WBT Book Club Chapter 30: Designing My Classroom

My Personal WBT Favorites:

I think the first four features of a WBT model classroom are a no-brainer for me.  Without the rules, Scoreboard, proper seating and Teach/Okay, and the Super Improvers Team, my class will not be top notch!

1. The Five Classroom Rules govern the classroom.  The rules are simple and specific for any student to understand.  These five rules, along with their gestures help structure classroom behavior and are key to an organized, friendly, and safe environment.  

2. The Scoreboard motivates teamwork.  It is a non-threatening way to reward positive behavior and correct off-task students.  I love it because there are so many variations and students will never get bored.  Rewards are endless, including beating the teacher, extra recess, talk time, and game time just to name a few.  Finally, using the Scoreboard is a blast.  Using "Mighty Oh Yeah" and "Mighty Groan" along with the boards other levels is so much fun.  The kids and myself will never lose interest.

3. I have always assigned seats.  Designing a seating arrangement and placing students with their partner helps maximize learning.  This arrangement should also be rearranged periodically to provide variety, too.  Seating, combined with partnering students for using Teach/Okay and Switch, also increases learning.  Teach/Okay and Switch allow both students to share their ideas so everyone has a turn.  In addition, Teach/Okay will work great with Oral Writing, and I look forward to using it as well.

4. Finally, I will adopt the Super Improvers Team because it will help each student set/meet personal goals.  This individualized approach to learning is student-centered and specific.  I love this technique because it has levels, is individualized, and inexpensive.  Kids do not feel threatened because they compete against themselves.  Breaking personal records make this approach unique.

WBT Book Club Chapter 16: Improving State Test Scores with the Super Improvers Team

As an educator, I am always looking for ways to improve my standardized test scores. I found several strengths in Chapter 16 that I can use with my history students. Practice is key! Students need daily practice questions, and this chapter outlined a way to help students practice the most basic to more complex strategies as the year progresses. The strategies are connected to the Super Improvers Team, which is definitely a strength. Stars can and should be awarded to students for getting questions correct and for proving their work. This is, most certainly, a plus in my book because I am always looking for opportunities to award stars. WBT test taking strategies are focused around the ‘fun factor.’ Just saying the words, “Doofus, Trickster, and Smarty” make learning fun. Finally, these strategies are specific and visible. Prove It, double underlining, and labeling provide detailed directions and expectations to students and a quick way for the teacher to assess student comprehension. On the flip side, I am concerned my middle school students will get bored with the Prove It strategy. My middle school and its feeder schools implemented a similar version of Prove It years ago. I know students as young as second grade using this strategy. I fear my students will become bored by the repetition. Plus, if my whole team uses these strategies, will students become uninterested because of frequent exposure? Hmmm? This is definitely a concern and a possible weakness. I did enjoy the chapter and definitely plan on putting ‘Doofus, Trickster, and Smarty’ into daily student practice.

BT Book Club Chapter 15: Super Improvers Team

WBTs Super Improvers Team strengths, most certainly, outweigh its weaknesses! Here are my top four strengths:

1. The Super Improvers Team is individualized. Children race against themselves as they work for stars. By removing the ‘competition among peers,’ students are highly motivated to break personal records. All students, no matter their ability or age, love setting and breaking personal records. 

2. It’s visible and color coded. I love the simple, yet brilliant fact, that the SIT is visible to everyone. When individual stars and levels are added, students receive immediate feedback, personal gratification, and success. Now, who doesn’t want to see themselves move up the ranks? All kids, no matter their ability, love to do well, and they love for others to know they are making progress. Everyone has areas they can improve in, but the challenging students will quickly advance because they have many areas for improvement. 

3. The Super Improvers Team has levels! There’s something mysterious about ‘levels.’ Even adults love a good game with levels. The SIT has 10+ levels, so there’s no end to the ability to progress. I loved the WBT book idea of taking photographs at various intervals with the finale of level ten students making it to the ‘forever photo wall of fame.’ SIT levels appeal to all learners.

4. The SIT is versatile. There are an infinite number of ways to award stars. Following classroom rules and procedures, correcting disruptive behaviors, improving handwriting and writing skills, completing homework, showing leadership, helping, and participating are only a few of the reasons for awarding stars. Teachers can even set ‘team goals. And, if you run out of ideas, teachers can ask their students to help. As WBT veteran, Kate Bowski suggests, your students can suggest and nominate their classmates for Super Improver stars. The possibilities are endless.

It was difficult to identify SIT weaknesses, but if I am completely honest, I was able to identify a one concern. As a middle school teacher, I only see each class 50 minutes per day. In the spring of 2013, I started my own SIT, and with the content that must be taught within one class period, I found it difficult to award stars. On a positive note, the SIT brought attention to the importance of ‘noticing the good’ in my students. Near the end of school, one student suggested many good ideas for awarding stars. I think consistency is key, and the more I reflect on the SIT, the more ideas I will have for awarding stars and promoting it with my students. This year, I am excited because my sixth grade team will be implementing WBT together. This will make all the difference when concerns arise. Four brains will be better than one!

The Super Improvers Team is a highly effective tool for helping extremely challenging students. I have seen, first hand, the usefulness of the wall with difficult, hard to reach students. These children crave attention, and unfortunately, it is usually negative. The SIT visibly rewards these students for positive behavior, one goal at a time.

Personal Note: I am currently using the Super Improvers Team at home with my 8 year old son. He loves the wall, and I have seen improvement in his behavior. He’s not a bad kid, but the wall has encouraged his kindness toward his younger brother and his helpfulness around the house. He loves the fact that I will not take stars away for poor decisions or behavior. He loves the stickers and the levels. It has been fun to work with at home this summer.