If Students Aren't Listening, They Aren't Learning

You are a first-year teacher, full of fresh ideas and enthusiasm. You're excited to try out the lessons you have developed. The first day of school arrives, and your bubble is quickly burst - why aren't they listening to you? How do you make them pay attention?

I taught next to a novice teacher a while back who was in this predicament. He had wonderful ideas and a great sense of humor; however, when he talked, nobody listened. His creative ideas fell on deaf ears. The most important procedure you can teach students at the beginning of the year is how you intend to get their attention.

Best-selling author and long-time teacher, Harry K. Wong, along with his wife, Rosemary, penned "The First Days of School." Their philosophy on how to get the students' attention is tried and true - and it makes perfect sense. Take the time to establish routines, and the rest of the school year will flow much more smoothly and be less stressful.

Decide

Don't walk into your classroom thinking that you will ask the students to listen and they automatically will. Sure, that would be great, but it's not reality. You must determine a procedure beforehand to get their undivided attention. Hint: trying to scream over them doesn't work. Harry Wong suggests you raise a hand, or - if students are engaged in more active learning such as groups - ring a bell. They need to understand what that signal means: freeze, eyes on the teacher, and get ready for instruction, because the teacher has something to say.

Explain

Make clear to the students what the steps of your "getting student attention" procedure will look like - always use the same terminology: "I'll raise my hand or ring a bell; you freeze with your eyes on me; get ready for instruction." Demonstrate and model the procedure several times. Ask different students to repeat back the steps, and solicit volunteers to model them.

Rehearse

Now practice the procedure with the entire group. Tell them to chat with boys and girls who sit near them. Raise your hand and ring the bell. Don't say a word until every single student is in the freeze position and looking at you for instruction. Try it a second time and see if transition time is decreased. Next, place students around the room: at the pencil sharpener, in a reading group - just as they might be at any given time of the day when they're out of their seats. Practice the procedure again, each time raising your hand, ringing the bell and waiting for absolute attention.

Reinforce

As the days and weeks go on, praise the students when they follow the procedure correctly. Stop and re-teach the procedure, if you feel it's necessary. Don't let up until it becomes an established routine, a habit. If your students work closely with other teachers, it's an advantage if the routine is the same in all classes.

Source: Harry K. and Rosemary Wong, "The First Days of School"

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