Author |
Message |
Jim Sikora (Jrs6557)
New member Username: Jrs6557
Post Number: 1 Registered: 9-2009
| Posted on Thursday, September 03, 2009 - 12:08 pm: | |
I'm going to be placed, starting next week, in a school district where I'm going to teaching K-4. I have never taught children this young and I am looking for any advice on how to get the kids attention. Something easy for the children to relate to and they would understand, any ideas? |
Joe Herzog (Bigfish344)
Intermediate Member Username: Bigfish344
Post Number: 48 Registered: 2-2005
| Posted on Thursday, September 03, 2009 - 1:37 pm: | |
I would involve games/activities that involve basic skills in station work. Hopping, jumping, spinning (good for the brain), balance, etc. Kids can do some of these in small groups while holding a jump rope or hula hoop. Throwing skills, use nerf frisbees, Turbo Javs,smaller playground balls, etc. Minimize team sports because they tend to have too many kids standing around, waiting. Bad idea when working with young kids. Always have music of some sort...age appropriate and lots of variety. Balancing, whether on a line, a balance beam (low), balance board or just standing on one foot promotes focus and attention. Give kids equipment and let them expirement with making their own game, or with the very young, just let them play....creative play and expirementation...the dominant concept in Scandinavia. That's where creative thinking skills are developed as well as the social skills that need to be developed early on. This will do more to prevent bullying, later on, than anything else. |
Matthew Bassett (Bassett1976)
Member Username: Bassett1976
Post Number: 28 Registered: 1-2008
| Posted on Sunday, September 06, 2009 - 9:00 am: | |
On Getting Attention: Lots of ideas... (Teacher Says) "Clap Once if you can hear me, clap twice if you can see me, clap three times show me zero noise." This helps for the students to catch on as you go through the process. Teacher does a simon says kind of activity. "Touch your ears if you can hear me, touch your knees if you can hear me, touch your elbows if you can see me." As you keep going through new things you get the attention of your kids. You should always have a freeze signal. I use both a whistle and a verbal "FREEZE" command with my kids. When they hear either signal, they place equipment on the ground. Hand are on their knees, eyes are on me (turn if needed) and mouths are closed. You will have to model this a lot at the start of the school year and practice a lot. |
|