Feedback

        Providing students with feedback regarding their classroom behavior has been such a rewarding experience. I decided to collect data on four different criteria and observe students biweekly.  To collect this data can be a bit time consuming especially when you are also focusing on teaching and utilizing WBT strategies, but then again, as B said in her previous post about feedback,  "there are not shortcuts to being an excellent teacher!"(Thanks Coach Biffle) B and I both provide students with feedback and in collaborating with B and sharing our data we realized that just a few students were “not making smart choice.”   We meet with these students and talk about what this looks like. The Guff counter has been a great way to keep students on track as well!

In the middle of December I provided students with a feedback form that I stapled to a progress report. Students often focus on their assessment scores and final grades that they see on progress reports and report cards, so when they received a progress report with a stapled copy of the percentage of times they raised their hand for permission to speak, followed directions, stayed on task and completed assignments they were surprised and grateful.  I could see the switch go off for many of my students that their grades are not just a number on a quiz but are a reflection of their classroom engagement, participation and behavior.  Below is a copy of the feedback form attached to a progress report. 

K

Guff

We started the Guff counter before Thanksgiving and lets just say we had some serious fun practicing!! There are some kids that really don't have an ounce of Guff in them.


Scoreboard Reward

 At the beginning of the year, we didn't really think we were going to ever need the Guff counter.  Well, as time went by, and students got more comfortable, it became apparent that it would be a useful tool to manage our extra, extra dynamic students.  We have had only a couple of Guff points on the scoreboard, and it didn't take long for students to see what a Guff point could do to the scoreboard at the end of the week; teacher winner, winner...chicken dinner!  By the way, substitute complaints count as Guff.

The Guff counter has also highlighted how invested the kids are in scoreboard.  Since implementing Guff,  when I redirect behavior I can "see" the kids thinking about a response to defend themselves but end up keeping it to themselves.  On the couple of occasions where I have said, "That sounds like Guff to me.  Where is my marker?" and the kids respond with "Please, stop!" the whole room goes so quiet you can hear a pin drop.  It is unbelievable.   Watching it in action also helps to support the timing of implementation.  Like Whole Brain says, it increases the challenge of scoreboard and wouldn't work if used too early in the year.  The kids are doing a great job earning their reward and know our routines are not just for show.  We mean business.  Their respect for our classroom rules and routines has been outstanding.  We are so proud of them.

Also, we had our first student reach Leader on the Super Improvers board. The kids were so impressed by this student because it isn't someone they would expect, but they knew she had earned it.  All students are still counting their stars when they come into class and are motivated by the collection of stars of their peers. Falling too far behind their peers also puts a little fire under them as well.  In the new year, we are going to establish new goals for the 2nd of half of term 2 and term 3.  I wonder what they will be working on during our final term?  We are convinced that Living Legends will emerge!!

Structure and Function of Cells

Yesterday, we started our unit on cells.  The essential question for the unit is, How does the structure and function of cells make life possible?  Today was our second day of instruction.  We used lots of whole brain strategies to set the stage for the daily task.  Watching the video, I am psyched about the level of student engagement.  I recognize a couple of places I could have included a switch and scoreboard.  I'll have to make up for that tomorrow!  Sometimes the students are so on task and performing better than I hope, I overlook opportunities to reward them.