If you have been wanting to give it a try, but aren't quite sure what to do, here are a few tips for starting with your class. By the way, you don't have to wait until the beginning of a new year to try it out, you can really start anytime.
Anyway, here is a video from Chris Biffle explaining the first ten minutes of implementing Whole Brain Teaching along with a few of my own implementations.
Chris Biffle suggests that the first lesson be conducted in the hallway before entering the room. At my school, our students come straight to our room from recess (or are brought in early by their parents) so we are not able to do this.
I had morning work placed at each student’s desk (with their
nametag). On the Smart Board were the
following directions:
I want them to get in the routine of what will be expected in
class every day. They will come in and get
started right away. This fits with the
Whole Brain Teaching idea of creating urgency – we don’t have one minute to
waste in the morning. I also have
incorporated his idea of letting the students know that I am happy to see them,
and I have used the word please as
Biffle suggests.
Once I was ready to begin teaching (when all of the students
had filtered in and the morning announcements and pledge were over). I started the lesson suggested by Chris Biffle for the first 10 minutes of
class. You can download a copy of the
script I used this year here. Feel free to make it your own and practice,
practice, practice until it feels natural.
The agenda was posted on the board and looked like this:
Do you use Whole Brain Teaching in your class? Do you have any questions or concerns about using Whole Brain Teaching?
