On 7/14/10, ELA Teacher wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I will be teaching high school for my first time this year
> and could really use some advice on age-appropriate class
> attention procedures.
>
> When I taught middle school, I used Harry Wong's "Give Me
> Five", and that worked great for 6th and 7th grades, but my
> 8th graders felt it was too childish for them... I can only
> imagine what the high schoolers will think!
>
> I've seen some examples of "turning off the lights"

Congratulations on your new position!

With some high school classes simply saying "I need your
attention please" (or something to that effect) is a good
enough signal.

I have seen teachers raise their hand as a signal for other
students to stop talking and raise their own hands -
effective because even if a student doesn't see the teacher
raise her hand, the student will see peers start raising
their hands.

I've also seen teachers clap once and expect students to clap
back.

Another teacher played a few seconds of music from a CD
player (this same teacher just began talking and asked for
the student's attention when students were already working
relatively quietly at their desks - only used the music for
transitions from "louder" projects such as group work)

I've seen a few teachers use bells, chimes, etc (a Spanish
teacher used a maraca) - there are many positibilities; if
you use a noisemaker I'd recommend something that isn't too
loud or "obnoxious" - if students perceive it along the lines
of being yelled at, you've defeated the purpose of using a
sound signal.

Likewise I don't really like the lights on-and-off thing -
students often perceive it as "rude" and it can also be a
trigger for a small number of students with photosensitive
epilepsy or migraine issues. Another reason it may not be the
best choice is that you have to be at the light switch to do
it - for myself I've always preferred a signal that could be
used from anywhere in the room.

Find what fits your personality - my suggestion is just that
it be something relatively quick, relatively convenient and
not perceived by students as disrespectful or annoying. You
might also ask teachers at your new school for ideas - that
wil give you an idea what type of thing works well with your
school's population and what they're most used to.

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