Introduction

Getting someone’s attention is a fundamental social skill that is essential for effective communication. It is especially important for students in special education to learn and practice this skill to help them navigate social situations and avoid misunderstandings. This blog post will provide an overview of the skill, an easy-to-implement no-prep activity, discussion questions, related skills, and next steps for educators to incorporate this important social-emotional learning concept into their teaching.

No-Prep Activity

This activity, called “Attention-Grabbing Charades,” is designed to teach students how to get someone’s attention without requiring any preparation or materials from the educator. Here’s how it works:

1. Divide the students into pairs. If there is an odd number of students, the educator can participate as well.
2. One student in each pair will be the “attention-seeker,” while the other will be the “listener.”
3. The attention-seeker will think of a situation where they need to get the listener’s attention, such as asking for help with homework or inviting them to play.
4. Without using words, the attention-seeker will act out the scenario and try to get the listener’s attention by using appropriate body language, making eye contact, and saying the listener’s name.
5. The listener will respond by either giving their attention or remaining unresponsive, depending on the attention-seeker’s performance.
6. After each scenario, the pairs will switch roles and repeat the process.
7. Once all pairs have completed the activity, gather the students for a group discussion to reflect on their experiences and share their observations.

Discussion Questions

After completing the no-prep activity, use these discussion questions to stimulate further conversation and learning:

1. What are some effective strategies you used or observed for getting someone’s attention? What made them effective?
2. Why is it important to use appropriate body language and eye contact when trying to get someone’s attention?
3. How can we tell when we have successfully gained someone’s attention? What are some signs to look for?
4. How does it feel when someone tries to get your attention in a respectful and appropriate way? How does it feel when they don’t?
5. Can you think of any other situations where knowing how to get someone’s attention would be useful?

Related Skills

Teaching students how to get someone’s attention is just one aspect of social-emotional learning. There are many other related skills that can help students become more effective communicators and build positive relationships. Some of these skills include:

• Active listening: Encouraging students to listen carefully and respond thoughtfully to others.
• Expressing empathy: Helping students understand and share the feelings of others.
• Resolving conflicts: Teaching students how to address disagreements and find solutions that work for everyone involved.
• Building friendships: Guiding students in forming and maintaining meaningful connections with their peers.
• Assertiveness: Empowering students to express their needs and opinions in a respectful and confident manner.

Next Steps

Now that you have learned about teaching students how to get someone’s attention and explored an engaging no-prep activity, it’s time to take the next step in incorporating this crucial skill into your teaching. To access free samples of this skill and others, visit Everyday Speech’s sample materials page and sign up. These resources will provide you with the tools you need to effectively teach social-emotional learning concepts and help your students thrive in social situations.