To be an effective teacher, you must be able to get your students’ silent attention anytime you want.
If you struggle to do this, then it’s a sign you have poor classroom management. I’ve visited thousands of classrooms and this is always the case.
You also shouldn’t use silly response claps, “123 eyes on me,” train whistles, and other cutesy novelties to get them quiet. They communicate to students that you’d really like to get their attention but don’t actually require it.
There must be urgency.
There must be a sense that learning is sacred and you can’t afford to waste a single second. Good teaching continually raises the bar on what students can do. It never lowers it.
Therefore, the best cue is a simple announcement: “Can I have your attention please.”
It says what you want and expect. And though it’s phrased as one, it’s not a question. It’s a command. It communicates that you believe your students are capable and mature and expect them to act like it.
So how do you get them to stop talking and working and look at you? Here’s how in three simple steps.
Step 1 – Teach it.
Tell them what you’ll say to get their attention and then set the expectation for how they’ll respond. For me, it’s that they stop whatever they’re doing and look at me immediately.
Not within five seconds. Now within two seconds. As soon as they hear me begin to say “Can I have . . .” they stop, turn, and look in perfect silence.
If this seems like too much to ask, here’s the thing: It’s easier to ask for and require exactly what you want than it is to give in and endure a slow descent into chaos and misbehavior.
Plus, kids love being part of something special and better. We all do.
You’ll also model explicitly what you want them to do.
Step 2 – Practice it.
Once you’ve checked for understanding and answered every question, it’s now time for your students to try it out. On your “Go” signal, have them turn to each other and repeat over and over again, “Hey, hey, whaddya say.”
Give them 10-15 seconds and then say in a normal voice “Can I have your attention please.” Then practice some more using, “murmer, murmer” and “blah, blah, blah.” You can also combine them.
Again, expect perfection. Require it. And be sure to calmly praise their good work. (All new learning done right should be praised. It’s the most efficient and effective form of feedback).
Step 3 – Test it.
You’ll want to test your class as soon as possible. (And then often for the first couple of days) Have an activity at the ready that requires your students to discuss or collaborate in pairs or in groups.
Allow them to work for a few minutes and then ask for their attention.
You’re likely to have success right off the bat. If not, if it isn’t absolutely perfect, then emphasize that it’s something they must do. Pride in doing exceptionally well is part of being in your special classroom.
Either way, give them a few more minutes and then test them again.
Once they prove to you that they’ve got it down, you can ask less frequently. Eventually, you’ll only use it when you really need it.
It Transfers
If you’re a regular reader of SCM, then you know that everything transfers to everything else—from behavior to work habits to academic performance. For exceptional teaching and classroom management, you must demand excellence in everything you do.
There is a truth in teaching that most teachers never grasp: Students LOVE this kind of thing.
They love a leader that sets the bar high, shows them exactly how to reach it, and then allows them to do it all on their own. It fills them with authentic self-worth and confidence in their ability to do things well.
Seeing is believing.
Once you prove to them that they really can do it, their life will never be the same.
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Unfortunately. These simple steps no longer work in some classrooms. Unaffected by any consequences, their agenda is the most important. Student apathy toward education trumps anything attempt to put in place. It all comes back to your administration, because without their support and enforcement of consequences, expectations do not matter.
You’re incorrect, Rosie. There are entire school districts doing this and many thousands of teachers. You can do it too.
As always, your content continues to be helpful and relevant! I have referred many young new teachers to your website. I would love to see your methods being taught in the classroom via videos. Not sure if that’s something that you might be able to do?
Thanks for all you do!
When I taught school, I trained my students, regardless of grade, to immediately stop what they were doing or saying so they could listen to whatever I needed to tell the whole class. Their cue from me was one word, “Class”. In my room we always had different groups working on different lessons, and a low working noise was acceptable and expected due to the nature of the assignments. They were proud of being able to stop to listen, then immediately return to their tasks. I taught them this routine from the beginning of the year. Teaching was fun!
I appreciate this so much. I’ve shorted mine to a direction instead of a question: “Your attention please.”
What about challenging students that decide to not follow this instruction?