Penn State York Summer Institute

Location: Penn State York Summer Institute Discussion Forum

Discussion: Chris Biffle

Category: Discussion Forum / Keynote Presentations

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juliebwise	Chris Biffle Jun 12 2011, 10:03 PM EDT How does whole brain teaching keep teacher talk to a minimum and increase student engagement? Post reply 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you? Keyword tags: chris biffle keynote presentation whole brain teaching
SlatonM	1. RE: Chris Biffle Jun 24 2011, 12:26 PM EDT I LOVE mirror, I love the rules, I LOVE THIS GUY! OH my gosh - where have these techniques been all myy teaching life. I can't wait for school to start!!!! I am changing my action plan!!!! Post reply Do you find this valuable?
JodieLauber	2. RE: Chris Biffle Jun 24 2011, 12:33 PM EDT So energetic! Just what kids like! My buddy and I came up with motions to teach our own classroom rules. I think it will be great! We also decided to use the mirror to teach morning routines, beginning- middle- and -end in writing, parts of a letter, and more! I also can see myself using "Teach-OK" but instead of saying "teach" saying "share". I also like the hands and eyes. I can't wait to learn even more! This is great! Post reply 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
peggybaum	3. RE: Chris Biffle Jun 24 2011, 12:44 PM EDT Chris Biffle's hand motions would help to keep students' attention. However, I found myself hyper focusing on his hands and not listening to his words. I don't think I could sustain these motions all day long. But they could be very helpful when introducing new information and to stir a child's memory. We use Responsive Classroom in my school. The scoreboard would not fit into a responsive classroom. It made me nervous to get negative marks. It would put some kids over the edge. Also Chris used the word "please" a lot. Using Responsive Classroom, we do not use the word "please" unless it is behavior that is above and beyond. We use direct language. "Sit down." "Walk to the door." When you use please and thank you, you are implying the child should do the behavior just for you and not for the good of the community. We also create our rules with our students so that they have ownership of the rules. It isn't my rules. They are our rules. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
CoreyBittle	4. RE: Chris Biffle Jun 24 2011, 12:52 PM EDT The scoreboard always needs to be kept at a plus or minus 3. Can not let the students feel too good or too bad or they will lose interest and power. Also, remember to start rewards small because it is a small year and there won't be anywhere to move throughout the year. And at some point you will want to increase the reward to make it feel more powerful and rewarding. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
mandywolfe	5. RE: Chris Biffle Jun 24 2011, 1:04 PM EDT "Chris Biffle's hand motions would help to keep students' attention. However, I found myself hyper focusing on his hands and not listening to his words. I don't think I could sustain these motions all day long. But they could be very helpful when introducing new information and to stir a child's memory. We use Responsive Classroom in my school. The scoreboard would not fit into a responsive classroom. It made me nervous to get negative marks. It would put some kids over the edge. Also Chris used the word "please" a lot. Using Responsive Classroom, we do not use the word "please" unless it is behavior that is above and beyond. We use direct language. "Sit down." "Walk to the door." When you use please and thank you, you are implying the child should do the behavior just for you and not for the good of the community. We also create our rules with our students so that they have ownership of the rules. It isn't my rules. They are our rules." Rule #5 Keep your dear teacher happy. This also goes against the RC theory. The students should not be learning and following directions to make the teacher happy. The students need to be active learners and follow rules because that is what students are expected to do. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
kathybschwartz	6. RE: Chris Biffle Jun 24 2011, 1:05 PM EDT As I work primarily with small groups or 1-1, classroom management is not really an issue. However, a few of these rules could be used when I am called to substitute on occasion. I do like the way Dr. Biffle gets & keeps the attention of the children. Mirroring would be good for teaching new skills. I like the fact that no child gets more than 2 white cards/day. Although this goes against Responsive Classroom, there are redemptive qualities. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
JodieLauber	7. RE: Chris Biffle Jun 24 2011, 1:07 PM EDT I like the idea of the "foster parent" as another adult in the building for a student to go to when you know they will not get things signed or taken care of by their parents. This enables the student to do his/her job, even though their parent does do their job. I can think of a few kiddos I have had in the past that this would have worked well for. Post reply 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
Almqukat	8. RE: Chris Biffle Jun 24 2011, 1:09 PM EDT I really liked the idea he briefly mentioned about the "foster parent" and if a child has a time out paper sent home that can't be signed I could easily set them up with a different adult in our school. Especially the kindergarten teacher who they all really look up to and like (also only male teacher in our school). I think I could use a few of the gestures and management methods in my first grade classroom-- but I think that some of them would be very distracting for the 1st graders in my classroom. They would be so focused on the gestures and hand movements and the silliness of them instead of listening to what I am saying. I would like to use something a little less complicated for my 1st graders. But I do appreciate his style and methods as something new. Post reply 0 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
kathybschwartz	9. RE: Chris Biffle Jun 24 2011, 1:12 PM EDT "I like the idea of the "foster parent" as another adult in the building for a student to go to when you know they will not get things signed or taken care of by their parents. This enables the student to do his/her job, even though their parent does do their job. I can think of a few kiddos I have had in the past that this would have worked well for. " Oh, YES! This is a big problem in our school. Quite often, I've had the privilege of being that "foster parent." Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Almqukat	10. RE: Chris Biffle Jun 24 2011, 1:14 PM EDT "Chris Biffle's hand motions would help to keep students' attention. However, I found myself hyper focusing on his hands and not listening to his words. I don't think I could sustain these motions all day long. But they could be very helpful when introducing new information and to stir a child's memory. We use Responsive Classroom in my school. The scoreboard would not fit into a responsive classroom. It made me nervous to get negative marks. It would put some kids over the edge. Also Chris used the word "please" a lot. Using Responsive Classroom, we do not use the word "please" unless it is behavior that is above and beyond. We use direct language. "Sit down." "Walk to the door." When you use please and thank you, you are implying the child should do the behavior just for you and not for the good of the community. We also create our rules with our students so that they have ownership of the rules. It isn't my rules. They are our rules." I've never heard this responsive class system. It was interesting to read. Do you like that?? I find that I just say "please" and "thank you" so much to model the use of it and get them to use them more often. I'd be curious if you have seen a change in your students behavior with this method. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
jarnold6	11. RE: Chris Biffle Jun 24 2011, 1:14 PM EDT Chris' presentation kept my attention and gave me some ideas that I could use with my students. I really see the benefit of the hand gestures because it helps to keep the students engaged and helps them to retain what they are learning. I have the students work with me on the expections within the group the first time we meet and we could come up with the hand gesters to reinforce these guidelines. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
carriemarvis	12. RE: Chris Biffle Jun 24 2011, 1:15 PM EDT The ping-pong idea seems like a great way to rope students in at first, but how often do they get caught up in the "competition" of the activity? Many of these concepts seem like they would be engaging at first, but some students may get too carried away with the motions, speed, etc. rather than the concept of following directions. Post reply 0 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
Almqukat	13. RE: Chris Biffle Jun 24 2011, 1:15 PM EDT "Oh, YES! This is a big problem in our school. Quite often, I've had the privilege of being that "foster parent." " I agree with this too! I love this idea! Post reply Do you find this valuable?
peggybaum	14. RE: Chris Biffle Jun 24 2011, 1:19 PM EDT "Rule #5 Keep your dear teacher happy. This also goes against the RC theory. The students should not be learning and following directions to make the teacher happy. The students need to be active learners and follow rules because that is what students are expected to do." Absolutely, one of the main components of RC is creating a community. The teacher is just person in a larger community. She or he is not the queen or king of the classroom. The teacher vs. student scoreboard does not create community. Post reply 0 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
KortniLovelace	15. RE: Chris Biffle Jun 24 2011, 1:22 PM EDT "How does whole brain teaching keep teacher talk to a minimum and increase student engagement?" This is my first time hearing Chris talk. This year I heard a teacher down the hall saying "Class Class" and her students responding. I thouht it was just another form of a quiet signal. When I found out it was a whole style of teaching I got excited and am glad to have had the opportunity to hear Chris present. I can't wait to take some of Chris's ideas back to my classroom this coming year. I'm definitley going to adopt the 1 second celebration, 10 finger woo, it's cool, and foster parent ideas. I'm sure I'll come up with more as he continues but those are my favorites for now! Post reply 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
heatherjansen	16. RE: Chris Biffle Jun 24 2011, 1:24 PM EDT I would be concerned about hearing impaired children in my classroom getting confused from all of these gestures due to the fact that they might not match the sign language that they need to communicate and help them learn. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
peggybaum	17. RE: Chris Biffle Jun 24 2011, 1:26 PM EDT "I've never heard this responsive class system. It was interesting to read. Do you like that?? I find that I just say "please" and "thank you" so much to model the use of it and get them to use them more often. I'd be curious if you have seen a change in your students behavior with this method. " I have been teaching for 33 years. Responsive Classroom is the best philosophy I have ever learned. I am committed to it. Go to responsive classroom.org. Read "Teaching Children to Care" to get started. Then read "The First Six Weeks." The Northeast Foundation offers week long trainings in the summer. You can get 3 credits for the training. Good luck. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
KellyPeat	18. RE: Chris Biffle Jun 24 2011, 1:28 PM EDT I definitely likes parts of Chris Biffle's approach. I think the whole class celebrations like the 10-Finger Whooo and the 1-second party would be awesome to use these within the classroom. I also like the idea of using a "foster parent" for students who do not have the parent support at home. I wonder do the movements/actions ever get in the way of comprehension of directions? I could see students paying more attention to mimicking the movements than listening to the instructions. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
KortniLovelace	19. RE: Chris Biffle Jun 24 2011, 1:30 PM EDT "I've never heard this responsive class system. It was interesting to read. Do you like that?? I find that I just say "please" and "thank you" so much to model the use of it and get them to use them more often. I'd be curious if you have seen a change in your students behavior with this method. " I also use RC in the classroom. It's not a district incentive but I fell in love with it during my student teaching and am a big beliver in its philosophy and techniques! I've gone on to get myself trained in RC1 and am looking forward to RC2 in the future! I'm working hard to get it to become a district incentive. Post reply Do you find this valuable?