Revamped Universal Homework Model (Star Homework)

After a LOT of consideration this year I ended up completely deleting ALL homework assignments (cue the gasping and eye rolling).  The kids in my school/district/state are in a total state of turmoil because of the Common Core vs. Anti-Common Core political game that is being played right in front of them.  One of the biggest concerns is the amount of homework given.

Now, before you are all jump through cyberspace to give me what for, let me explain.  I know that many accounts (but not all) are exaggerated.  I also know that math teachers are taking the brunt of this problem, and I teach reading and writing.  I also know that homework is not *really* a Common Core issue.  BUT, I am willing to work with my kids and their parents so that everyone is motivated to continue trying their hardest.  Even though the UHM leaves homework to be totally optional, I still have kids parents feeling like they have to complete everything on the list.  So, kids continue to turn in their homework sloppy and wonder why they don't get credit.  Hmmm..

I noticed another problem as well with my Independent Workstation time in the classroom - it is lacking necessary structure and accountability.

Aha moment of the century...




Drumroll please....





USE THE UNIVERSAL HOMEWORK MODEL TO TRACK WORKSTATION TIME!!!!!!!

How have I NEVER thought of this before????  It must just be a stroke of pure genius on my part. OR, finally Coach B's real genius is beginning to seep through my computer screen and into my teacher thoughts!

I can NOT wait to try this in my classroom this week!  This idea won't be completely foreign to my kiddos because they have seen the UHM form.  AND, we have been doing stations all year.  This will just give them the umph they need to finish the year strong.  And next year, I plan on implementing it from the beginning and doing another year of no homework!

Of course, I'm attaching a copy just for you! Click HERE to download your copy from my TPT store!

Snow Day #3 and 5 Step Lesson Plans

I can hardly believe that we are on Snow Day #3 here in Louisiana!  

I've enjoyed a lazy day of baby snuggles, a recovery day getting over a stomach bug mixed with cold and congestion, and now a day of house cleaning and catching-up on my school work.  Which brings me to my first post since November... 

<deep sigh>

With all of me state leadership responsibilities, having a student teacher, taking my first MOOC and just school work in general, plus being the mother of a (now) toddler (is she really a whole year old already??)  I've gotten really (REALLY) behind.

But on with the WBT program!!!

What's the best way to include critical thinking with EVERY lesson you teach? The 5 Step Lesson Plan!  Once you've incorporated the scoreboard, and you begin practicing with class-yes and teach-okay, it's time to step up the instruction to include more WBT minds-on learning.

The 5 step lesson plan is super simple and as easy as counting to 5!

1. Ask a question

2. Answer the question

3. Expand / Elaborate / Explore / Examples

4. Assessment (QT)

5. Critical Thinking

You might be thinking, assessment before critical thinking?  Really?  That's backwards.  But, trust me, this is one of the most important components and must be followed in this order.  I'll explain in a bit.

1. Ask a question - also known as setting a purpose for the learning.  This is essential for the students to know what they should focus on during the lesson.  

2. Answer the question - stating the objective of the day.  This answers the question we just asked.  So we engaged our students with a question, and then immediately tell them the answer.  This is the critical learning that we want students to know, understand, or be able to do at the end of the lesson.  Be sure to include a gesture, or have the students create one, to solidify the learning and activate those motor neurons!

3. Expand / Elaborate / Explore / Examples - the largest segment of the lesson.  We set up examples and non-examples of the learning, building the level of thinking involved to be more and more complex.  Students work as a whole and with their partners in a constant ebb and flow of whole-class instruction and teach-okay.  Each segment taking only a few seconds to a minute before flowing back again.  Remember, the longer we talk, the more students we lose.  Therefore, keep segments of instruction as short and to the point as possible.  Instruction can be elevated using Brain Toys to add to the learning fun!  At my school, we are required to use Landmark School (from Boston, MA) strategies like 2-column notes.  So, I added the Brain Toy "Jot" to my lesson plans.  Students practice a concept, definition, or example orally and then "jot" it on their notes.

4. Assessment - this MUST come before the critical thinking at the end because this is what directs your lesson!  Formative assessment at its finest!  You give an oral  Quick Test (QT).  You can do Yes-No way for students to answer orally as a class, thumbs-up or thumbs-down for more individual assessment, pinch cards (I just use paint chips from Home Depot, Lowe's, or Sherwin Williams), or wipe-off boards if you have them.  My kids often use a piece of cardstock in a page protector, especially if I am doing a math concept and they need a number line or a clock, or in phonics if they need elkonin boxes to segment sounds or syllable boxes.  Based on this assessment you can decide if your students have mastered the ideas of the lesson or if they need more elaboration.  If they need more elaboration, provide more examples and try the QT again.  If you see that they have a proficient understanding of the lesson, move into the critical thinking.

