Introduction

Gaining someone’s attention is a crucial skill for students to develop, as it sets the stage for effective communication. This skill ensures that the listener is prepared to engage in a conversation or respond to a question. In this blog post, we will explore a no-prep activity that educators can use to teach students how to gain someone’s attention respectfully and effectively. We will also discuss relevant discussion questions, related skills, and provide a link to free sample materials to further support educators in teaching this valuable skill.

No-Prep Activity

This activity, called “Attention-Grabbing Scenarios,” requires no preparation or materials from the educator. Begin by dividing the students into pairs. In each pair, one student will be the “attention-seeker” and the other will be the “listener.” Provide the attention-seeker with a scenario in which they need to gain the listener’s attention. For example, the attention-seeker needs to ask the listener for help with a math problem, or the attention-seeker has a question about a class assignment.

The attention-seeker must then practice gaining the listener’s attention by following these three steps:

1. Move close to the listener while maintaining personal space.
2. Face the listener and make eye contact, if comfortable.
3. Say the listener’s name or use a phrase like “excuse me” or “hello.”

The listener should respond by turning their body towards the attention-seeker, making eye contact, and acknowledging them verbally. After practicing the scenario, the students can switch roles and repeat the activity with a different scenario. This exercise helps students understand the importance of gaining someone’s attention before starting a conversation or asking a question.

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it important to gain someone’s attention before starting a conversation or asking a question?
2. What are some examples of respectful ways to gain someone’s attention?
3. How can we maintain personal space while trying to gain someone’s attention?
4. What are some inappropriate ways to gain someone’s attention, and why should we avoid them?
5. How can we practice patience if someone is busy and unable to give us their attention immediately?

Related Skills

Teaching students how to gain someone’s attention is closely related to other essential Social-Emotional Learning skills, such as:

• Active listening: Students must learn to be attentive and engaged listeners when they have successfully gained someone’s attention.
• Respectful communication: Students should practice speaking politely and using appropriate language when gaining someone’s attention and during conversations.
• Patience: It’s crucial for students to develop patience when waiting for someone’s attention or when waiting for a response during a conversation.
• Reading social cues: Students should learn to recognize non-verbal cues that indicate whether someone is available for conversation or busy.

Next Steps

Now that you have a better understanding of how to teach students the skill of gaining someone’s attention, we encourage you to explore more resources and activities to support your students’ Social-Emotional Learning journey. To access free samples of materials related to gaining someone’s attention and other essential skills, visit Everyday Speech’s sample materials page and sign up today.