Attention Please, Class!

A quarter of a century ago, the teacher only had to walk into the room, or appear on the veranda, for a hushed silence to fall over the class. I am afraid to say the challenge is a lot greater with today’s children. However, your presence as the authority figure is still just as important.

The calmed hush can still be achieved in today’s classroom. It will be generated on the basis of mutual respect not fear. Respect comes with a growing relationship and this is exactly where the challenge lies.

Each class will be a little different depending on the year level and management style of the class teacher. You cannot possibly effect change in one day. Time to think outside the square! Time to make it fun! Time to make it special just for today!

The following are a few suggestions that you may use your professional discretion as to which strategy is suitable for which year level. More ideas and strategies are found in my handbook.

These strategies come are fully developed in my "Relief Insight"workshops. The next workshop is being held in May on the north side of Brisbane, post my speaking engagement at Australian Catholic University. Feedback indicates that no matter what your teaching experience, participants felt very empowered by the practical nature of the workshop. If you are interested please leave a comment with your email address and I will be in contact.

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE CLASSROOM:

S.A.L.A.M.I Magic instruction only known to the special class and you. It means STOP AND LOOK AT ME IMMEDIATELY. Only Year 4A know that! This becomes the strategy that takes the old FREEZE technique one step further. If you do use FREEZE, don’t forget to use THAW as the signal to continue as before.

RAIN SHOWER Nothing is as calming as the sound of falling rain. Try this idea on the younger ones when you are waiting calmly for the group to settle. Finger tips wiggling from head height to your waist to imitate the falling rain. Cross hands back and forth to represent the puddle and at the same time making the sound, shh, shh, shh! Continue until the class is settled. It is clever to link this with breathing in as the rain falls and out as you say shh. The extra oxygen in the system will help with added focus for the learner, or teacher, whoever needs it most!



THERE’S AN ECHO IN THE ROOM
This strategy not only gains attention, it consolidates the message as well as focuses the listening. Explain the game. You are looking for the clearest and most accurate echo. I would only call on volunteers to be the echo as it can be stressful for some children not being able to accurately recall the statement. Always call on three echoes. Allow the class to judge. Reward. The end result will be everyone listening to the information in order to participate.



COUNT DOWN TO SILENCE Use hand movements to physically demonstrate the countdown 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…. hush, hush! Repeat the countdown three times getting progressively softer and on the final fourth time only mime the sequence.

By this stage, all the children should be with you and if someone is not, it is usually a good shock technique that the whole classroom is silent and having fun and they are not part of the team. If you become very familiar with one class, this technique can become a secret sign outside the classroom. Today’s child is very visual and usually responds well to signs that convey meaning.

Have some fun with these and know we would all love to share some of your great strategies too.

Live,laugh and learn.....
Carmel

Classroom Transitions

Being mindful of a transitions from one subject area to another, or a group to individual work , or individual to whole group, or moving from one area to another not only maintains the tone in a productive room but also help to build relationships. As the relief teacher you build a much better picture of the personalities you are dealing with as well as the class dynamics. You be the judge of the age appropriateness for the suggestion. Here are a few that work across the ages and are often requested by classes when next I visit!

Well thought out transitions make the day productive and fun for everyone!

SPELLING TO MATHEMATICS

Each letter is worth its positional value i.e. a is 1, b is 2 etc. Transpose the spelling list into a series of addition sums. The word FLOWER becomes 6+12+15+23+5+18+19=x (98) Then have fun rewriting the spelling list through questions like this: Which words are odd numbers that are divisible by 3? Which word is 5 less than 103?

INDIVIDUAL WORK TO GROUP ACTIVITIES

Huddles: This traditional party game that works so well in changing the pace. I refer to it as Huddles. Children stand as a group. Ask them to move to the music or move in an interesting way. Call stop. Announce the number of children that must form a group as quickly as possible. Watch the team work and friendship structures. Boys must work with girls in order to succeed. Younger children I just call a number. Don’t forget 1 for a bit of fun. Older classes love it when you mix it up with a call like “ Half of 10” or “Two thirds of 9” Children who get out are to start the next activity or use it to form the groups you require for the next activity.


FROM GROUP TO INDIVIDUAL

ELEVEN-EES This game is as old as the hills and the children still love it as much as I did as a child. The class is best sitting in a circle. The idea is that we are going to count to 11. Whoever says 11 is out and must recommence their work at their desk. It would be too easy if we just counted by ones. You are allowed to say up to three numbers when it is your turn. In this way the game can be manipulated to deliberately get people out. More fun that way. Therefore here is an example of what the sequence could sound like……1,…..2,3,4…..5,6,……7…..8,9,……10…..ELEVEN (This child is out!) The seventh child in the sequence was out. A new game may go like this 1,2,3,……4,5,6,…..7,8,….9,10…..ELEVEN! (The fifth child in the sequence was out.)

Trust you use these practical ideas and of course think of loads more yourself.

There are more in the book I have complied "Relief Insight" if you would like to download it please see the side section in this blog.

Love to hear your ideas .....
Live, laugh and learn!

Blessings for the journey,
Carmel