I raise my hand and they have been told that when they see me raise my hand they follow along and close their mouths to pay attention. I can quiet the whole grade level in about 10 seconds. My admins saw it and did it school wide. We can quiet the whole school in about 15-20 seconds.
I began using it years ago. Then my school adopted it school wide. It does not matter what classroom they are in all of the students know what to do. It is great. You can use it anywhere. We use it on field trips and the people are always amazed that the students are so quick to respond. I use the same 5 guidelines as the PP. I have also heard 2 eyes looking, 2 ears listening and one mouth closed.
We've had school wide signals at the last couple of schools I worked in.
My current school, we just raise two fingers (kind of like a peace sign)
At one school I worked at they made and "L" with their thumb and finger. I guess it meant look and listen, but all I could think of was "loser" I had a hard time with that one!
I use different things, because some work better than others depending on where you are in the room and what the activity is. I teach the kids to freeze and fold empty hands when I: raise my hand, jingle the windchime, hit the chime, flip the lights. At the beginning of the year I teach one each day and we play the freeze game. They walk around and talk, until I do the signal. After we've learned them all we continue to play the freeze game once a day with all the signals - its fun! We do this for a few weeks so they get really good at it. After we play I tell them what I noticed - good and bad (how quick or NOT quick they froze, if their hands were empty, if they were being safe, etc.) - without mentioning anyone in particular.
I used the windchime this year and it worked better than anything I have tried for quick response. Then they look and listen. I think I'll also try the hand raised like Miller does. That would be great on field trips.
I know in the past I've seen Give Me Five posters with a picture showing a student following the five things they're supposed to do. Does anyone have a computer document like that?
A few teacher I know use a giant rain stick for their quiet signal. It's a beautiful sound and loud enough for the kids to hear. I like verbal signals because I always have it with me!
This year I've purchased something that kind of looks like a stopwatch that makes different sounds. A teacher this year had one that included a tarzan yell. The kids loved this--actually, I did too. I'm anxious to try it out myself.
This past year I mainly did... "If you can hear me clap your hands twice..."
If I still didn't have the attention of a few, I'd say... "If you can hear me clap your hands three times."
The good thing is those who were busy would hear the others clapping and it would get their attention right away. I've also changed it up a bit by saying something like... "If you can hear me stand on one foot." or "..........................twirl around two times."
I like to have fun with my kids, so not only did they have fun doing these things, I got their attention quickly.
Oh, I forgot. Our fifth grade team also did something we learned with the kids at camp.
The teacher says, "And a hush fell over the crowd!"
The kids would respond..."Hush!"
I also use different sounds. I ring a hotel bell for table captains to come get papers from me. I have a squeaker for attention when it is supposed to be quiet and I need to tell them something.
For middle schoolers, I am going to use two quick beeps of my whistle. My non-quiet methods of getting their attention failed, so hopefully this will work.
There are a few that I've used consistently...we have a school wide rhythm clap that the students respond to almost immediately..I also will start to snap my fingers VERY quietly...think a whisper snap, lol...the kids start snapping with me as soon as they hear it.. I like the wind chime and rain stick ideas too!!
to the tune of "shave and a haircut, 2 bits!" I sing, "Stop, look and listen" and they respond, "OK!" It works so well that sometimes one of the students will sing it for me when they see me ready to gather them together!
Also, to get them ready to walk quietly in the hallway, we recite (in a whisper voice) "My hands are hanging by my sides, I'm standing straight and tall. I'm looking straight ahead of me, I'm ready for the hall!"
I used to say "Give me five" and it took awhile for the kids to settle, then I switched it up and told them that when they hear me clap, they need to clap and stop talking, moving, etc. I vary my clap pattern every time and they have to repeat it. When 1 or 2 students still haven't settled, I do it again until everyone is repeating it. It works very well.
I say "I need your attention" in my regular speaking voice. It works for my 5th graders. I hate to raise my voice and they know it so they are quick to pay attention.
Due to a certain teacher I know I cringe every time I hear "Give me five"! She incessantly screams it over and over again at the top of her voice. I don't think she got the memo that you are supposed to make them listen after the first time.
This works pretty well but I like some of these other ideas. I also have a kids wooden train whistle that I might try this year - maybe to bring their attention to a certain activity everyday.
both of these have worked with my kids. I really like the ideas of a pp who had the McDonald's theme. You could always do a popular song or something of that nature. Very cute!
You could also do a nursery rhyme
The wheels on the bus
GO ROUND AND ROUND
So many kids these days don't know nursery rhymes?
Trexteach,
What is the item called (that looks like a stopwatch) and where did you purchase it from?
