Whole Brain Teaching: Kindergarten (Expanded!)

[atill91]

Absolutely no higher order thinking going on. These kids don't even seem to know what fun is. What exactly is being taught here besides how to follow orders?

[beerguy1320]

Liked most everything I saw, except it felt too hurried and artificial. Repetition is great, although it felt like a cover-up for lack of engagement. Guess I forget these ARE 5-6 year olds. Not much attention span there.

[cmikrich]

this is not brainwashing or hypnosis, it is a comprehensive approach to the education of kindergarten age students. there is a lot of science and psychology at work here. being a kindergarten teacher is a complicated, demanding and thankless job, and they are literally preparing our children for the challenges they will face as far away as high school and college. shame on you who scoff at the importance of quality early education.

[ddsharper]

Always back to African culture. Where it all started is where it's all ending.

[Peace0MamaCas]

This looks almost exactly like my kid's tae kwon do class (except obviously they are learning something different). All the gesturing, answer and response. They love it, they learn better this way at that age. I thought it was going to be too much for him, but structured like this, he can handle it just fine. So much answer and response sounds horrible to us grown ups, but it shoves a ton of repetition into a short amount of time.

[sanibelisland2006]

Children need structure and I'm sure they have time to be creative also. Some of the people that posted comments have obviously never been a teacher. Great teaching!!

[steveomico12]

brainwashed students

[crossoverkid12]

These children are smart.

[Cschive]

Prepare for 12 years of being a classy parrot 

[pixie1310]

I would not want to be in this class...doesn't look fun at all. are this kids so out of control they can't have fun? I mean come on, a phone?? to hear yourself whisper?! crazy!

[Anumi24]

I really don't think I was this cooperative in kindergarten. :I

[denovo62]

What a beautiful and inspirational display of natural human brilliance and healthy human interaction at work here! I love kindergarten classrooms, as ones I've seen I have been impressed by their well-orderliness and burst of creative color and educational symbols everywhere (like the learning wall in the background), but this is indeed the most inspirational kindergarten class I've ever seen.

[ssheena22]

That alphabet song is wonderful. Im student teaching a kindergarten class now and Im looking for engaging activities. Great video

[krissi772]

I'm in awe. LOVE THIS! I'm teaching an unusually rowdy group, and they would love this! I bet her test scores are awesome as well. Spending my rainy Labor Day absorbing as much "Whole Brain" as I can!

[Coolguyus123]

hypnotized children



[denovo62]

@Coolguyus123 I don't think the children are hypnotized here, as you can see the teacher is gentle and affirming, not coercive, controlling or manipulating. There is indeed order here, but it is natural and although there's obvious choreography having taken place previously, and recitation of "rules," they are of basic, respectful ethics, and the spirit of the children is lifted up, naturally engaged with creative, interacting song and movement, and is just plain wholesome and healthy.

[denovo62]

@Coolguyus123 Where real hypnotizing comes in is in popular media, don't ya think? Television programming that appeals to the popular culture mentality only, w/t hardly an inkling of the awareness for character development, or educating of the mind of higher ideals and inspirations, concern for truth or influence, with a plastering of sophisticated marketing & commercials that are designed to transfix, addict, and program people, esp our young ones, to be good consumers and nothing more.....

[denovo62]

@Coolguyus123 Add to that the effect of conventional teaching methods that are rote & uninspired, that strip the average imagination of real world wonder & natural curiosity for the way things work, the desire to explore & discover life out for oneself, with the added help of the accumulation of all the knowledge & wisdom that has come before it. Or all the other forms of convention in our society that operate at the unconscious level that have destroyed natural human spontaneous order for....

[ddsharper]

@Coolguyus123 hypnotized and indoctrinated. getting them ready for the NWO!!

[Lilian45438]

What music did you use for the alphafriend's chant?

[ksfbarbosa]

does anyoNE know what or how she uses the high frequency words behind her between the calendar and scoreboard? ,I, see, my, here, etc

[blanknot]

Wouldn't this style of teaching put a damper on creativity, present and future?

[denovo62]

@blanknot Don't you think that conventional teaching is what puts a damper on creativity? I mean, wouldn't our test scores, school drop outs & basic math, reading and writing skills here in America attest to how uncreative, unimaginative and ineffective traditional methods are? Order is not a bad thing. Something like this could easily be manipulated, but what is being done here is that natural, inspired order is laying a healthy foundation for a spring board of creativity for future building.

