How to gain and maintain students’ attention is one of the most essential skills a primary teacher can master. Without a structured way to refocus students, valuable learning time is lost, and classroom management becomes more challenging. The good news? Attention-getting strategies can be taught, rehearsed, and embedded into your daily practice.
Here, we’ll explore practical and effective methods to gain students’ attention, including call and response routines, countdowns, and visual cues. Plus, you’ll find example scripts, checklists, and reflection questions to help you refine your approach.
1. Call and Response Routines
Call and response techniques are a fun and engaging way to quickly capture students’ attention. This method works because it requires active participation and is easy to practise as a routine.
Example Call and Response Routines:
- Teacher: “Macaroni and cheese!”
Students: “Everybody freeze!” - Teacher: “One, two, three, eyes on me.”
Students: “One, two, eyes on you!” - Teacher: “Class, class!”
Students: “Yes, yes!” (Using the same tone as the teacher)
Checklist for Practising Call and Response:
✔️ Introduce the routine and explain why it’s important.
✔️ Model how to respond appropriately.
✔️ Practise several times in a fun, engaging way.
✔️ Reinforce by using it consistently.
✔️ Provide positive feedback when students respond well.
2. Countdowns
Countdowns give students a structured, time-bound way to refocus their attention. Using a countdown provides a clear expectation and helps create a predictable routine.
Example Countdown Script:
- Teacher: “When I get to zero, I need silent voices and eyes on me. Three… two… one… zero.”
- Variation: Use gestures such as holding up fingers or clapping in rhythm while counting down.
Tips for Effective Countdowns:
- Use a calm, clear voice and avoid raising it in frustration.
- Be consistent so students recognize it as a signal to refocus.
- Praise students who respond quickly.
3. Visual Cues
Some students respond better to visual signals than auditory cues. Using gestures, signals, or props can help maintain engagement and cater to diverse learning needs.
Examples of Visual Cues:
- Hand Signal: Hold up your hand with five fingers and count down silently.
- Object Use: Raise a small sign that says “Eyes on Me” or use a musical instrument like a bell or chime.
Checklist for Using Visual Cues:
✔️ Teach students what the cue means and how to respond.
✔️ Model the expected behaviour.
✔️ Practise with students in a low-stakes setting.
✔️ Reinforce by using the cues consistently.
Practising and Reinforcing Attention-Getting Strategies
Consistency is key. The first time you introduce a new attention signal, it may not work perfectly. The trick is to explicitly teach, model, and practise it repeatedly.
Rehearsal Steps:
- Introduce the Strategy: Explain why it’s important and what students should do.
- Model It: Demonstrate the correct response.
- Guided Practice: Practise it together as a class.
- Reinforce It: Use it consistently and provide feedback.
- Reflect: Ask students how they feel about the routine and make adjustments if necessary.
Example of All Steps in Action:
- Introduce the Strategy: “Class, we are going to use ‘One, two, three, eyes on me’ to help us focus. When you hear me say it, I want you to respond with ‘One, two, eyes on you’ and look at me.”
- Model It: The teacher demonstrates by saying the phrase and looking around the room to make sure students understand how to respond.
- Guided Practice: The class practises the routine together, with the teacher giving feedback: “Great job, everyone responded quickly! Let’s try again and see if we can do it even faster.”
- Reinforce It: Throughout the day, the teacher consistently uses the call and response to gain attention and acknowledges students who respond promptly.
- Reflect: At the end of the week, the teacher asks, “How do you feel about this routine? Is it helping us stay focused? What can we do better?” Adjustments are made based on student feedback.
Reflection Questions for Teachers
- Which strategies have worked best for gaining my students’ attention?
- How consistent am I in using these strategies?
- Are my students responding quickly, or do I need to reinforce expectations?
- What adjustments can I make to improve engagement?
- How can I ensure that my attention-getting methods are inclusive of all learning needs?
Final Thoughts on how to Gain and Maintain Students’ attention
Attention-getting strategies are a game changer in the primary classroom. By implementing call and response routines, countdowns, and visual cues, you can create a structured, engaging learning environment where students know what to expect. The key is to teach, model, and consistently reinforce these routines so they become second nature for your students.
Do you have a favourite way of gaining students’ attention? Share your experiences in the comments!