I say freeze, but once in-a-while, I have a class that doesn't listen, so I threaten to sing . They know that my singing is the worst punishment they could ever receive...problem solved!
Last year I raised one hand counted down from 5 and gradually lowered my voice so that by one I was at a whisper. It worked well for last year's group!
I say the word "PEACE" in normal voice and hold up my fingers in the peace sign. They don't say anything back, they just give me a PEACE sign. They tap others who may not be paying attention and show them the peace sign. I usually have the whole class tuned in a few seconds.
I use different things at different times. If it is time activity, then I set the timer and place it on the document camera ( one of those you can see the red section get smaller). I use a train whistle when students are speaking with a partner. My students also responded well to hand claps. They liked for me to make various patterns and them follow.
It's called Tag the Attention Getter. I ordered it from a School Specialty catalog. Cost $34.99 They come in different colors and are small enough to fit in your pocket, clip on your clothes, or hang around your neck.
Besides my classroom, I also run the lunchroom. I use the give me 5 and count backwards. When I reach zero I say "zero talking". I can quiet 150 plus kids quickly.
I say "I say pop, you say corn"
I say "pop"
Students say "corn"
I say "pop"
Students say "corn"
I do this with all kinds of compound words, racecar, doghouse, icecream, oh the list goes on!
I also do this:
I say "Q-U-I-E-T"
Students say "Quiet, Quiet that's what I'll be!"
Turning the lights off works well.
Sometimes, I just make silly noises, or shout out something silly like "banana bread". The kids always stop what they are doing and look at me!
The PP with the yodeling bear reminded me...I have a hallmark music card that I open and everyone taps their feet or moves their hands when they hear it. I call it the Hamster Dance (there are little cartoon hamsters on the cover, with pink/purple background).
Last edited by janne; 07-09-2008 at 09:21 AM..
Reason: addition ;)
are still little kids at heart and love attention! I ask for quiet, and then thank the students who are looking at me and listening. "Thanks, Ryan, for listening. I see Caitlin looking, thank you..." and suddenly, they all want to be the one named! It reminds me of the old Romper Room looking glass!
I teach junior high - when I need their attention or when they are getting a bit too loud - I sort of count backwards starting from say 64 and then I begin dividing each number by 2...so 64....32...16....8....4....2...in the beginning of the year they all get this puzzled look on their faces, the room gets quiet and all eyes are on me while they try to figure out what I'm doing. At the end of each year - I always have several students who write something about the number 64 in my yearbook.
Thanks for sharing. I usually do the standard 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...or rainstick. I really like some of the ideas shared where teacher says one thing, students respond saying another. I have a feeling my 3rd graders would really enjoy those!
I use a wireless doorbell that I got at Home Depot. I keep the button in my pocket and the doorbell on top of a closet out of sight. The first time I use it, it's so funny to see the kids look around to find where the chime is coming from. I'm careful not to overuse it, so the kids know that when they hear the doorbell, I need immediate attention.
I really like that idea! I love that you can be anywhere in the room to do it. My parents have one of these and I never thought to use it in the classroom! The button is so little too! It would be perfect! I'll have to save up my pennies next paycheck. :-)
When my little ones are particularly wound up at the rug, I say in a soft voice, "If you can hear my voice, touch your nose. If you can hear my voice, touch your chin...and so on, until they are all focused on listening to my next request- it really quiets them down in a positive way. I just say thanks, good listening and then can proceed with my lesson.
I use several ranging from "Give Me 5" to clapping a rhythm that they repeat.
Last year I used this one quite a bit, I say: 1,2,3 Look at Me! Then the class responds: 1,2 Eyes on You! Then they point their index fingers to me.
At the end of the year when I'm in a silly mood, I sing one of the tunes from Barney...
I sing: Standing outside with my mouth open wide...
Then the class sings: (with tongues sticking out) ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,ah. Because they want me to call them to name a flavor of rain drops
I do the same type "If you're listening, touch your ear" but I am touching another part of my body. This requires them to concentrate more on what I'm saying than just watching.
I really love all these ideas. I'm thinking of getting the Attention Getter this year. Have something else make sounds for me instead of me trying to come up with my own
I use give me 5. I made a magnet from VistaPrint to put on my chalkboard for a visual. If I need immediate quiet, like if there's an announcement, shutting off the lights works wonders!
07-08-2008, 05:36 PM
We do this for a few weeks so they get really good at it. After we play I tell them what I noticed - good and bad (how quick or NOT quick they froze, if their hands were empty, if they were being safe, etc.) - without mentioning anyone in particular.
I'm anxious to try it out myself.
. They know that my singing is the worst punishment they could ever receive...problem solved!
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