Well, the first month of school has come and gone. The backpacks, lunch boxes, new shoes, and nametags are perhaps beginning to look just a tad bit frayed around the edges. Hopefully, your students are a little more entrenched in the daily routine, but familiarity tends to breed relaxation, and yes, selective deafness in some children. The novelty of the new school year has worn off, the first day or week jitters have long since gone and lets' face it…the honeymoon is probably over. At least it is over for those of you who were lucky enough to have a honeymoon period. Although some of our students gift us with their unique behavior repertoires the minute they darken our classroom doors.
It seems very fitting that with this season of pumpkins, ghosts, and goblins that students will inevitably have more important issues pressing upon their minds, such as choosing the perfect Halloween costume, face paint, and cornering the candy market, instead of Reading, Writing, and Math. So with that in mind, teachers need to don their 'magician' costumes and fill their own proverbial bags of tricks.
ATTENTION is defined as the act or state of attending especially through applying the mind to an object of sense or thought. Or concentration of thought upon a subject: A close or careful observing or listening. Focusing one's ability or power to concentrate mentally. Giving observant consideration.
I do believe I prefer the last three words, and I feel they sum up the whole definition quite effectively. GIVING, meaning that attention to something or someone is really a matter of choice depending upon our specific need. OBSERVANT denotes making an effort to concentrate on details, which draw us further in. How observant we are often depends upon how much we value what we are attending to or how it relates to our need. CONSIDERATION speaks of a thinking process. After we make the choice to give our attention, or observe, then hopefully what we attend to is gleaned, mentally digested and assimilated. We ask our students to undertake this process constantly throughout the school day. No easy task for students OR teachers!
I remember vividly observing a master teacher very early in my own experience. I watched, in utter amazement on many occasions, this teacher gain a thunderous group of preschooler's rapt attention by simply breaking into a song, or calmly reciting a simple poem or finger-play. She was unflappable. Her voice remained just as steady and calm as a cool stream. It never failed to sooth BOTH children and teachers on even the most nerve rattling of days. I knew then that I wanted to learn that same attention gaining magic. Over the years my 'bag of tricks' has broadened and changed, but always there has always been room for more. I hope to share some tried and true devices, as well as hints that you can use to make your own magic!
Attention Getting and Maintaining Devices
VISUAL CUES
Signs. Such as stop sign, listening or quiet zone signs, traffic light
Turning lights off to gain attention or to signal transitions
AUDITORY/VERBAL CUES
Signal Devices:
A kitchen timer (A MUST HAVE!), bells, whistle, kazoo, etc. Clap out a rhythm and students respond with the same. Sing a portion of a song or play a brief piece of music.
Catch Phrase:
"If you can hear me... hand in the air, touch your nose, clap three times, etc..." "Give me FIVE!" The students respond by five fingers in the air, meaning, eyes on teacher, ears open, mouths closed, body to yourself, and FREEZE!
Code Word:
Decide upon a special word, previously with or without your students' help, although they may be more inclined to remember it better if they have a part in the decision.
Example:
Model, role-play and PRACTICE what good attending skills look like throughout each day. Set a "group attention goal" and get students into the practice of self-monitoring to see if they are working towards that goal. Reinforce students consistently (points, stars, smiley faces, etc), and work towards a group reward.
Getting and maintaining student attention is the foundation upon which student learning is built upon. Remember, be creative, innovative and consistent!!
