I am looking for a new quiet signal. Does anyone do anything special? I have heard of using a compound word where I say the first part and they say the next part, but I can't decide what word to use.
Any ideas? Thanks!
A new one I read about this past year was a variation of the compound word one you mentioned. The teacher would say," One apples, two apples, three apples..." The students would respond "Johnny Appleseed" You could make it anything you wanted and change it for the seasons. "One pumpkin, two pumpkins, three pumpkins... Happy Halloween." It also keeps it from being tiresome by changing it up, but still keeping the same pattern.
When I needed my second grader's attention, I'd say, "Hands on top!" and they'd repeat, "That means stop!" and put their hands on their heads. I wouldn't start talking until all of them had their hands on their heads and their eyes on me. It worked great!
I use a few different signals to get the students' attention. My favorite is I say "One, Two, Three, Eyes on me. " The students then say "One, Two, Eyes on you!" Another one I use is I say "Zip! Zip! and they say "We're Zipped!" Just a few ideas!
I raise my hand and say give me a high 5. They stop and raise their hand in the air. That works well. I also heard of saying spaghetti and the kids respond with meatballs. I thought that was very cute!
In my class when I needed the students attention, I would say, "One, Two" The students reply, "Eyes on you" Then I say, "three, four" and students reply, "talk no more" This worked well and the students enjoyed it. Sometimes I would have a student reply "shut the door" they would quickly fix their mistake. However I noticed that you wanted a quiet signal, in which case the give me five is a great idea. Sometimes the kids would get loud with out chant. Good luck!
Wow - there are some really cute ones on here! I teach 3rd and I always do "gimme 5" - it works great for them.
I've seen the 2nd grade teachers do the clapping - and it works wonderfully for them. It's the pattern that goes clap.......clap.......clap,clap,clap (if that makes sense! ). The kids repeat the pattern and they're immediately silent afterwards.
I thought about using that this year because they're used to it from last year!
I put a tape square on the floor in a certain spot. When I step into my square everybody knows its time to stop and listen. I teach jr high -- a lot, well my the end of the year most, of the kids are taller than me. I've found visual works better than verbal with this level. And 'cute' just causes them to get silly.
It took me awhile to convince the janitor to leave my tape on the floor though .
1. Ring bell once for a VIM...Very Important Message. Kids freeze and put hands on head. I time during random practice the first few weeks of school. Kids try to "beat" the last time (fewer seconds for all to freeze with hands on head).
2. I do the clap thing but vary it so the kids have to listen and repeat the rythm.
3. Sing "Ba da ba ba da" (McDonald's intro) and the kids reply "I'm lovin' it!"
4. Say "Goodness Gracious" and the kids reply "Great Balls of Fire"
I sometimes turn off the lights and back on quick. That way I don't have to talk over them. They automatically look up from what they are doing when they go off. We practice at the beginning of the year.
I do the clap, clap, clapclapclap, but with a variation. Instead, I do silly sounds, so they have to really listen. For example, I will say letter sounds, silly words or sounds until everyone is participating. The more outlandish, the more they want to be in on it! You can also do a "move" like shrugging your shoulders or waving for those kids who love kinesthetics. Try tying it into vocabulary words, too!
"Meow, meow, meowmeowmeow" - the kids echo
"Jelly, jelly, jellyjellyjelly" - the kids echo
"Author, author, authorauthorauthor" - the kids echo
I heard these while I was student teaching several years ago and the kids really responded to them
1,2,3 eyes on me
4,5,6 (kids say)zip our lips
This one is the most fun for them
I say "tootsie roll" (to get their attention)
We all say "lolli pop"
They say "we've been talking, now we STOP!"
Another thing I like to try is whisper "if you can hear me, put your finger on your nose" (or some other movement). Those that do I signal for them to get a treat out the of treatbox.
I have also put the words out, outside, recess, fun, etc. on the board and would erase letters during center time/guided reading if they got too noisy.
That's all I can think of for now, but love the ideas that you have all shared. Thanks!
I have a couple of rainsticks. When it gets too noisy I just turn the stick a couple of times and the soft sound of rain quiets them. I never have to say and thing and it's not disruptive to the children working that weren't even talking.
As a part of my school's ITI program, we all have a set of chimes that I like to use for my quiet signal. The sound is pleasant and not too loud, but it gets the kids attention quickly.
I used to use "give me 5". I have been using the clapping pattern the past couple of years and it seems to work for me. I change up the pattern, and the students know they have to listen to hear the pattern being clapped. I had an instructor who had a very cool set of chimes that was free standing on her desk. If I ever find one I may be tempted to try it. Some say you should have different sounds for different things.
As a grade level, we use the words "Time Out!" We try to use it in a positive way with the students, and they respond so well. When it's too loud or I simply need their attention, I say, "Time Out." They immediately respond by putting their heads down on their desk, no eyes and mouths closed. It's quick and effective in almost all situations. If we're in the hallway, then they immediately take a time out on the wall. During the time out, I give them my important information and prepare them for what's going to happen next. It might sound like this: "Time Out!" "You should not be moving, your head should be down, I shouldn't see any eyes and there should be no talking." (I only do this the first few weeks of school, only until they know my expectations.) "The arrow on the Voice Box is pointing toward Whispering Voices, and you were talking at a voice level 2 and that's too loud. When I time you in, then you ne4ed to be at a voice level 1 and you and your partner should be discussing the story we just read. Time in!" Keep in mind that the entire time I'm talking to them it is perfectly quiet, no one is moving or talking. This is a prime time to transition them into a new activity or set up new expectations. I love it, and it works!
Here's a few more ideas: "If you hear my voice, clap once.....If you hear my voice clap twice...." I also have little bell in the shape of an apple that I ring when I need them to stop and listen. It has a very calming ring. I've used the triangle which also has a nice quiet sound. When a group is working noisily, I have a little laminated stop sign that reads, "Stop and think about how you can work more quietly." I just toss it on to their table and they quiet down.
07-26-2006, 08:17 PM
). The kids repeat the pattern and they're immediately silent afterwards. 
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