WBT Camping Poster

I just saw the cutest poster on Pinterest from Tara at

about WBT in your classroom! I jumped right on it and created one for my camping classroom. It is a freebie at my TpT store.

Check out her blog for more WBT goodies!

And here is my poster (click it to go grab your freebie!)

Shutterfly Teacher Sites

If you haven't heard of the amazing service Shutterfly does for teachers, you've gotta check it out! It's free.

You can create a password/invitation only website for your class, include class roster and contact information, events, timelines, photos, volunteer sign-ups, and post pictures of your class! Whew...

I didn't get to use this much last year, but I plan on starting the year with it and using it to the max.

It will even email all members with upcoming event notificaitons, remind them about items they've signed up for, and ask them to post pictures after events!

Head over to Shutterfly.com and get your site set up and ready for the new year.

My Super Improvers' Wall is Up!

I am SO excited! I've got my Super Improvers' Wall up and ready to go for next school year.

I've been seeing some really cute themes applied to the walls and had a creative block for a while trying to come up with something to go with my camping theme. But, here it is...and I LOVE it!

As you can see, I will be using tents for my name cards. I spent over an hour punching out 24 tents in 10 colors~

but aren't they adorable?

As for my levels, I decided to go for a road trip kind of theme. Novice campers are not going to jump right in, they have to get their toes wet first! Sooooo...

1. White-picnic

2. Gray-campfire

3. Tan-Greenway hike (local park)

4. Yellow-backyard camping

5. Orange-Harrison Bay State Park (20 min. away)

6. Green-Cherokee National Forest

7. Lt. Blue-Great Smoky Mtns. National Park

8. Blue-Grand Canyon National Park

9. Red-Yosemite National Park

10. Black-Yellowstone National Park (the 1st National Park!)

I plan on creating a map with each destination on it. I'll even throw in some facts about each location. I'm getting excited about it!

Now, I've already had a forum post about the SIW...but for those of you that are NOT Wibbeteers, I'll give a brief explanation.

The Super Improvers' Wall is a motivating behavioral modification tool! It rewards students for making improvements in ANY area (yes, ANY!). If little Johnny finally gets his desk cleared off-give him a star. If Susie does not complain for a whole day-give her a star. Any improvements you see and want your kiddos to be proud about-give a star for it.

When a student gets 10 stars on their card, they get to move up to the next color level! (Hey, is that it? No stickers or treasure box???) Exactly!

I have never used the SIW, but have seen marvelous posts by other Whole Brain Teachers that say it is pure teacher HEAVEN!

Problem students magically become motivated to earn those stars and move up the levels!

My fear~

consistently giving out those stars! I have to really be on my toes.

Anyone else have a SIW and want to share?

Want to learn more about this amazing system?

Find out at the WBT site. It's FREE!



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!



New Camping Behavior Pack on TpT!

I am SOOOooo excited to share with you my new Camping Behavior Pack. It is cute and fun--keeping you very organized with your behavior tracking.

I will be using it this year with my WBT rules and practice cards--which my badges fit in with nicely.

Head over to my TpT store and check it out!

WBT Certification Program

Just what is all the hype about, you ask?

Since I found out about Whole Brain Teaching last August, I have had so much fun (yes fun) learning as much as I can about it. I incorporated several basic parts of WBT into my classroom and dreamed of how to get more of it going.

This summer, as I was making plans for next year and making sure to include WBT in them, I discovered the WBT Certification Program. I was pumped! I'd already been watching some of the webcasts offered on the wholebrainteaching.com website (all free, by the way). Now I am going to have the chance to officially become a WBT teacher.

I have had wonderful support from my administration about using WBT in my classroom. My principal and curriculum VP have both encouraged me to continue using and sharing what I've learned with the staff. I see a professional development session coming up in my future!

Tonight will be the kick-off live webcast! I can't wait.

Tune in:

Tuesday, June 12, on this website

Orientation: Whole Brain Teaching Summer Certification

Find out everything you need to know

about our June-August online, free

WBT Certification Program

5 PM Western

6 PM Mountain

7 PM Central

8 PM Eastern

One of my only concerns about the certification process is the video requirement. I kept meaning to make one during last school year and never got the chance. That will most definitely come up during the webcast tonight, so my questions about it should receive an answer fairly soon!

**I believe everyone attending the LIVE session this evening will be awarded some Certification Points just for being there!**

Melissa~

110 CP

Webcasts (2)

Facebook (1)





Moving WBT posts :)

(**I'm moving this from the WBT page--sorry for any confusion! Original post dates are listed**)

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Well, it has been a while since my last update. I should get a mighty "groan" for that! But....I am excited to report I took a professional day off of school to revamp my WBT enthusiasm and techniques! I watched several webcasts and will send in my PayPal money for the certificates! They were great! I have added the GUFF counter to my scoreboard. It is amazing how much "back talk" really goes on in the classroom without me even realizing it! The kids have caught on famously and only get the wording confused because I introduced it the wrong way (that's what I get for being enthusiastic...didn't get my ducks in a row!) They say either stop that, stop please or please stop!! LOL--I told them they'd catch on in a few days!

Another thing they are LOVING is using the timer! WOW, what an awesome tool. We waste Sooooo much time it seems. I started the timer Monday when we came in from recess and were getting drinks etc, before coming to the carpet for SSR. It was a whopping 4 minutes flat. Something happened and I didn't time them Tuesday, but today...we did it in 1:28!!!!! What an improvement (OH YEAH!)

Next, I plan on starting the Super Improvers Wall...they are gonna eat that up!

I also interjected LOTS of energy, built suspense, and let them know how EXCITED I was to teach them about ____. I felt their enthusiasm in return. What a fabulous way to teach. I got lots of hugs over the last two days! Love it!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

We just finished up with our first quarter and parent/teacher conferences are behind us (all but 3).

I love how things are going in classroom as I try to implement WBT! The kids are still responding well to it and love the opportunities for movement, talking and teaching, and mirroring my moves. I'm having fun coming up with motions/gestures to explain concepts! They just seem to start pouring in once you start thinking that way!

Some things I still need to work on:

• Staying energetic throughout the day! (sometimes I fizzle and I can tell a difference in the room)
• Reciting rules throughout day (sometimes I only hit once and I pay for it later!)
• Staying positive and not scolding (this is a definite area for improvement: put on that smile!)
• Adding new pieces to what we have in place (Super Improvers wall...)
• Finding an area for the Power Pix Wall (that might have to wait until next year)

I've had the opportunity to share some of our WBT classroom techniques with our Principal, our VP of curriculum and one of our District Superintendents. They were very impressed. :)
It has been such a blessing for me this year.

One thing that helps me is reviewing some of the YouTube videos posted out there and reading over some blog entries. I don't frequent the forum much right now, but plan on hitting it more also. I know this is something I am going to continue learning about and using in my classroom!