[snootylittlecutie]

i'm such a dork. i was doing the stuff the kids were doing. this is so engaging.

[ElenoreiGiroux]

We really enjoy making use of mp3bat (just google it) for muzziic. They have all the tuunes I could ever wish for!

[cmdgolden]

These children are trained well... what is the best way to teach this initially to a group who has never done this?

[cmdgolden]

These children are trained well... what is the best way to teach this initially to a group who has never done this?

[ObamaSucks12345]

fap fap fap this is good stuff

[lee4d17]

I absolutely LOVE this! You are fantastic!!!! Definitely a classroom I'd love to be in, I am taking this with me in the beginning of my next school year. I teach Pre-K and we need as much structure as possible, this is perfect. I hope to teach Kindergarten soon, and this is how I picture my classroom! Thanks!!!

[destroymyEpets]

LOL

[sexymarshmellowbunny]

Wow! That's great classroom management!

[gildedintention]

Still cute though. 

[gildedintention]

future zombies being trained for society, god i hate highschool

[CinemaGaming]

@gildedintention

yeeai men i agrE scool iz 4 foolz!!!

[HunterPlumb]

This is a great classroom management technique. All the students are engaged and they get a reward if all students participate equally. I loved the song the kids sang and danced to the alphabet. I will use this in my future classroom.

[JackHartmann]

I like what I see.

[Larouge07]

That was amazing.

[wallydolly1]

Very good, i will try this when i start teaching.

[Somethingproductable]

If only my high school was so cooperative. Ugh... I wanna be in kindergarten.

[grommitts]

whats the name of the song on 2:12? she uses to teach the alphabet

[elissaneal1]

@grommitts

It's Who Let the Letters Out by Dr. Jean

[meganiu182]

@elissaneal1 CoOool Many Thanks.......!!! :D

[grommitts]

woooowwww....... love it.....!!!! excellent....!!!! i will try to apply it in my english classs

[wallydolly1]

I really love her technique! i will try these methods when i become a kinder garten teacher.

[BrightCenter]

Excellent teaching method Thanks for uploading this video I like it very much

[girasoljhslovesme]

This is wonderful! I am about to start a new school year with four year olds. This gave me great fun ideas for group control. THANK YOU!!

[NCWBTeacher]

@MichaelMoify part 3

I just did this a couple of hours ago with my own first grader as she finished some of her summer reading. Using this method she was able to correcly sound out and then read words such as dinosaur, toothbrush and backpack with no trouble.

You seem determined to nitpick every detail, but not to recognize that some teachers are able to use the techniques successfully in ways that you do not yet apparently understand.

I will be glad to answer any questions you have.

[NCWBTeacher]

@MichaelMoify Part 2

For instance a beginning reader is often taught to enunciate a word as they read it, exagerating the phonetic components. For example, pronouncing "dog" as it is read as "duh-ow-guh...dog"

This techniques helps the young reader follow along without losing the thread of the word. Once the word is said in this way they can go back and pronounce the word with no problem in a normal fashion. I know this works well.

[NCWBTeacher]

@MichaelMoify

Actually, they are not. In the first place, overexagerated pronunciation is a common and effective way for students to remember and associate sounds. In the second, much of what you are objecting to is likely due to colloquialism for these students, Southern Californians with a wide mixture of dialectic differences.

The "Duh" sound to represent the hard "D" pronunciation is not incorrect.

A common approach in phonetic reading is this same slight exageration of each letter.

[MrFrankZamarripa]

This is great!

[cyberswaggie]

@RaoYiLan My experience of my extremely independent and capable year ones has been somewhat frustrating as their efforts have been, usually, focussed in a contest against each other. They cannot organise a classroom. I watched and waited but no surprise, it wasnt happening. My professional responsibility is to focus their capacities and join them into a cohesive learning team. My first experiences with these techniques are promising and fruitful.

[florecita123]

how can I get the abc song I really liked it :)

[NCWBTeacher]

@RaoYiLan videos

Not really a defense, just an explaination. The videos are not intended to advertise the program, and never have been. The videos are intended for teachers to be able to see short examples of what applications of speciifc techniques look like in the classroom.

