There are many ways to get the attention of a group of children. I have sometimes found the use of the light switch a useful way to communicate where our parent-child groups are concerned; as we have a large EAL (English as Additional Language) following.
When preparing my pre-school groups for story time I have found teaching an interactive group response leading up to the story helpful.
I begin with:
How do we get ready for story time?
….do we stand or do we sit?
….response – we sit
Yes! Why do we sit?
….response because other people can not see if we stand
Excellent! Where are your eyes during story time?
….response – looking at the book
Yes, so don’t look at your toes or your neighbor, look at the book.
….this usually gets a little giggle.
Why do we need to look at the book?
….if you don’t look at the book you’ll miss parts of the story!
What are your ears for during story time?
….response ….listening.
Excellent! Do we talk during story time?
….response…no
Why not?
….response ….Because other people cannot hear the story
Awesome! I can see that everyone is ready for a story.
So now let’s count to 3 and make a sound that tells us to be quiet so we can begin the story. ….response ….1,2,3, SHHHHH.
This has been an inclusive successful way for teaching the children I work with and as part of our routine and allows them time to settle in. For school aged children clapping out a sequence or pattern and having the children repeat that pattern back, works well in closed quarters.
For outside supervision, to get children to freeze and stop what they are doing I use a whistle at times as the play space is extremely large and I prefer this for an immediate response or “head’s up” versus trying to raise one’s voice loud enough; which would be impossible across the distance of the field, I only use the whistle if I cannot physically get to the student immediately to get their attention, to stop what they are doing, or if I want the whole area to look to me for instruction.
It has worked well for us!
For love of a child,
Cindy