attention getters

[KSR]

I teach pre-k and this year i am having a hard time getting all the kids attentions. Do you have any suggestions?

[Cathy]

Here are a couple: sing any kind of song when you want them to gather; change the volume of your voice (sometimes whispering gives amazing results!); hand-clapping a pattern will draw them in: once you have most of them--begin (they get restless after about 2 seconds of waiting). Of course, once you have their attention, make it fun. They'll settle more quickly after they get used to a routine. Don't expect to hold a typical group of 3's and 4's for more than 10 minutes at the beginning of the year. Good luck.

[Leigh]

At the daycare where I work, we just bought a singing bird. When we want to get their attention, we turn on the bird. They will start gathering around the bird and then we can take it from there. Of course once the newness of the bird wears off this probably won't work anymore.

[KSR]

Thank you for your responses. i also went to www.perpetualpreschool.com and got other ideas. It is a great web site that I learned about on this message board.
Thanks again!:D :D