I am new to blogging... I have always been shy about putting my thoughts out there... but I can't resist any longer. I have become BEYOND curious, BEYOND enthusiastic, BEYOND inspired, and BEYOND ... BEYOND about WHOLE BRAIN TEACHING. Last summer, while frantically looking up third grade information (I was going to be switching from 5th to 3rd grade) I stumbled upon Proteacher.com. I knew that I wanted a new approach to management in my classroom. I had been following the BIST program/philosophy since my first year of teaching. I LOVED (still do) BIST. (www.bist.org) I wanted something more! I kept seeing references to WBT and the five rules. (I couldn't believe people would actually post such a daring and direct rule(Keep your Dear Teacher Happy). This rule made sense. I wanted these rules. Could this mysterious WBT be what I was looking for? Simple answer... YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I found more posts on proteacher about WBT... I finally found their website and videos.... WHOA! I found out they would be IN MISSOURI! "Only" a four hour drive and I would be getting FREE training for this unique approach. I signed up for the conference with our school's new art teacher. (That was another blessing that WBT brought me). I fell in love with WBT at this conference. I wanted school to start RIGHT AWAY! I was going to use it ALL... I was going to be a pro...!
Then the reality of teaching a new grade level sunk in! I introduced the Big Seven on the first day of school. They kids LOVED it. I was amazed by the reaction I got from the kids. That was as far as I got! However, my school year has been successful.
When I started looking ahead to next year (I wouldn't be new to third grade anymore!) ... I started getting fired up about WBT again. I tried Mind Soccer... I had been stubbornly avoiding it all year. I went to a WBT conference in Wichita (another four hour drive away). This time I went with a newly graduated educator (and a para in my classroom). We got fired up together. We were ready to bring our WBT "A" game to the classroom. AND WE DID!
In the last 15 days of school WE have:
- successfully implemented the Super Improvers Wall.
- started a power pix wall
- become an expert and variations of a ten finger WOO!
- given ourselves the most enjoyable end of school time that I have experienced in my nine years of teaching.
Stay tuned for more journals from my trips to TEACHER HEAVEN!
Welcome to the wonderful world of Whole Brain Teaching! I can tell you are HOOKED!! Nancy
ReplyDeleteNancy... hooked doesn't even begin to cover it. I am not sure what clicked because I have loved WBT from the start... but that second training in Wichita really fired me up!
DeleteI am so excited to have found your blog! Learning about WBT is part of my summer goal! =)
ReplyDeleteI am your newest follower! I would love for you to come visit me when you get the chance. =)
Heather
Heather's Heart
Hi! Your story is so similar to mine. I was a fan of Proteacher for years before stumbling across WBT. I fell in love with it and began implementing it in my room a couple of years ago. I am now "responsible" for getting WBT information out there to the faculty that wants it. So I will begin a blog for them and try to attach it to my classroom website. I soak up all the things I can over the summer so I am refreshed and recharged with new exciting ideas. Thank you for sharing!
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