Attention Getters for Elementary Teachers

Attention getters are great for elementary teachers to use in their classrooms because they help with classroom management, classroom community and team building.  They are a clear and specific communication with your students.

When you use an attention getter students know exactly what they are supposed to do!  This solves a lot of classroom management issues and helps students stay focused.

This helps them and it helps the teacher.

They set the tone of your classroom too!

We’re using these attention getters to communicate in a positive way to students to stop what they are doing and listen or transition to a new activity. 

Attention getters save time for the teacher, they save the teacher’s voice, they save emotional energy, and they save time for students to do their work.

Many of these are familiar and there are some original ones too.  

Most importantly-find what works for you!

Here’s some attention getters I found and made up that can be used in the elementary classroom.

ATTENTION GETTERS FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS

Remember to:

Practice, practice, practice

Repeat, Repeat, Repeat

Practice, practice, practice again especially during holiday weeks and after breaks.

CALL AND RESPONSE

Hocus Pocus- (students echo)  Everybody Focus

123 Eyes on Me-(students echo)  1-2 Eyes on You

Bubble Back- (students echo)  Hair Stair (when children are lined up)

Alligator- (students echo)  Chomp, Chomp -Students clap hands and stop talking.

 Peanut, peanut butter- (students echo)  JELLY!

1-2-3-4 5 O’clock- (students echo)  STOP!

 Everybody Stop- (students echo)  Hands on Top (students place hands on head)

 Hands and Eyes- Repeat with actions pointing to hands and eyes

Heigh Ho, Height Ho- (students echo) It’s off to work we go!

Bubble gum, Bubble Gum chewy and sweet- Bubble gum bubble gum take a seat

 Monkey in the trees- (students echo)  Quiet please (finger on lips)

Class, class- (students echo)  Yes-Yes

Hands on Top- (students echo)  Everybody Stop (Hands on the head)

Give Me a – (students echo)  Whoop! Whoop! Students arms wave

Copycat- (students echo)  Do that! (students stop and copy your action/pose)

Spell Pizza- (students echo)  P IZZA  stop what you are doing and be quiet

Clap-Clap- Clap- (students echo)  Hands in Lap

Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah-(students echo)Zip-a-Dee-Ay! (Disney’s Song of the South)

Yakety Yak-(students echo) Don’t talk back!

Where are the bees? (students echo) BUZZ, BUZZ and are quiet

The More we get together- (students echo) the happier we’ll be. Use the song to gather students to the carpet or circle.

Oh Yeah!-(students echo) Oh Yeah! Teacher then gives directions. Combine this one with any of the other attention getters.

ACTIONS

Show me Jazz Hands

Silent Round of Applause

Thumbs Up-Let’s Go!  Students are in line and know it’s time to go.

Waterfall: Students use hands to show rain falling and turn off voices.

Bump bumpity bump bump-BUMP BUMP Students stop and freeze or give you attention.

Rhythm Clap Teacher claps a rhythm, and students echo.

Body Percussion- Students stop and copy your actions.

Make a Bubble- Students take a breath and blow air into cheeks and are quiet.

SOUNDS

Xylophone

Shaker

Chime Bar

Yoga Chime

Clapping Pattern

SINGING

Use 2 tones sol/mi playground song voices.

Sing their names

Sing the Topic- Math Time-Circle Time-Carpet Time-Recess-Line Up- Lunch Time- Clean Up-Art time-Music time-Try to use just 2 words.

Attention getters are great for elementary teachers to use in their classrooms because they help with classroom management, classroom community and team building. They are a clear and specific communication with your students.
I hope these help you in your elementary classroom!

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT RESOURCES

MORE ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM TEACHING TIPS

Be sure to check out these other elementary line up songs, classroom management tips and hello songs and games.

READ THE BLOG POST: Easy to Teach Line Up Songs and Chants

READ THE BLOG POST: Classroom Management Songs and Chants for Elementary Teachers All Subjects K-2

READ THE BLOG POST: Hello songs and name games for elementary school

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