Gaining Students' Attention
Whether you are a novice or veteran teacher, strategies for grabbing students' attention are central to classroom management, which in turn is key to creating an effective learning environment. Without effective attention signals, learning time is lost, and student expectations can be vague or misunderstood. When effectively used, attention-grabbing signals have the power
Check out the videos listed below, found on the Teaching Channel, for some additional ideas on effective and efficient attention-grabbing signals!
Get Their Attention Without Saying A Word: Amy Withers from The Amistad Dual Language School in New York City explains the power and purpose behind signaling the class for attention with silence by raising her hand. Any student who sees her hand up raises their hand as well. Amy finds one of the advantages of this approach is that it allows students a few seconds to finish their thought, sentence or the task on which they are working. This approach also demonstrates respectful class culture and interaction.
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Attention-Getting Signals: Mix It Up: Kindergarten teacher Mary Abdul-Wajid describes the different attention-getting signals that she uses in her class. When students need to freeze and put materials away, Mary sings a jingle and the students put their hands on their heads. If students need to practice self-control, the class will sign a song to remind students where their hands go. When Mary needs to get students' attention quickly, she rings a bell. Mary explains how using different signals helps to keep students engaged.
*I personally use this one while substitute teaching, and it works quite efficiently. It's usually a signal students are unfamiliar with so they get excited to stop what they are doing an put their hands on their heads. I also like the signal students by whispering "If you can hear me, put your finger on your nose." or any behavior which students who are not paying attention will quickly catch on that they're missing something because their classmates have their fingers on their noses *
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Attention Getter: Say the Secret Word: NYC middle school teacher Olga Ramos decides to involve her students in establishing a simple class procedure. At the beginning of the school year, the students vote on their three favorite or 'secret' words. One of these words is used by Ms. Ramos as an attention-getting signal when she needs the students to focus their attention on her during instruction. Ms. Ramos explains that this strategy and involving students in this manner puts a more positive spin on classroom management.
*I personally like this one as well. Not only is it an effective way to gain students attention it builds relationships with your students and ensures that you students know exactly what you expect of them when you use this signal**
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Drumming Up Attention: Focusing on students' attention is paramount in the classroom. West Side Collaborative Middle School teacher Novella Baily, uses her music background and a drumbeat to get students' attention when they are working. The drum is loud enough for everyone to hear and eliminates the frustration sometimes felt when only a portion of students stop working and shift focus to the teacher's instructions or the next activity.
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Using a Number System to Streamline Class Routines: NYC teacher Olga Ramos explains her 'Number System' strategy while we see her students implement it. Ms. Ramos assigns students a number based on their place in the class alphabetically. Each student has their own number and that number is used for a variety of purposes such as selecting a student to participate in a task, deciding which student from a group or pair is responsible for getting needed materials such as a laptop, and for forming a line to leave the room.
**I have seen this used quite frequently in the school I work in. Students seem to respond positively to this routine. However, I don't think like the idea of assigning my students to a number...but who knows what might change as I evolve as a teacher*
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Here is a short poster listing a few teacher-student callbacks.
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In addition to these awesome videos found on the teaching channel, click the image below to check out this great resource which provides additional attention-grabbing signals that can be used in the classroom!!
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