Non-Verbal Communication

Action Plan:

Figuring out effective ways to communicate and get my students' attention will be a crucial part of my success as a teacher.  I will use non verbal cues to communicate in the classroom.  There will be many times when verbal communication will be less effective than a non verbal action.  I have a growing list of strategies to get the students attention.  I will continue to swap strategies throughout the year for students' to not get complacent or bored.

• Clapping- I will develop unique clapping patterns.  These will allow me to use sound and hand gestures to communicate with the students'.  I could have many different cadences and unique identifiers which would be associated with specific desired procedures.  The hand claps could also be a call and response activity which would require the students to clap back in response to my initial clap pattern.

• Raise My Hand - I can stand in front of the class and raise my hand.  This will be a non-verbal cue for the students to stop talking and raise their hand to let me know they are ready to continue.  I will have to explain how this procedure works in the beginning of the school year.

• Sounding Bowl - I will use a bowl that radiates a ringing sound when struck.  I will utilize this to get the students' attention.  

• Lights Out - I will utilize the light switch as a tool to get the students' attention.

Rationale and Reflection:

Getting the students attention in a non combative way is a key focus of any well managed classroom.   I want to always consider the needs of my students when deciding what strategies to utilize.  There may be some strategies that do not work well with certain students.  I will always be willing to switch or move quickly to another strategy if necessary.  According to Pinto (2013), "having a strategy to quickly get students attention is important, but it should be appropriate and engaging for the class."