| Author |
Message |
Julie Souders (Jsouders)
New member
Username: Jsouders
Post Number: 1
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, August 28, 2005 - 5:51 pm: |       |
Does anyone have a cute phrase or chant they use to get the students attention during transitions? I was going to blow the whistle once and then start a chant for them to echo but I haven't found one that I like. |
Paula Summit (Summit5)
Member
Username: Summit5
Post Number: 29
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, August 29, 2005 - 9:10 am: | |
Hi Julie,
I found that I used a whistle only when we were outside and the kids were spread out in a wide area.
Inside, I used phrases like "If you can hear my voice, put your hands on your head" and I would repeat it with another command, like put your hands over your ears. I also used "clap your hands once" and changed the number of claps. It usually got their attention pretty well.
I also used rhythmic clap sequences that they would repeat.
I rarely used a whistle inside, except for emergencies. |
Joe Herzog (Bigfish344)
Junior Member
Username: Bigfish344
Post Number: 7
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, August 29, 2005 - 10:31 am: | |
Outside: Use the whistle only when kids are really spread out, and then use a non-rhythmic, repeatable call. That gets their attention. Even outside (basketball, hockey, tennis, any reasonably confined area, clapping works well. Any time, inside or out, when we play music, which is 90% of the time, when the music stops, that automatically means to stop what your'e doing or to look at the teacher and see what he/she wants. When we are in the gym (Jump Rope, PA games, scooter boards, Fencing), when we are using the basketball score clock, the buzzer means "Freeze", and then I could tell them what needed to be done, or I could manually beep the buzzer a couple of times which ment "Put the Equipment away." Also, when we team taught, we all learned a bit of American Sign and the teachers could communicate across the gym without having to stop activity. We taught the kids some simple siging, "Start, Stop, Stand, Sit, Good Morning/afternoon", etc. When you sign, the kids are forced to look directly at you , and that worked really well. The kids enjoyed learning to sign, however simple. Two of our staff were fluent, so their kids learned a lot. Sometimes, just standing in the front, or even in the middle of the class, with a raised hand works. Kids are instructed to stop and raise their hand as soon as they see yours go up and in short order (usually) everyone is focused on you. With one hand in the air, it's hard to keep doing anything. In the latter stages of my career, I learned not to yell and to use the whistle rarely, and I thought my kids were better behaved and more responsive. |
Heather Marie Farley (Hmf1830)
Junior Member
Username: Hmf1830
Post Number: 3
Registered: 9-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 1:46 pm: | |
At the camp I work at we use clapping as a way to get the children to stop and listen or to have them get quiet. For example, "If you can hear me clap once, if you can hear me clap twice, etc." Eventually by the time you get up to four claps the students usually are all paying attention. It is fun for the students who are listening and it’s an alternative to blowing a whistle and yelling. By the end of the summer usually one or two claps is all we needed to get their attention. Also, playing a version of Simon says works the same way. By saying, "If you can hear me touch your head, if you can hear me stand up." That was a fun way to get them to pay attention and be quiet. |
Darren Lynch (Dpl1100)
Junior Member
Username: Dpl1100
Post Number: 5
Registered: 9-2007
| | Posted on Monday, September 17, 2007 - 11:14 am: | |
I work at a KinderCare Learning Center with the school age children (7-13) and when I need to get the attention in the room I say: "One, two, three eyes on me," then the students say "One two I see you. After they say this the room is quiet and all the eyes are on you. |
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