5. Critical Thinking - requires students to apply the concepts they have learned in a critical thinking context, usually some sort of writing.  This is where triple whammy paragraphs become extremely beneficial!  Students can also draw diagrams, write 2-sentence summaries, or use the Genius Ladder, explain the concept to each other with sockless hand puppets or anti-gravity two-finger action figures, or a WBT favorite - write a letter to the aliens on Zork explaining the concept.  Again, my district is a Landmark Outreach district, and we are required to utilize their strategies.  I typically have my students use their 2-column notes which were constructed during the lesson to teach each other the lesson orally using a WBT Brain Toy and then write a 2 sentence summary of the lesson.  The biggest bang for your learning buck is incorporating several of these strategies together.

Bonus - hang the Power Pix that accompanies the essential vocabulary from the lesson!

A few resources to help you get started:

Coach B explains the 5 Step Lesson Plan in this video (#535)

These Common Core aligned 5 Step Lesson Plan PDFs, visuals included

Farrah Shipley's Video Example

This AWESOME Format from The Reflective Educator

These example lessons from yours truly on Paragraphing and Main Idea


Try it out!  Start with something quick and simple, like grammar, or spelling.  These lessons will completely change the way your kids engage in a lesson and how much they learn!  They will rock your WBT world!!

Super Improver's Team

Red/Green Writing

In WBT, writing is super important!! I know it seems like every thing we do is out load, oral repetition. BUT at some point students have to get all that knowledge on paper and compose intelligible coherent thoughts. One way to encourage this, while differentiating for your students is Red/Green writing. It's so simple it's almost silly: as you are waking around the classroom monitoring and conferring, you carry a red marker and a green market with you. (Side bar - I found single markers for sale at Office Depot during back to school! Bonus: their scented!!!)

So, anyway, you're walking around and conferring and walking and conferring. But where are the anecdotal records? Where is the visual feedback for the students? Insert markers here. Green means go. Red means stop. Use the green marker to dot anything the student does well based on his or her personal goals. (More on goals in a bit.) Use the red marker to dot a few (repeat with me: no more than two of three!!) things the students should avoid doing in the future. Like I said, so simple it's almost silly. But it's EFFECTIVE!! 

In conjunction with red/green writing, we have been practicing genius ladder sentences. Here are the results for our pumpkin writing today. My kids did all rotations and independent or partner work for the whole reading and writing block while I met with every child. Every. Single. Child. My kids were given the instructions: "Write a genius sentence about fall." (We haven't gotten to the detail adder sentences yet.)

I was IMPRESSED with my kiddos!! I hope you are too. Can you incorporate Red/Green Writing into your day?

Finally a Win!

Today is Friday and I couldn't be happier! 

I'm actually on a short weekend family trip and not at school today, but, I have some really good news to share! 

I took my schedule and Coach's idea of using a tally sheet to track the use of WBT elements. I've created a quick snapshot of my day that includes a basic overview of what I'm going to teach and check boxes for the elements I'm currently improving. This way I am accountable to myself and my students. 

I'm currently working from my phone but I'll post pictures and freebies as soon as I'm back at my computer. This efficiency has really helped keep me on task and noticing my WBT behaviors.

What strategies do you use to help yourself keep track and stay focused?

Scoreboard 2.0

If you have been following my blog at all, then you will remember that I have trouble all year remembering the Scoreboard, and it's by far one of the best aspects of WBT.  I don't know why I have so much trouble remembering it.  Maybe all those droning years of "I'm waiting for you to be quiet..." created a really really REALLY bad habit that I am STILL trying to break.  Coach B, of course, found a way to make the scoreboard even more FUN, more ENGAGING, and more AWESOME!!  He says that this upgrade will truly bring the scoreboard to life as a live video game!  Oh sweet, mama!  This, my friends, is going to be good!!

Review of Scoreboard (Chapters 11 and 14):

If you want more info you can check out my older blog posts here and here.  The Book Club Blog has some excellent ideas and strategies for chapter 11 and chapter 14.  And you can always access the original web info from the WBT site here.

Remember:

1. The reward for "winning" the scoreboard is the joy of academic learning.  Say it with me... No more treasure box! NO MORE TREASURE BOX! No stickers.  No sugar.  No trinkets.  No crap!
2. Positively reinforce desirable behaviors with smiley.  Negative reinforce unwanted behaviors with a frowny.
3. No frownies for individual misbehaviors.
4. Keep it close!  Difference of +/- 3.  

Coach B's Big New Idea:

LEVELED SCOREBOARDS THAT KIDS PROGRESS THROUGH!

There are 15 predesigned levels and a variety of wild cards that will keep the scoreboard going for the whole year, and never require you to buy any crap!

A "win" on the scoreboard is anytime the class has more smileys than frownies.

10 "wins" means students progress to the next level.

Level 1 - Basecamp.  Generic scoreboard with variations like we are already using.  Mighty Oh yeah!  Mighty groans!  Keep the kids on their toes.  In Halloween, do "Trick" when the kids get a frowny and say "Treat" when they get a smiley (thank you Krystal Long!).  Or, "trick-or-treat" when they get a smiley and "boo" when they get a frowny (thank you Southern Teacher!).  Modify to fit seasons/skills/classroom themes/etc.

