Every teacher knows that an efficient ‘Attention Signal’ is crucial to good classroom management. This short article explores how to make the Quiet Signal work and gives plenty of variations to allow students to do what they like doing most: talk, without losing control of the class.

We are often asked what’s in a team pack or team equipment box. The link below provides some suggestions for content lists for team packs or boxes.

As well as identifying student A & B, each team member needs to know their number. This table label will assist with identifying team member 1, 2, 3 & 4 for each team.

Students need help to think of ways to say hello, goodbye and positive words to praise each others efforts These posters are examples created by a group of Year 7 students. They are examples of wall posters that will assist your students to give positive affirmations to each other.

Created by Marilyn Stockhammer, HT Science Callaghan College Waratah Technology Campus.

Positive comments, praising and cheers are important for building student esteem, releasing endorphins and maximising positive atmosphere in the classroom. Celebrations enhance learning, boost attention and motivation. Some examples of cheers are attached. Click on the links below.

As well as defining a ‘Classbuilder’ this article gives 7 great reasons for using them in your classroom. Click on the image to view an enlarged image.

Posters to help teach social skill. If you observe that social skills are “broken” then you need to teach appropriate skills. These posters can be used to discuss what behaviours we do and do not want to see in a cooperative learning classroom.

To develop social skills you can target a social skill for a week or 2. Reference Chapter 11 Kagan Cooperative Learning

1. Place the title of the social skill on the target.
2. Teachers need to model what the social skill looks and sounds like. For example, if the social skill you wish to develop is “greeting” say “hello”, “hi”, “nice to see you”, etc.
3. Then model what greeting looks like – give a hi 5, or shake hands, knock knuckles, etc
4. During the week “catch them being good” and reinforce the social skill you are trying to develop in your students.
5. Have your students self evaluate by asking, “What greeting have you received and what greeting have you given, to other students, when you meet them?”
6. Finally, have your students plan a greeting they will give next time they meet another student.

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Praising

Greeting

Parting

Coaching

Helping

Sharing

Staying on Task

Encouraging

Asking for Help

Active Listening

Quiet Voices

Working Together

To encourage students to provide mutual support within their teams – if students want to ask a question firstly they ask a question of their shoulder partner, then their face partner and then the other member of the team. This would be 3 people before the whole team put up their hands and ask a question of the teacher.

Here are 2 posters for a Parking Lot. This is a place where students post their questions. One is a poster with “Post your questions here…..”Students can use sticky notes and post their questions onto the poster. The second poster has a large arrow pointing down. You can place a container or box below the sign and students can write on scraps of recycled paper and place their questions into the box.