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25 Ways to Gain Children's Attention

There are countless times when educators need students' undivided attention. The following methods for getting their attention are best taught during the first weeks of school. These ideas can assist teachers in providing an ordered and safe learning environment for everyone.

1. Hold up your hand and say "Give Me Five." The children put their hands in the air and shout "five!" As they count down to one, they get progressively quieter until "one" is said in a whisper. Or, after saying "Give me five," have everyone put a hand in the air and count loudly using their fingers from 1 to 5.

Leah Davies & Kelly Bear Leah Davies is the creator of the award-winning Kelly Bear resources for adults to use with children ages 3-9. Kelly Bear resources include books, DVDs, a game, a CD of songs, a puppet, and Kelly Bear C.A.R.E.S. (Character and Resiliency Education Skills), a multimedia curriculum for large or small groups of children. Teachers, counselors, and parents say the Kelly Bear materials are effective in bonding with young students and instilling skills related to respect; self-understanding and self-control; peer interaction; motivation and perseverance; healthy choices; problem solving skills; and more. Davies has been dedicated to the well-being of children for more than four decades as a certified teacher, counselor, prevention specialist, parent, and grandparent. Her professional experience includes teaching, counseling, and consulting. In addition, she has taught at the university level (Auburn University) and directed educational and prevention services at a mental health agency. Her articles have appeared in The American School Counseling Association Counselor, The School Counselor, Elementary School Guidance and Counseling Journal, Early Childhood News, and National Head Start Association Journal. She has presented workshops at national meetings of the American School Counselor Association; Association for Childhood Education International; National Association for the Education of Young Children; National Child Care Association; National Head Start Association; and National School-Age Child Care Alliance. Click here to learn more about the Kelly Bear resources.

2. Teach children that the five fingers on their right hand stand for the five things they must do when you hold up your hand. Say, "Give me five," and wait until all the children hold up a hand. Then lead them in saying the five things together.
(1) Eyes -- look
(2) Ears -- listen
(3) Mouth -- closed
(4) Hands -- still
(5) Feet -- quiet
Later, when you say "Give me five" the children are to think of those five things as they hold up a hand to show they are ready to listen.

3. Clap or tap a pattern. For example, clap slowly twice and then clap fast three times. The students are to stop what they are doing and repeat the pattern. If necessary, do it again until all children have responded and are quiet. You may want to vary the pattern.

4. Shake a shaker, touch a wind chime, ring a bell, play quiet music, or use any other kind of sound maker as a signal for students to be attentive.

5. Raise your hand and stand still until students are quiet. Or raise your right hand and put the index finger of your left hand on your lips. The children are to do the same. Another idea is to hold up three fingers, which is a silent signal for "Stop, look, listen." Then wait until all the children have their three fingers up and are quiet.

6. In a normal tone of voice say "Clap once if you can hear me." Those listening will quiet down and clap one time. Then say "Clap twice if you can hear me." More children respond with two claps. Finally say "Clap three times if you can hear me." By this time you should have the attention of your students.

7. When you say "Voices," teach the children to respond with a quiet "Shhh..." Use this signal to quiet children are too loud. If you want their attention, say "Voices" again and they respond with a quieter "Shhh..." Say it a third time very quietly and all students should be quiet and ready to listen.

8. Tell your students that they will be playing "The Still Waters Game" often, and that they will know the game has begun when you say "1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 1, still waters has begun." Ask them to freeze like an ice cube and remain silent when they hear that sentence. Time the children to see how long they can remain still. The goal is to beat their best time. Hold your fist in the air and each time you see someone move or talk, put a finger up. Once you have all five fingers up, check your watch and tell the class how long they were able to remain still.

9. Practice having the children stop to look at the teacher and listen when the lights are flicked off and on.

10. Teach the difference between being silly and serious. Tell them that there is room for both of those behaviors. Then practice by saying "Act silly!" Let them be silly. Then say, "Now, act serious." Model this often at the beginning of the year so when you say "I need to have serious behavior," they respond accordingly and are attentive.

