Try these Attention Getters

• Make a red stop sign and glue to a popsicle stick. Introduce the idea that the stop sign is the tool that you will use to get everyone’s attention and for the class to be quiet. Part of the rules could be that they have to fold their arms, be quiet and look up front. You can also count to yourself and when everyone is quiet, tell them how long it took. You can encourage them to beat their record from the previous time.
• Children will do anything to be noticed. Usually the kids who are always acting out and always disrespectful are begging for attention.  By asking them to be quiet or to stop, give the attention in a negative way. One way to counter this is to change who you give the attention. Instead of asking the noisy children to behave, point out the children who are already acting the way they should. Once the misbehaved children follow along then recognize the good behavior.  For example, tell a child that you appreciate the way she is doing her homework quietly because the child next to her is talking. This will allow you to give attention to the children who are doing well and give some positive encouragement to the children who need to be reminded.
• Use Simon Says type instructions (put your hands on your hips, on your toes; wave them in the air, etc.) For example, have the children put their hands in the air, grab their elbows, pull their elbows down in front, and voila! Their arms are folded.
• Try saying "If you hear me..." statements.  Some examples are: "If you hear me touch your nose."  "If you hear me blink your eyes."  "If you hear me wiggle your fingers."  "If you hear me wiggle your nose."  "If you hear me fold your arms."  "If you hear me pat your head and rub your tummy at the same time."  Try to vary the directions so that the children will be caught by surprise.
• Turn the lights off and on in the room.
• Have a different person call them to attention. Sometimes hearing the same voice all the time makes it easier to not listen.
• Most importantly, BE PREPARED for your activities. If the kids are used to giving you their full attention, because you consistently have something that merits their attention, the attention comes naturally.

Comments

[Teresa DInh]

thanks kelly. i will be using all these methods! hopefully one will work. if more than one works then that will be even better! thanks again!!
teresa