Getting Students' Attention Hello! What is your preferred method for getting students quiet and paying attention so you can give directions for the next activity? In Kindergarten, we did a pattern of claps, that they had to repeat, and the students knew that their "looking eyes, listening ears, and silent voices" were required at that point and it worked pretty well. I am now starting in 2nd grade, and that strategy may work, but I just wanted to hear other teacher's suggestions. Thanks!
I use "give me 5". I say give me 5 and then the students have to count from 1 to 5. I like this because it gives students time to hear others counting if they are in deep thought or deeply off topic in a conversation. By the time students have counted to 5 everyone should be silent with eyes on the teacher.
I'll often just say, "Stop and listen". If the students are engaged in a noisier activity, I'll turn off the lights as a signal for their attention.
I've always been a fan of counting down from five. I always hold up my hand so they can see me counting. I start with my voice at a normal volume and if necessary when I hit three I raise my voice slightly to get their attention and then go back to normal voice with two/one. At zero, usually I'm at a whisper.
I do "One, two, three eyes on me" or I will whisper "Clap twice if you hear my voice." Usually a few kids will clap. I'll repeat it in the same whisper. A few more students will join in. I will repeat it a third time and, if I don't have everyone's attention by then, those students who are not listening probably need some sort of behavior intervention. I will mix up the command so that it keeps their interest.
Thanks everyone, I like how these strategies give the students time to transition out of what they were doing and focus on listening.
I've not taught a large group of children, so take this with a grain of salt. But I teach the kids I'm dealing with what I'll be doing to get their attention. And it's me taking in an exaggerated amount of air. And then they are suppose to do the same thing with me (keeps them from talking). Once I get everyone's attentions, we all exhale together. That's when I start speaking my directions. I don't let it get so loud that they wouldn't be able to notice me doing that, or their neighbors doing it because they see me doing it. So it usually works, and they find it funny, so they all do it with a smile.
I turn out the lights and then stand in a certain spot facing the class. I don't move or speak until they stop, quiet down, and look at me. The class knows we can spend our time talking, goofing off, and settling down, or we can let those seconds add up to extra recess or a dance break. I never thought much about it until a principal pointed out to me how amazed she was that the entire class stopped talking and moving within 10 seconds of me turning off the lights. She was amazed that I didn't say a word yet the entire class was paying attention to me. This method helps me talk less which is great for my voice. Also, I hate the counting down thing because you have a problem if you count down and children still aren't paying attention. Do you count down again or address each talking child individually? It just seems like a bit of a time waster.
I say: "1, 2, 3 eyes on me" Kids respond: "1,2 eyes on you" And they are supposed to stop working and point at me with both hands...we are working on this daily I also use a small bell, sometimes clap a pattern...I like to vary it up.
It doesn't take me even 10 seconds to say "One, two, three, eyes on me" and I can do it anywhere in the building or outside. It's just like your method, if you start out using it consistently in the beginning it will be like Pavlov's dogs. Once they hear it they know immediately.
Have you looked into the Daily 5 book? I seem to remember reading about the sister's ideas on this subject - and they get paid much better for their expertise than I would for mine!
I just "borrowed" something from a teacher I met at a workshop. When they are getting chatty I'll say "flat tire" and they respond with shhhhhhh. They love it.
