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Once again, the IDA Ontario's Literacy & Learning Conference proved to be an amazing experience. Connecting with fellow educators who share the same passion for the science of reading reignited my commitment to inspiring and impacting student outcomes.
During the conference, I had the opportunity to share my favourite attention getters and call-and-response techniques with other educators. For the complete collection of these techniques, be sure to check out the PDF at the end of this post!"
Capturing and maintaining students' attention is an exciting challenge for educators. It's an opportunity to explore creative strategies that keep students engaged and eager to learn. I love layering in fun yet effective strategies that educators can employ to create an engaging and interactive learning environment. Attention getters and call-and-response techniques, not only draw students attention but also foster participation.
Attention Getters: Attention getters are brief statements or actions used by teachers to redirect students' focus and signal the beginning of a new activity or lesson segment.
These can range from simple verbal cues to attention-grabbing gestures or props. The primary purpose of attention getters is to gain students attention and orient them towards the upcoming instruction. For example, a teacher might clap their hands rhythmically, say "Eyes on me," or use a call-and-response phrase like "Class, class" to which students respond with "Yes, yes."
Benefits of Attention Getters:
Establishing Routine: Incorporating attention getters into daily classroom routines helps create a predictable structure, signaling transitions between activities and promoting a sense of organization.
Cultivating Focus: By drawing students' attention to the teacher or the task at hand, attention getters help minimize off-task behavior and promote active engagement in learning.
Building Community: Shared attention getters can foster a sense of unity and belonging among students, as they participate in a collective response to the teacher's cues.
Call-and-Response Techniques: Call-and-response techniques involve a prompt or cue from the teacher, to which students respond in unison or individually. This interactive method encourages active participation and reinforces content retention through repetition and engagement. Call-and-response can take various forms, such as verbal chants, rhythmic claps, or hand gestures paired with specific phrases or questions.
Benefits of Call-and-Response Techniques:
Engagement and Participation: Call-and-response encourages all students to actively participate, as they eagerly anticipate their turn to respond to the teacher's prompt.
Reinforcement of Learning: Repetition inherent in call-and-response strengthens memory retention and reinforces key concepts or vocabulary, making learning more effective.
Classroom Management: By channeling students' energy into a structured and purposeful activity, call-and-response techniques can effectively manage behavior and create a positive classroom
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