Level 2 - Rulesville.  Add a "Bonus" section to the scoreboard and write a rule in it, such as rule 2.  You will continue to award points as usual, AND add smilies or frownies based on the bonus rules.  Better at rule 2! Oh yeah! Awww, too slow.  Mighty groan!  You can still incorporate ping-pongs, and psych-outs to keep it interesting.

Level 3 - Double Bonus.  Include a rule and a call back, such as Help me!  Levels 1 and 2 still apply, but you are adding to it with the double bonus.

Level 4 - No traitors! Girls vs. Boys (which the kids ALWAYS love!)  If a group has a weak response it is a score for the other team.  To earn a class win, there must be more smileys than frownies for BOTH groups.  Otherwise, it is just a girl win, or just a boy win.  You can still include bonuses at this level to keep kids working hard and engaging in the management of the classroom.

Level 5 - Victory Line.  Take level 4 and add to it that now the winning team gets to line up first.  The kids will eat it up!  I mean... eat.  it.  up.   They love this stuff!!!

Level 6 - Blue Dubs.  Occasionally use a blue marker to mark the scoreboard.  Blue lines count for double.  Levels 1-5 still apply at this level.

Level 7 - Leaders rule.  Students choose leaders for the week - students that they would like to emulate.  Teacher can sometimes pull them aside and work on leadership training, or leadership skills, to help them help the rest of the class. Leaders can change daily/weekly/monthly... your choice.

Level 8 - Time out.  The leaders from Level 7 can now call up to 1 time out per class to work with their group on how to earn more smiley points.  They are still girls vs. boys.

Levels 9 - 15 - Brainy City!  Start by adding two brainies in the bonus area.  Each week add 2 more.  You pick 1/2 and the kids pick 1/2.

Wow!  Are you as excited as I am???  I've made a background for Level 1.  I'm attaching below so you can download the freebie.  Check out Coach B's broadcast.  It's video 584.  I highly recommend it, as he goes into more details, and gives more examples.  This revamp of the scoreboard is truly going to reinvigorate my management strategies.  I am hoping that keeping this more structured, I will utilize the scoreboard more often as I should, and harness its power!  Click the picture below to download the PDF and enjoy! 

Leave a comment below... what's your favorite scoreboard level?

47 Days of..... Paper :/ #thistooshallpass

I cannot believe it has been 47 days since my last post... AHHH!!!  So much to tell you, so little time...  Alas, this has been my nightly battle:

How DO you manage all the paper as a teacher????????  I dream of a paperless world... except my eyes go all squinky looking at a screen and I like highlighters and colored pens.  They have become quite an obsession of mine since college.

Anyways....

Where are my kiddos with WBT stuff, I heard you ask.  Well... ponder no more!  This post has the answers for you.

Ready???

Do you want to know???

Do you need to know????

Can you handle it???

Ok, enough teasing and lollygagging....

My.

Kids.

Are.

drum roll.....

in exactly the same spot they were 47 days ago.... wah wah wah.....  Well, not exactly, but their progress has been less than stellar.  I haven't been posting for the same reason my kids aren't making the progress I wish they would: I am barely surviving.  

I know what you are thinking... "But wait, Super Woman doesn't have bad days??"  (I know you all refer to me as Super Woman.)  I'm not really Super Woman, and I really do have bad days.  This year has been full of a slew of them.  But, tomorrow is a new day and after hearing Coach B's reinvented Scoreboard ideas tonight, I am FIRED up to begin with Level 1: Basecamp tomorrow AND get my kids rolling in the Super Improve League competition.

I don't know about y'all, but this year started with a rocky beginning.  I am SUPER glad to be moving along, BUT I also feel like so much time is already lost.  I plan to "make it" through this week and a long weekend tending to family things, and then do a little better next week and go to Houston for a training for my school, and hopefully even better the next as I roll into my sweet angel girl's first birthday (cue the nail biting!).  After that, it's smooth sailing on the waves of fully implemented WBT!

Hold on to your hats, ladies and gents, because we are turning up the heat in third grade!!!

(And yes, I'm aware that all those "idioms" and whatnot do not necessarily go together... Hehe!)

Follow my kids on the Facebook competition.  We are Kelley's Dynamo Super Kids!

The following Hashtag fun are to amuse you and describe my last 47 days... feel free to comment your own!  :)

#papermountain   #teacherlife   #ineedapersonalassistant   #dontgetpaidtopushpaper   #papercutsarearealproblem   #toobusytoactuallyteach   #turnanewleaf   #dontsweatthesmallstuff   #dontevensweatthebigstuff   #backtobasics   #teachingismypassion   #doitforthechildren   #teachthewholebrain   #worksheetsdontgrowdendrites   #morepaperdoesnotequalmoreteaching   #gottausethatbrain   #readyforWBThardcore