attention getters

Home

Chat

Blogs

Collection

Directory

Home : 2002 : September : 12

attention getters
By Elizabeth

I use a variety of "quieters" (wooden castanets, frog clicker, metal New Years ratchet...)and spread them around the room. My favorite one is a wooden train whistle. The first few weeks we spend a lot of time practicing our quieting procedures; when I use my quieter they freeze their bodies and their voices. After practicing quite a bit they are tuned in to those noises. I also will reward their exceptionally good response time with a marble in their marble jar. If they are unable to respond we take a few moments to practice again. I will also stage a practice time right before recess; if the practice doesn't go well we take some of the recess time to practice as well. This saves my voice and my nerves!