Super Speed Math

This week I tried implemented Super Speed Math. Sometimes middle school can be a mixed bag of attitudes. Most of the students really liked the competition and the organized chaos. I had one that really didn't like it, but I'm working on him/her! When I first looked at Super Speed Math it seemed too easy to start addition with middle schoolers. I did anyway and gave them sixty seconds expecting them to all be finished. They weren't. This worked out well because it allowed me to be more faithful to the technique. I first paired two students that were finished early with a prior assignment. I asked them to be my experts. They only finished two columns in sixty seconds. We tried ninety and that was a better match. I then did the class/yes and papers. I told the students that the two students were going to show them how we were going to practice some basic math facts. The modeling students were smiling and did very well. They shared feedback and answered questions from students. They were perfect models! The best part is that they showed how enjoyable the activity was. I used a time and started everyone at once. It's such a positive way to end our class, especially if the lesson was complex; it gives them confidence to be "good" at something in math.

Webinar for 5/8
Many technical difficulties, but there was a variety of mutual support, and about fifty of us signed on. Mr. Biffle did a review of all the "Brain Tools." I do advise to watch the videos on http://www.teachertube.com/ (search for Chris Biffle) and watch the videos first to get the most out of the webinars. This way you can type questions that will be most helpful to you. You can watch any of the previously aired webinars on http://www.wholebrainteaching.com/ I am "Walkere" in the instant messages. I am also looking for favorite video postings of teachers using the Whole Brain Teaching teachniques in their classrooms. Please let me know if you find something great. To download Super Speed Math go to http://www.wholebrainteaching.com/ and click on the top where it says "Free Ebooks" It's about 40 pages, but you can just print off the math tests/answers that you need and read the rest. To increase reading fluency, try Super Speed 100 or 1000 also under Free Ebooks.

If I had to give one reason to try WBT, it would be to keep a classroom environment that is positive and a happy place for learning for all.