These are videos by teachers for teachers with a specific purpose, not some sort of advertising campaign. I have explained this, to you directly as it happens, before.

[NCWBTeacher]

@RaoYiLan Rehearsing

This is not what most of the day looks like for these kids. Rehearsing the rules takes less than two minutes. Please do not speak as though you are an authority on this. I have offered to answer your questions, but you seem more interested in criticizing rather than in actually learning how the system works.

If you actually want to know how it works, try actually asking question rather than simply throwng stones without knowing whereof you speak.

[NCWBTeacher]

@BrandilineMelt

Remember that this is a really short segment of one class. The repetition is far from all there is to this.

[ghestshonne]

nice ..i like the kids and the teacher!

[HannahTeaches]

Thank-You for sharing this with us!

[NCWBTeacher]

@RaoYiLan cont'd- a question.

How do you propose that students reach any level of critical thinking without first memorizing the basic information that defines the subject your want them to think critically about? Repitition and memorization are the first steps in learning, critical thinking is the desired end goal.

[NCWBTeacher]

@RaoYiLan cont'd

Yes, limited base of information. Have you read even one of the 27 ebooks WBT provides for teachers for free that explain how to apply all of this?

The videos do what they are supposed to. Teachers are know how to elicit questions from their kids. Again the videos are intended as a visual guide for applying one technique or a set of techniques- not a hand holding how to on conducting an everyday class. The teachers, our audience, know how to do that.

[NCWBTeacher]

@RaoYiLan cont'd

The next day they re-teach the definitions to each other, and we connect the entire set of definitions into a single concept, which solidifies their basic understanding. A bit after that I will have them take turns teaching their partner with Teach-OK, and then writing in their own words why organic evolution could not happen without variation. This incorporates evaluation, analysis, and synthesis. They could not reach the higher order skills without the memorization first.

[NCWBTeacher]

@RaoYiLan

I already answered that earlier, but I think on another post. The memorization is not, in and of itself, critical thinking. It is the necessary groundwork for it. For example, in my class I will use Tach-OK to teach the kids definitions for species, variation, natural selection and organic evolution on one day, and they take notes after that. They teach their partners, and right away ask questions for clarification for anything they did not understand.

[NCWBTeacher]

@RaoYiLan Authoritarian and repetitive.

Ummm...no! You still are making completely erroneous assumptions about the nature and operation of a WBT classroom based on an extremely limited base of information.

In my classes the kids know that most of the time I am the coach, and they are the actual teachers, teaching their partners. Once the students are comfortable with procedures they begin to take on greater and greater teaching roles in the class, including determing how information is given.

[NCWBTeacher]

@RaoYiLan - Asking questions

Student ask questions constantly. In fact the Teach-Ok usually provokes questions from students, and often from students who do not ask questions in their other regular classes.

WBT encourages questions, and critical thinking on the part of the students.

[NCWBTeacher]

@RaoYiLan cont'd some more

If people are concerned by what they see they should be willing to do what you have begun to do- ask questions of teachers who use the method instead of making erroneous assumptions based on short segments of narrowly focused videos. The real intent of the videos is to make people aware, get them to use the free ebooks, and then come back and view the videos again, the next time knowing what they are looking for.

[NCWBTeacher]

@RaoYiLan cont'd

Actually, I think the idea that many people are horrified by the videos is a misconception. In fact, a majority of viewers see the utility of the method. Admittedly some are concerned by what they see. This is a result of the short video length allowed here, and the purpose of the videos. The videos are intended only to show short class segments as practical demonstration of how to begin applying the methods, but leave a lot of what actually happens in class out.

[NCWBTeacher]

@RaoYiLan

I teach in a public middle school. My kids cover a wide range of abilities from LD, ADD, high functioning autistic, regular ed, up to gifted. Every year the Exceptional Children department send the mainstreamed kids through my class.

The school is in a rural, low income area. You are welcome to use my comments on your blog. If you would like I can post comments to answer some questions there.

[NCWBTeacher]

@RaoYiLan On behavior

I teach 8th grade so there are behavior issues because of their developmental level. However, WBT classroom management techniques minimize embarassment, and feelings of being singled out, excepting in the case of success in the class. We celebrate success, and the method particularly looks to show the kids that there is nothing wrong with not knowing an answer. We take the sting out of being wrong, and everyone acknowledges when you are successful.

