Mirrors are a great way to foster 100% student engagement! I am still a rookie at this but I am improving. The rookie level is when the teacher says "Mirror words" and lift your hands and gesture as you speak. The students respond by following the teacher's gestures and repeating the teacher's words. The teacher needs to speak slowly and in small chucks so that the students can repeat the words and gestures. The mastery challenge for this level is to use mirror words as least 10 times per day. Teachers can vary mirror words by speaking slowly or quickly, in a loud or quiet voice. Coach B. has some new ideas for mirrors including tiny mirrors, rabbit fast mirrors and turtle slow mirrors.
Another new thing is echo mirror leaders. The teacher will pick several kids to be echo leaders and then when a teacher uses mirror words, the whole class repeats mirror words and then the teacher puts her hand to her ear and the echo leader repeats it like an echo.
The next level for teachers is the pro level. On this level, the teacher says "Silent mirrors! ummm" and putting her finger to her lips. Students mirror the gestures but not the words. The mastery challenge is for a teacher to alternate mirror words and silent mirrors 10 times per day. One variation is mirror volunteers - anyone who wants to can stand and demonstrate great mirrors with big gestures.
Of course, we all have the all star level for teachers! The teacher says "Magic Mirror!" and puts her hands behind her back. The students say "Magic mirrors - OOHH!!" and lift their hands and wiggle their fingers. Students say your words and create their own gestures. The mastery challenge is to use all three levels at least 20 times per day. Coach B. recommends keeping a tally chart to keep track of how many times you do each one. Here is the Whole Brain Teaching website to learn about mirrors and other techniques. The webcast on mirrors is webcast 582 - 100% student engagement! Another step closer to teaching heaven.
I still need more work on mirrors! How do you engage your class when you are teaching?
I believe that it is so important to be able to get your class' attention quickly as possible so that the learning does not stop. Whole Brain Teaching has taught me easy ways to get my students' attention and to have a variety of strategies so that I can change them as needed.
Coach B. starts with the rookie attention getters. I was definitely a rookie when I started this last school year. As a rookie, the teacher says "Class" and the students respond "Yes" and quickly fold their hands and look at the teacher. The teacher can say "Class" in a variety of ways, for example, if a teacher says "Classity-class-class" and the students respond with "Yesity-yes-yes" and quickly fold their hands. Some additional variations included in this webcast are: talking like a mouse, a ninja and a cowboy. As a rookie, teachers should be doing Class-Yes at least 20 times per day and tracking it on a tally sheet.
Coach B. also stresses practicing the class - yes using the wrong way and right way. A fun way to practice the attention - getters is to have students model and practice doing it the wrong way and then the right way.
The next level is the Pro Level! I love Class-Boom! When I say "Class-Boom!", the students respond with "Yes-Boom!" and fold their hands quickly. Use this at least 10 times per day and mark on a tally sheet. Class-Boom is a great change of pace and keeps the students interested and engaged. Something new with the master class is the pick some class leaders to be echo leaders. It goes like this: the teacher says "Class-class-class" and the students respond "YES-yes-yes". Next the teacher puts her hand to her ear and the echo leaders says "Yes-yes-yes."
Finally, we have the pro level. At this level, instead of calling out class, the teacher calls out "3 + 4" or some other piece of core knowledge and the students answer with "7" and quickly fold their hands. This is a great way of not only getting attention but also reviews knowledge while you are doing it. A little piece of teacher heaven!!! Coach B. suggests using all 3 equally, at least 20 times per day and keeping track on a tally sheet.
Attention getters were one of the first things that I implemented on my WBT journey and it has proven to be a great way to get students' attention - so much better that what I did before WBT. You can find the webcast here at: Master class 2.0 Attention Getters.
What are some ways that you get your students attention?
