In case you haven't heard, I am a HUGE fan and follower of Whole Brain Teaching. The scoreboard is one of the "Core Four" meaning it is one of the main components of WBT.
The scoreboard is a main component of my classroom management and is how I:
1. Keep students on task
2. Ensure that students are following directions quickly
3. Ensure that all students are Looking and Listening so they are Learning.
In order for the scoreboard to be beneficial the points need to stay close. The students need to feel that they always have a chance to catch up if the "Happies" are behind. They also need to stay focused if they don't want the "Frownies" to win. In my class the students have a chance to "win" an extra minute of recess if the Happies are ahead at recess time. If the Frownies are ahead then we go out a minute late. Very easy doable rewards for a class that is on task and engaged in their learning.
The bonus reward they have been working for is for the Happies to be ahead at the end of the day. We have had our mornings run great, only to come back after lunch and have a hard time remembering our rules. I thought that as an added incentive to achieve this we could play some Angry Birds bean bags. They have been looking at it, in the box, for two weeks.
Today, finally, the Happies won! They were so excited to know that after our "specials" rotation we would be playing Angry Birds. I am smiling now just remembering the excitement in their eyes.
This is the part that makes ME the happiest. They had to answer questions about nouns in order to get a chance to toss the birds. I loved that each and every child in my class, (yes, even the shouter outers) remembered rule number 2 for this game! They cheered for their fellow students to toss the birds and were just as disappointed when they missed. We played this for 10 minutes, while we were packing up to go home.
Can you believe this?? Students begging to play a review game?!!
I continue to love all aspects of Whole Brain Teaching. If you want more information, please go to visit the web site. There are many other teachers that know more than I do and are far better at implementing all the components. You will be happy you did.
I leave you with this little picture from my day. While we were lining up to go home, one of my students, (one of my harder to follow the rules students) stopped by the birds and placed them in the open spots. I couldn't believe my eyes. He wasn't tossing them without permission, just placing them carefully into a place he thought they belonged.
Until next time.....
Deanna
