Attention Getting Games Transcript
Interviewee: Before we have our meeting, let's play a quick game to help you get focused. Are you ready?
Open, shut them. Open, shut them. Give a little clap, clap, clap.
At this age, five-year-olds, sometimes they're so involved in their play or in their work that when it's time to move on to a transition, it's hard to get their attention. Something we notice works well is games, rhymes, songs.
Everybody have a seat on a pillow. Not on the ceiling. Not on the armadillo.
In keeping it fresh, sometimes they'll help and they'll make a suggestion.
Female Voice: Chair and--
Interviewee: You read my mind, Cora. I was about to say that. Okay, ready? Chair and bear. Here we go. Everybody have a seat, have a seat, have a seat. Everybody have a seat on a chair. Not on the ceiling. Not on the bear. Everybody have a seat [fading voice 01:09].
It just makes it a fun way to get their attention.
So before we go, get your bubble wand that I hid under you. It's invisible. Go ahead and get it. How old are all of you now?
Male Voice: Five.
Female Voice: Five.
Interviewee: Okay, blow five big bubbles. Are you ready?
I think it's a way to avoid saying, “Okay, everybody stop and listen,” which usually doesn't work. It's a way to use something fun and engaging for the children to participate in and join the teacher, rather than just giving an instruction.
You ready for our busy box song?
Female Voice: Yes.
Interviewee: Do you think we can whisper it?
Playing guessing games works really well.
What's in my busy box? Oh, what's in my busy box? Oh, what could it be? Just wait and you'll see. Oh, what's in my busy box? I'm gonna take a peek and see what it is. Hm, it's not what I thought it was. Was the noise light, you think? Was it loud? Was it hard?
Female Voice: Loud.
Male Voice: Hard.
Interviewee: Are you ready to see what it was? It was our book. Remember how we used this book yesterday with—
It just works to just get all the children focused and on the same page.
[End of Audio]
18 Comments
Paige Klumpe Sep 25, 2022 2:26pm
At this age, kids love to play, and sometimes it can be hard to transition to classwork. Here she gives them a song or a game to help get their attention and help make the transition seem more of their idea and more fun.
Carleen Warburton Apr 3, 2020 2:38pm
Using different songs to engage the students is so smart because a young student only has a very short attention span. Changing the song automaticly extends that attention span because it is something new. Her lessons seemed to be short. This makes it easier to retain them engaged.
Kourtney Wynn Aug 10, 2017 2:24pm
Jeremy Dixon Jun 25, 2017 7:34pm
Kathleen Davidson Jan 17, 2017 10:36pm