Whole Brain TeachingKatie DeFazio

&Ashley Kelly

Origin of WBT• Began in 1999 by three

teachers from California: Chris Biffle, Jay Vanderfin, and Chris Rekstad

• Claim to be one of the fastest growing, education reform movements in America

• Goal: Create peaceful classrooms full of orderly fun

What is WBT?• Class Rules

• Management System

• Engaging teaching methods

Class Rules1. Follow directions quickly2. Raise your hand for

permission to speak3. Raise your hand for

permission to leave your seat

4. Make smart choices5. Keep your dear teacher

happy

Classroom Management• Levels

– The Scoreboard– Practice Cards– Guff Counter– Independents– Bull’s Eye Game– The Agreement

Bridge

Engaging Teaching Methods

• Class – Yes• Teach – OK• Hands and eyes• Mirror• Switch

Benefits of WBT• Active engagement

and learning• Elaborative rehearsal• Simultaneous

multisensory learning• Create pathways to

long-term storage

Concerns About WBT• Is it just a fad?

• Not research based

• Misleading claims– Brain claims– Effective problem solving strategies?

What should you be aware of?

• Little to no research to support effectiveness

• Pre-teaching required • A potential for robot-like students • Surface level vs. deep learning• Neuromyths

– Left vs. Right Brain Learning– Using all 4 hemispheres

Analytical

Organized Emotional

Creative

Our Recommendations• WBT provides an effective framework

– Teaching aids– Classroom exercises– Classroom rules and structure– Engaging learning opportunities for students

• Success alongside supplemental strategies• Interested? Do your research.

You are a professional. Do what you know is best practice for your students.

Resources• Biffle, C. (2013). Whole brain teaching for challenging kids. Lucinda Geist.

Retrieved from http://www.sammt.org/cms/lib03/MT15000278/Centricity/Domain/56/WholeBrain_Biffle.pdf

• Biffle, C. (2013). Whole brain teachers of america. Retrieved from http://www.wholebrainteaching.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=135&Itemid=105

• Bonnema, T. (2009). Enhancing student learning with brain-based research. • Cassidy, D. J. (n.d.). A brief introduction to "whole-brain" teaching and learning.

(Master's thesis, UMUC)Retrieved from http://peoplelearn.homestead.com/MEdHOME2/Leadership/Cassidy_Whole-Brain_Presentation.pdf

• Connell, D. (2013). Left brain vs right brain in the classroom. Scholastic, Retrieved from http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/left-brainright-brain

• Fishel, J. (2011). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://jessiefishel.weebly.com/whole-brain-teaching-research.html

• Forsythe, J. (2013, April 6). How effective is 'whole brain teaching'?. Retrieved from http://www.bnd.com/2013/04/06/2566812/how-effective-is-whole-brain-teaching.html

Resources Continued

• Freundlichteaching. (Performer) (2010). Whole brain teaching: Grade 1 classroom [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaweXw03kQI

• Medina, J. (2008). Brain Rules: 9 Sensory Integration. (1st ed., pp. 199-218). Seattle, WA: Pear Press.

• Lepper, L. (2011, April 30). Three basic techniques in whole brain teaching. Retrieved from http://www.ajarn.com/blogs/lee-lepper/three-basic-techniques-in-whole-brain-teaching/

• Smith, C. V., & Cardaciotto, L. (2011). Is active learning like broccoli? student perceptions of active learning in large lecture classes. Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 11(1), 53-61. Retrieved from www.iupui.edu/~josotl

• Stephanie. (2012, July 19). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.3rdgradethoughts.com/2012/07/getting-started-with-whole-brain.html

• Wolfe, P. (2010). Brain Matters. (2nd ed., pp.149-151). Arlington, VA: ASCD.