Slaughter's Tech Moment
Low-Tech with Whole Brain Teaching Classroom Management
What is Whole Brain Teaching and why should teachers use it?
We have looked at teaching as an art form in an earlier Slaughter's Tech Moment. As a teacher, we have different methodology and pedagogical techniques that help us to create engaging and enriched lessons that will enable learners to get the most of the content and skills taught. I believe that there is value in these techniques and when combined with other great classroom practices could help teachers boost learning and engagement.
There has been success with these techniques from elementary to high school. As with everything, it is all in the approach of the teacher and the needs of the classroom.
Check out these Editable WBT Rules Posters
Teach- Okay!
"Teach, Okay" is a way to engage students in the delivery of new content. This peer teaching strategy starts with the teacher spending a few minutes (small chunks of information are given out) introducing a concept to the class. The teacher usually provides some simple hand gestures to assist the memory and make connections. The objective of the hand gestures is to bring in the "say and do" which brings the memory of content to the 70% to 90% range.
Next, the teacher says "Teach," and the students say "Okay." Students turn to a partner and take turns re-teaching the concept to each other using the hand gestures.
While this is ideal for introductory information in the recall level, I challenge that this will not improve critical thinking skills without some alteration by the teacher to bring the Depth of Knowledge to a higher range. However, this technique gives the teacher a great way to get students comfortable with the concept of teaching and sharing with a peer what they are learning. Over time, the teacher could switch the "Teach, Okay" to a discussion format. Students could be given a task and are asked to go deeper with the partner to discuss their thoughts or to show how they would do the activity. The partner could then switch and teach from a different point of view.
WBT Scoreboard
The scoreboard is a way to encourage the class as a whole. When things are moving along, and you notice the class is doing well, then you add a point to the "Oh, Yeah" side. When the class is off task, you add a point to the "Mighty Groan" side.
When the class gets 10 points, the class is rewarded. A good example of a reward could be to let the class choose a brain break task. The point is to make the reward something fun, fast, and free.
Some classrooms use Class Dojo and set it up with two monsters- "Oh, Yeah" and "Oh, no". The teacher uses it as a tracker for the classroom scoreboard.
Some Brain Break Resources:
Super Improver Wall! Everyone can improve!
When I became a fourth grade teacher, I came across "Super Improver" Wall. When students get to that age, they become very aware of areas of struggle and it is easy to get defeated or complacent with their effort. The "Super Improver" Wall shook my classroom up, motivated my students, and was easily managed. It added a team effort as everyone was excited to see each other level up.
Students are rewarded for making improvements in the classroom not for just making A's or the top grades in the class. I incorporated class assignments and behavior into my version of the system. When my students made gains in any area, I would reward them with "Super Improver" Points. After students received 10 points, they would get to pull a reward out of the jar and they would level up on the "Super Improver" Wall. The tickets in the jar were for various classroom rewards from selecting GO Noodle brain break for the day to show-and-tell. Some of the rewards would be for the whole class, which added to the surprise element and made it fun!
At the end of the year the students that achieved the top place, Legend, had their picture taken and placed on my website on the Legend page and received a basket of some of their favorite things. Combining this system with Class Dojo made it easy to keep track of class points anywhere!
This system allowed all students a chance to earn rewards in my classroom and gave them bragging rights as they received a certificate for each level they achieved.
There are many free Super Improver printables on TeacherspayTeachers to get you started.