Get a bunch of 10 year olds in a room, and then try to talk over them…tell me how it goes! That’s why every teacher I know has a few “Attention Getters” in their bag o’ tricks, a little phrase or call and response that gets the kids attention. I started a list of all the ones I heard or had found. For example at our school, everyone does “Give me 3″ and the kids are supposed to hold up 3 fingers and “1. Stop, 2. Look, 3. Listen.” That’s all well and good, but it get’s worn out if you use it too much. My plan is to introduce a new “Attention Getter” every 4-6 weeks to keep my kids on their toes and because it’s fun! Here is my list so far, fell free to give me more suggestions:
- Teacher: All Set? Students: You bet!
- Teacher: Flat tire Students: Shhhhhhh
- Teacher: Shark Bait! Students: Brew ha-ha (from Finding Nemo!)
- Teacher: What’s up? Students: It’s all good! (kids love this one)
- Teacher: Hocus Pocus Student: Everybody focus! (Whoooo!)
- Teacher: Good gracious Students: Great balls of fire!
- Teacher: And a hush came over the crowd Student: Shhhhhh.
- Teacher: Mama mia Students: That’s a spicey meatball! (Of course this one must be done with an Italian accent)
- Teacher: Who ya gonna call Students: Ghost busters! (whoo)
- Teacher: Hear ye, hear ye! Students: All eyes on the queen! (I particularly like this one!)
- Teacher: Bum budda bum bum Students: Bum, bum!
- Teacher: www dot Students: zip it dot com
- Teacher: Uf-da Students: Ya, sure, you betcha! (I can’t wait to hear my little Texans sound all Minnesoootan!)