[NCWBTeacher]

@RaoYiLan cont'd

My class is considered harder than other science classes because of the amount of critical thinking, and demonstration required. I get comments from my students like this past year. A really sweet young lady who was a hard worker, but not a gifted learner told me that, for the first time, she actually understood science and what it was for. She said she had never understood it before and had always done poorly. According to her, WBT was what made the difference

[NCWBTeacher]

@RaoYiLan

Unfortunately, my kids are not in WBT classrooms. The movement is only now beginning to expand to the SouthEast. I would love it if they were. I am absolutely certain of the good effects.

The parents of my students are fully aware of the teaching methods I use. I send home a newsletter, and demonstrate the methods on parent nights. They are very happy with it. The typical comments from parents and kids is that mine is the only class that is not boring.

[NCWBTeacher]

@RaoYiLan

I read your post on your blogspot blog. It mainly consisted of snide comments and character assassination rather than cogent questions on how the method works. Are you actually interested in learning the answers to your suppositions or are you only interested in the bashing part. If it is the former, I would be happy to analyze and answer your questions.

[AntoinetteAcosta]

Awesome. Thanks for this! I'll remember to make more body gestures to make the lesson more exciting and enlightened.

[Parlante4ever]

I had the privilege of meeting Andrea at the National Whole Brain Teaching Conference this week. She is so charismatic and ready to help the rest of us. I have never enjoyed teaching like I did last year using WBT for the first time. The children love it and it is so positive. Having fun learning involves the emotional part of the brain and helps put things into long term memory faster. The gestures help the many motor learners. Class/yes and Teach/OK are ingenius!

[ShahCharlesShariff]

nice lesson and effective for sure...

[FOXchannel13]

I wanna be in kindergarten again DX...My high school feels like jail sometimes T.T....

[txgirla]

I taught Kinder for 15 years. Always amazed me that you have to have all those extra hours to teach KG but no extra pay. These teachers should make more than other teachers. Its SO hard & constant. No down time here!

[halpey1]

I've tried some of these techniques with my own class and they're awesome... I'm writing about it on my blog, but I can't post the link here due to YouTube restrictions. Click on my name for the link though. :)

[brwnhoney]

wow never seen nething like this! pretty amazing!

[SerenityDarling1]

That phone idea is brilliant

Very informative video and just plain cute

:) I can't wait until I'm in my own class

[Moviestar20]

I soo wish I was in kindergarten!!

My Highschool sucks

[heatherkanning]

Does anyone have some examples of daily and weekly rewards for kinder?

[44andstrong]

I want to get the music so I can use this in my kindergarten class. Does anyone know what it's called?

[preciousme488]

This is on a CD by Dr. Jean, google her, this song is called "Who let the letters out".

[mhd76]

Thanks! I was just wondering. :)

[anagooj]

nice video I love it!

Can you please tell me what the teacher and the students are saying after the song? It's not clear :(

[TheMags77]

After the truck driver cheer, they do HANDS and EYES--this is when all attention is focused on the teacher. Hands folded in lap, eyes focused on teacher.

I went to the Power Teaching Seminar recently and it was wonderful!!!

[yalilybrazon]

Wow this video is going to my Favorites for sure. Great stuff, great class!

[ColonelMarksman]

That letter-sound teaching method is ingenious!

[SuperSimpleSongs]

Fascinating! Great stuff.

[mediatapwater]

i like the part when the kids take turn to teach each other.

[mediatapwater]

this phonics song is awesome!

[nananmami]

Did the students say "Hands and eyes?"

[mommajomma1]

wow!! I'm teaching first grade inclusion this year and I will definitely try some of your techniques. This is fabulous!

[pinhod66]

this is so great. im going to be starting kindergarten next year and will be looking into this

[TishaMoon]

Wow, that was great! I'm definitely going to check out more about this at your website.

[tbed63]

Power teaching is POWERFUL!! I'm so glad you guys post videos on YouTube. Because of that, my students have learned more and enjoyed themselves in the process! Thank you!

[jennybateacher]

This is a fantastic method for classroom management as well as pedagogy. The 30 second micro lessons have made a huge difference for my students learning.