Attention Signals

Getting and holding student's undivided attention is an important management responsibility for all individuals working with children.

Considerations for choosing your signal:
· Can be used from any location in your room
· Can be used outside of the classroom (hall, field trip, recess)
· Has both a visual and auditory component
· Should be age appropriate

Suggestions for implementing your signal:
· Teach what the signal is and how students are to respond
· Re-teach and continue to practice

· If attention is not gained, re-teach, practice, and provide positive reinforcement to students who respond appropriately
· Signal is maintained throughout the year for consistency

click picture for printable doc of phrases

More Signal examples:
· Use a "key phrase" for attention, followed by a visual signal
Give me five! (raise hand in the air)
1. Eyes are on the speaker
2. Lips are closed
3. Ears are listening
4. Sit up or stand straight
5. Hands and feet are quiet
"Salami!" This is the signal for Stop and Listen to Me
(funny word, gets attention)
· Song or chant with actions
1. Teacher says: "hocus pocus"
Students say: "everybody focus"
2. Teacher says: "hands on top" (students put hands on head)
Students say: "everybody stop"
3. Teacher says: "stop"
Students say: "collaborate and listen" (in the words of Ice, Ice, Baby-Vanilla Ice)
4. You say "Class!" and they reply "Yes!".

Next is the catch, the hook that makes this fun, and gets them invested in it in a way that will have them looking at you and grinning rather than continuing their conversations. When you say 'Class!' and they say 'Yes!' they have to say it the way you said it. If you say 'Classity-class-class!' they have to say 'Yessity-yes-yes!'. If you say it loudly, they have to respond loudly. If you whisper, they respond in a whisper. They have to match your tone and intensity. (Whole Brain Teaching)

· Count down with corresponding fingers 3-2-1-0 ( closed fist)
Students copy actions only

Teacher says in a soft voice, "If you hear my voice touch your nose", repeat with similar things and end with behaviors you want to see, like hands in lap, or pencils down, etc.

Jennifer Gnau
Behavior Coach
SEC 339-4054
gnaujen@usd437.net