11. Use a countdown or count-up system. Say "You have until five to be ready for....... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5." Start a count down at whatever number you think the students need to be ready. For example, start with 5, 10 or 15, depending on the activity to be put away.

12. Say "Boys and Girls…" and then write numbers as a countdown on the board from 5-4-3-2-1. The idea is that you should have everyone's attention before you reach the number 1. Students should know there will be a consequence if you reach the number 1 before receiving everyone's attention. For example, a child talking may forfeit some free time. Another idea is to hold up your hand and count silently to five on your fingers as you look at a watch. Teach the students if they do not become quiet by the count of five, their recess time will be cut by the amount of time it takes them to become quiet.

13. Use an old fashioned desk bell that you can tap. One tap means the class is getting too loud. Two taps means they need to stop what they are doing and listen.

14. Use a target word for a day or week. Have the students pick one that is related to what they are studying. For example, pioneer or fossils. When you say the target word, children stop, look, and wait for directions. Or the children could respond with a definition or short response to the target word; for example, if you say the target word Ohio, you might train students to respond "The Buckeye State." Other callbacks might include "spaghetti" -- "meatballs," or "Abraham" -- "Lincoln." Let the students suggest new words to be used.

15. Use a piece of poster board to make a noise level monitor. On the left side label it 1, 2, 3, and on the right side, list the type of noise acceptable for each. For example:
1 - No talking
2 - Whispering
3 - Normal talking
Use a large clip to indicate the acceptable noise level at any given time.

16. Say "1, 2, 3, eyes on me" and the children say back "1, 2, 3, eyes on you" as their faces turn toward you and look into your eyes. Or say "1, 2, 3, Look at me" in a sing song voice. Another teacher-child response idea is for the teacher to say "Hey, oh," and the children reply "Oh, hey." Or, the teacher says "Freeze, please." And after giving instructions, the children say, "Melt."

17. Get students' attention by using "Teacher Says" (similar to "Simon Says"). For example, "Teacher says touch your nose," "Clap once," or "Teacher says, look at me."

18. Smile as you say in a robotic voice "Miss Moore to Class - Come in class." This method can be used with individual students as well. Or, use a special phrase when something is really important; for example, say, "Mrs. Brown's class..." instead of saying, "Boys and girls."

19. Buy a large rain stick at a science store. When you turn it over, it sounds like rain falling. When the children hear the sound, they are to stop what they are doing and listen.

20. At an assembly of the student body, call out the school name and have children respond with the name of the school mascot. For example, the administrator calls out "Memorial" and the children respond "Bulldog!" After they call the mascot name they are to be silent.

21. Let your voice get quieter and quieter as a signal for the children to be quiet. Talk softer or not at all until they are still. Or say softly "Tootsie Roll, Lollipop, we've been talking, now let's stop."

22. Teach young children the following chant:
Teacher says; "1, 2." Children say: "Eyes on you."
Teacher: "3, 4." Children: "Crisscross on the floor."
Teacher: "5, 6." Children: "No more tricks."
Teacher: "7, 8." Children: "Sit up straight."
Teacher, "9, 10." Children, "Let's begin!"

23. Sing the following words to the tune of "Frere Jacques": Are you listening?
Are you listening?
Everyone!
Everyone!
If you are listening,
If you are listening,
Look at me,
Look at me.
Other ways to end the song are: "Snap your fingers" or "Pat your head."

24. Sit in your chair and start singing one song after another with no pauses. The children all join in the singing and come to group time. You can do the same thing with poetry. Start reciting poems that the children know and they will repeat them with you as they join the group.

25. Use motions like circling your hands quickly, then slow down and clap. You can also do the motions to a song like the "Itsy, Bitsy Spider.' When all of the children are copying the gestures silently, sing the song through.

Note: A special thank you to all of the educators on teacher chatboards who contributed their "attention getting ideas" for use in this article.

Article by Leah Davies, M.Ed.
Reprinted with permission from the
Kelly Bear Web site, www.kellybear.com