have been reduced in size to fit my wall space. At this point, the Pix are always available for whole group, small group, and individual review. You will have your Core Standards at your fingertips!

    Nancy
    Mrs. Stoltenberg's Second Grade Class

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love the idea of using suction cup hooks to put the Power Pix up on the board! My boards aren't magnetic, so I will be sure to keep that idea in mind.
    Just to let you know, I was able to fix my brain toys download. Would help if I didn't leave the setting on private! Hope you get a chance to try getting it again and let me know if it still doesn't work.

    Julie aka Southern Teacher
    Blog:Southernteacherwbt.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks again for my blog award- I finally blogged about it today. Sorry it took me so long!
    I have an award waiting for you now! :)
    Erin
    First with Franklin

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Melissa! My turn to give back! Wanted to let you know that I'm giving you The Lovely Blog Award. Would love for you to stop by and check it out!

    Nancy
    Mrs. Stoltenberg's Second Grade Class

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love it! Passing on a Versatile Blogger Award! Stop by my blog and check it out!

    Wib On!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am so excited about finding your blog through the WBT website forum. I am learning as much as I can about WBT and want to use it this year with my 1st Graders.
    :) Dana
    Enter my giveaway @ Fun in 1st Grade

    ReplyDelete
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