Redding School District

Introduction: Attention-Getting Signal

Throughout the school day, you will give students directions that they must hear, understand, and follow.  Thus, you need to be able to get their attention quickly and consistently.  An attention-getting signal cures students to stop what they are doing and give you their undivided attention.  Effective use of an attention-getting signal keeps you from having to repeat your directions or make endless pleas of "listen to me."

Behaviors you want to teach:  1. Freeze   2. Look at the teacher   3. Listen to what the teacher is saying.

Expect 100% Compliance:  All of your students must freeze and give you their attention when you use your signal.  Remember to narrate behavior after you use the attention-getting signal, particularly in the first few days of practice. "Chandra has her eyes on me and is not talking."  Do not hesitate to stop what you are doing and practice the signal at the moment the students do not have 100% compliance.

Use eye contact and don't let student questions distract you: When you give the signal look directly at the students who have difficulty with compliance.  Narrate or praise the behavior of students around them to help them recognize your direction.  Don't let approaching students disrupt your need for 100% compliance with the signal.  Don't use words to stop the approaching students just look and kindly shake "no" of place hand on shoulder as a place holder until you are finished with the direction to be given.

Your attention-getting signal should be one of the first lessons you teach on the first day of school.  Teaching students to be attentive when you speak is critical to the success of everything else you will do.  You should practice this signal many times and in many different situations over the next month.

Possible signals ideas:

• Flashing lights
• Ringing a bell
• Giving hand signal, such as one hand in the air and the other hand with one finger on the lips.
• Clapping rhythmically: "When you hear me clapping, join in with me. When I stop clapping, you stop clapping and look at me and listen."
• Counting down while narrating the behavior being expected, "Five, John has stopped talking, four, Kim has stopped talking and is looking at me, three, (praise) thank you team two for all being stopped and looking at me, two, one."