Whether teaching online or in person, there will be times when you need to stop the class and say something. Here are three attention-getters that won’t grate on their nerves!
1) Call & Response Attention Getter
I’ve written a blog post full of call and response ideas that you can use if you want to hear some more ideas.
2) If you can Hear my Voice …
… put your hands on your head.
… clap once.
… clap twice.
… hold your pencil in the air.
One really clever variation I heard about was to say, “If you can hear my voice, point to someone who is talking.” Repeat quietly (as needed) until they are all pointing at you.
Another is to say an artist’s name (or a series of artist’s names, if needed). For example, “If you can hear my voice, say, Michelangelo.”
3) Clap & Respond
Quick Tip: It doesn’t work in a room full of adults who have no idea why you are standing in front of them clapping your hands. But you could say, “if you can hear my voice, clap your hands like this.”
4) Use Sound
I’ve used a rainstick in the past, and students loved it. It’s such a calming noise. When they heard the rainstick, they knew it was time to listen.
Some teachers love using a remote doorbell.
I’ve also heard of teachers using some kind of squeaky toy.
Basically, anything that makes an unusual sound:
- A musical instrument
- Chimes
- Bell
- Maracas
- A Shaker
To add a fun twist, you could call up a student who is working quietly to make the sound for you.
Which attention getter will you try this year? Let us know in the comments below.
The Benefits of Drawing
Use this infographic to display in your room or share with parents, administrators, or other teachers as a way to point out some of the academic benefits of learning to draw. While they are not the only reason for using drawing as part of a balanced curriculum, they are certainly worthy of celebrating and may help you advocate for including drawing as part of your art or classroom learning experiences.
You can read more about The Benefits of Drawing in this blog post.
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