Data Binders

I m so excited about how well my Data Binders did last year!!!  The kids absolutely LOVED their DB's. As I get ready for another school year, I thought I would share a little on how I set them up. How we use them and a few tips on making them practical in a busy classroom.

This will be my third year fully using Data Binders with my students.  Each year I get a little bolder with how I collect data with my little ones.  This past year we had "Data Day"  which was usually on Friday during our intervention time (data collection and self monitoring are all a valuable part of the intervention process).  During this time, we would complete our data charts, add work samples to the binders and have our Celebrations of Success.

Setting up our Data Binders was pretty easy this year.  Each child got a 1 inch binder and 12 sheet protectors.  I created a sheet of "TABS" that they attached to the sheet protectors.  Experience has taught me that the best way to attach these is to put a dot on the page in the place that you want the tab to go before you copy it.  I have my students color the tabs specific colors before cutting them out.  I recommend copying the tabs onto card stock and laminating it. Glue dots are great for attaching the laminated tabs.  (Even though, my parent helper last year used heavy packing tape to attach the tabs and covered the entire tab.  It worked WONDERFULLY. )

Combining WBT and ClassDojo

I am a novice at Whole Brain Teaching but after attending the National Conference and following Farrah Shipley on Facebook, I am an energized believer!

My classroom is a very High Tech/ Kid-Centered environment, so it was important for me to maintain this atmosphere when integrating the teaching strategies of WBT.  I was already a Class Dojo FANatic so I knew that the system I developed MUST include this as a key component.






So HERE is what I came up with:

This is our class behavior board.  It combines WBT, Class Dojo, our class bead system (from my Cub Scouting days) and Our District's required color system.

The most important part of my classroom is the Super Improver Wall.  Each week I run a Class Dojo Spread sheet report and look at the behavior with the least points.  This will be our focus behavior for the following week.  I set a point goal for this behavior and my students work hard to meet the goal.  If the goal is met, each student gets a star on their Super Improver Card.  Students can also earn stars for meeting personal goals (tying shoes, mastery of a difficult skill, improving a personal behavior.).
Once they get 10 stars, they go to the next level.  Each level comes with a different set of privileges and classroom responsibilities.

Since I do not do a treasure box or give prizes for behavior, I have established a bead system to help my friends  keep track of and show off their accomplishments. My friends  love wearing their Bling to lunch on Fridays and to assemblies.  Click Here for More on my First Grade Bling.










On our Class Dojo Screen, my students are held accountable for our 5 class rules (from WBT).  As the year goes on, I add a couple of specific things that are constantly coming up.  Usually these are set a a class goal, so they need to be on our Dojo.

(Yep.  That's a TV!  I bought a TV in a pawn shop for $45 and connected it to an old laptop.  Now our Dojo Home is on display all day.  The kids love to check themselves all day.  )

It may sound elaborate, but it is actually pretty simple.  I find that taking a few minutes at the end of class to review our day on Class Dojo and award beads and stars really helps my students feel like they have accomplished something in their day.  It also sends them home with something to tell!!!

Thanks to two GREAT & FREE programs, my classroom is an 

EXCITING place to be for ALL of us!!!

Ps.... Do you Go Noodle?