Whole Brain Teaching

The following are five classroom rules that will make your life amazingly easier. One of them is nuclear power in your hands!

If rules are only posted on your board they are not really a part of your class. You must have the rules running around in your students’ heads for them to be effective. It will also help you still extra talking in the class. Look for that as you read.

Teach them as follows:

Rule One: Follow directions quickly! (the gesture- make your hand shoot forward like a fish)

Rule Two: Raise your hand for permission to speak (the gesture- raise your hand, then pull it down next to your head and make a talking motion. This rule will be the most commonly violated one. Watch below for how you stop this without criticism or negativity.)

Rule Three: Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat. (the gesture- raise your and, and then make a little walking figure with your index and middle finger.)

Rule Four: Make smart choices! (the gesture- tap one finger to your temple as you say each word.

Rule Five: Keep your dear teacher happy! (the gesture- hold up each thumb and index finger out like an “L” frame your face, bob your head back and forth with each word and smile really big!)

Each time you teach a rule repeat the rule before it, and then the new rule again. Ask me about Teach-OK and Switch! To see how you should have the kids teach each other- this and anything else in your class.

Rule Two will be the most commonly violated, duh. You do not have to call anyone down, you do not have to mention names. If you are addressing the class and some kids are talking you stop, hold up two fingers and loudly say “RULE TWO!”

Every kids in your class should repeat rule two out loud with gestures. It signals the violators to focus and not talk without you needing to call them down or cede them any power.

Rule Five is nuclear power. Think about it- keep your dear teacher happy. THERE IS NO OUT! No student can convince you that they are making your happy. You are the worlds’ soul authority on what makes you happy. If they try to convince you they are making you happy you can tell them that does not make you happy.

If a kid complains that they don’t know how to make you happy you can tell them that following the first four rules will make you happy.

With rule five there is no out.

If parents ask why their child should worry about making you happy you respond that you have the responsibility to teach their child and every other child in that class. The happier you are the better you can do your job to educate those kids.