Step%1%

Attention%%%%%%%%%%%
Getter%
Step%4%%
Scoreboard%

Step%2%%
The%Five%
Rules%

Step%5%
Hand%and%
Eyes%

Step%3%%
Teacher,
!
OK%

Step%6%
Mirror%

Step%7%
Switch%

What? Whole brain teaching is a new

"radical" idea to some, however it is nothing more
than tried and true teaching practices, combined into a new approach. Whole brain
teaching combines direct instruction, sharing, and immediate feedback to become a
new style of teaching. Whole brain teaching includes seven steps that a teacher
incorporates into their everyday classroom.!

Why?

Whole brain teaching is considered a best practice, because this method of

teaching seeks to empower students as learners. It allows students to be more
knowledgeable through lectures and activities to enhance learning. However, whole
brain teaching attempts to break away from this norm and allow students to become the
"more knowledgeable ones" in control of teaching, while also taking attention away
from tests and focusing on daily activities.

Attention Grabber

The Five Rules

Teacher!says!class!in!any!
way!he/she!likes!
and!in!turn!the!class!is!
responsible!for!!
mimicking!the!teachers!voice.!!
EXAMPLE:!Teacher!Class,!
class,!classy!class!!
then!student!must!repeat!the!
same!way.!
!

1.!Follow!directions!quickly!
2.!Raise!your!hand!for!
permission!to!speak!
3.!Raise!your!hand!to!leave!
your!seat!
4.!Make!smart!CHOICES!!
5.!Keep!your!dear!teacher!
happy!!
!

Scoreboard
K-4 aged, students receive
smileys or frownys in return for
procedures performed well or
procedures performed
badly. The main motivator is
the reward.
Smiley="One second party!"
Frowny="Mighty groan!"
!

Hands and Eyes

The teacher must divide the class into

two groups, 1's and 2's the teacher in
each pair will rotate each time. Then
the teacher begins to teach small
sections of information, while
incorporating gestures, songs,
movements and chants. When the
teacher has finished a small portion of
information he/she says to the class
"Teach" and the class responds
"OK!" In turn the students turn to
teach each other, mimicking the
"lesson" taught by the teacher.

Used at any point during the

lesson when you want students to
pay "extra attention" to what you
are saying/doing. To begin this
process the teacher says, "Hands
and Eyes!" and the students
respond by mimicking the words
and movements of the teacher.!

Mirror
This is the main part of the lesson
where teachers are expected to
contribute their own "silliness"
and movements into the
lesson. Teachers will incorporate
their own gestures, songs or chants
in this portion of the lesson and
the students are expected to
"mirror" the teacher after the
teacher says "Teach" and the class
responds "OK."
!

Teacher-OK

!
!

Switch: Used with the "Teach-

OK" step, while students are

teaching it is imperative that the
same student not teacher every
time. Therefore, in order to get
every student involved in the
lesson, the teacher will direct the
students to "Switch!," the students
will respond by saying "switch"
and the "teacher" of the group will
rotate.
!

References!
Biffle, C. (2014). Whole Brain Learning.
Retrieved November 17, 2014, from
http://www.wholebrainteaching.com/index.php?option=com_aicontactsafe&view=message&layout=message&pf=1
&Itemid=139!
Tipton, A. (n.d.). Whole Brain Teaching. Retrieved November 17, 2014, from
http://ashleytipton.weebly.com/index.html

Jordan!Spitler