M9: Getting Students' Attention - Let's Get Silly!

Regardless of the age of your class, it can often be difficult to get students' attention and simultaneously break through their defenses. Sometimes, teachers reach an unhealthy level of irritation in that moment! Have you ever seen this type of strategy to get the attention of a class?

I think I may have been a student in a class or two where the teacher sounded like that!

There are many approaches that can be used to accomplish the goal of gaining attention in a non-threatening way. My favorite is getting the class moving or laughing - preferably BOTH! 

This teacher of young children provides an overview of why and how he uses these "warm ups", and shows one example of an opener that involves moving and recitation of common English word:

Here are a couple of examples from a study abroad trip to the Dominican Republic in 2019. These students are learning English from Texas State students as part of a program to assist with local employment.  Every day they would start with the whole group in a circle to get students motivated and excited to be there.  Yann, the local host, is an absolute EXPERT at energizing a class!  Check out how he gets people engaged:

And here is a similar activity with some of the younger students they worked with: