76 Fun Attention Getters to Use as Call and Responses in the Classroom

Getting the attention of all students in your busy classroom can be tricky. Attention-getters are a great classroom management tool. Whether your students are deeply engrossed in group work, immersed in class projects, or simply engaged in lively conversations, these attention-getters are not just fun, but truly effective in refocusing your class.

You can easily deliver your instructions and keep the learning moving forward!  In this post, you will find tips for how to teach attention-getters as well as a list of creative attention-getters and call and responses to use in your classroom.

When Using Attention-Getters, Keep These Things in Mind

There are a few things to keep in mind when using attention-getters and calls and responses. First, it’s important to keep them short and sweet. If an attention-getter is too long or complicated, students will likely tune it out, which defeats the purpose of getting their attention.

Second, it’s important to mix things up so students don’t get bored. Alternating between different attention-getters will keep students engaged and excited to participate.  Choose about five favorite attention-getters that you can use throughout the school year. 

How to Teach Attention Getters and Calls and Responses

Like any classroom management technique, students will need to be taught how to respond and to practice appropriate responses throughout the school year.   It’s important to establish clear expectations and guidelines when using attention-getters.

Practice the attention-getters by having students talk to their neighbors for a short time. Then do or say the attention-getter and reward students’ positive behavior. Doing this five or six times in a row helps move your high expectation of an immediate response into students’ muscle memory.

It can also be helpful to model different scenarios with the class, giving students opportunities to practice responding to different types of attention-getters throughout the day and in various situations, like walking in line. This will not only teach students how to use these techniques effectively inside and outside the classroom but also give them a chance to try out the creative responses that go with each call and response.

Incorporating Attention Getters into Lessons

Aside from using attention-getters at the beginning of lessons or transitions, they can also be incorporated into the lesson itself. For example, you could use an attention-getter before introducing a new topic or during a particularly challenging part of the lesson. This can help refocus students’ attention and keep them engaged throughout the whole lesson.

How to Choose the Best Attention Getter for Your Classroom?

The best attention-getters are the ones that work most often. They are the ones that flow naturally and bring students to attention. You’ll want to have a variety to choose from, including ones that just use your voice so that when you’re outside of your classroom or across the room you can easily get students’ attention.

To create student-buy-in, consider providing students with a few calls and responses that you are willing to use and having students vote on their favorite ones. This gives them a vested interest in the overall success of the call and response. If one call and response is not successful, move on to a different one or remind students about their list of choices.

What if Students Aren’t Responding to the Attention-Getter? 

Despite using different techniques and incorporating attention-getters into lessons, there may still be instances where students are not responding to them. In these cases, it’s important to reflect on why the attention-getter may not be working and make necessary adjustments.

Some possible reasons for this could include:

• The attention-getter is not relevant or meaningful to the students.
• The tone or delivery of the attention-getter is not engaging enough.
• The students may be going through personal challenges that are affecting their focus.
• The lesson itself may not be engaging enough or too challenging, making it difficult for students to pay attention.

As an educator, it’s important to continuously assess and adapt your teaching methods to ensure that they are effective for all students. If one attention-getter isn’t working, try a different one or adjust your delivery.

Generic Attention Getters

These generic attention-getters are tried and true classroom management techniques that use the teacher’s voice, a prop, or a sound to get students’ attention.

1. Countdown: Begin a countdown from 5, signaling students to stop what they’re doing and listen. 
2. Mystery Word: Say a ‘magic’ word, and when students hear it, they become silent.
3. Whisper Challenge: Start speaking in a whisper so students quiet down to listen. This is often used with a series of claps, like, “If you can hear my voice, clap once. If you can hear my voice clap twice. Etc.”
4. Colorful Lights: Use a colored light (like a stop sign green or red) to signal quiet time.
5. Hand Signal: Raise your hand, and students do the same when they notice.
6. Secret Agent: Pretend to be a secret agent giving a silent signal.
7. Rain Stick: Use a rain stick; students get silent before it stops.
8. Quiet Coyote: Show a ‘quiet coyote’ hand gesture for silence.

Musical Attention Getters

9. ​Clap Pattern: Start a specific clap pattern that students must repeat.
10. Musical Instrument: Play a note on a musical instrument for attention.
11. Music: Play a short, lively tune that you have trained students to know to clean up and freeze when it stops.
12. Whistle Tune: Whistle a familiar tune until you have their attention.​

Movement Attention Getters

Incorporating movement with the attention-getters can add an extra element of fun and engagement for students. Here are a few ideas to try:

13. ​Superhero Pose: Strike a superhero pose and have students mimic it. This pairs well with some of the superhero-themed calls and responses below.
14. Silly Walk: Do a silly walk and students join in until you stop. This works well when you are lining up or need to keep students’ attention while waiting for something outside.

Call and Response Examples to Use as Fun Attention-Getters

In the following list are some of the most common calls and responses and attention-getters that teachers use in the classroom. When the teacher says the first part, the students say the response. These are an effective way to get students’ attention back onto the teacher. Feel free to mix and match, or come up with your own unique variations.

15. Hands on the top…Everybody stop!
16. Hocus Pocus…Everybody Focus!
17. All eyes on me…I’m all ears!
18. One, two, three, eyes on me…One, two, eyes on you!
19. Eyes up…Back straight!
20. Eyes up…Voices off!
21. Zip it, lock it…Put it in your pocket!
22. Flat tire…Shhhhh!
23. 1, 2, 3…Freeze!
24. Hands on top…Everybody stop!
25. L-I-S…T-E-N!
26. Class, class…Yes, yes!
27. Marco…Polo!
28. Eeny Meeny…Miny Mo!
29. Ready Set…You bet!
30. WWW dot…Zip it dot com!
31. If you can’t make a mistake…You can’t make anything!
32. No bees, no honey…No work, no money!
33. Zip, zip, zap…We’re all that!
34. On the count of three…Listen to me!
35. Eyes up here…Ears open wide!

Call and Responses from Pop Culture and Media References

The following list of calls and responses is from popular movies and TV shows.

36. To infinity! And beyond!
37. Scooby Doo…Where are you? We’re right here!
38. Winter is coming… But learning never stops!
39. Do, or do not. There is no try.
40. May the Force…Be with you!
41. Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?…SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS!
42. Sponge Bob…Square Pants!
43. Avengers….Assemble!
44. Autobots…Roll out!
45. Heigh-ho, heigh-ho…It’s off to work we go!
46. Alright, stop…Collaborate and listen!
47. Wingardium…Leviosa
48. Yakety Yak…Don’t talk back!
49. Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?…SpongeBob Squarepants!
50. Here I come to save the day…Mighty Mouse is on his way!
51. Shark bait…Oooh ha ha!
52. Hakuna…Matata!
53. Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah…Zip-a-Dee-Ay!

Food-Related Phrases

54. Macaroni and Cheese…Everybody freeze!
55. Peanut Butter…Jelly time!
56. Hot Fudge….Sundae!
57. Banana…Split!

Interactive and Playful Call and Response Examples

58. Holy moly…Guacamole!
59. What’s up?…It’s all good!
60. Crystal…clear!
61. Can I get a…Whoop whoop!
62. Freeze! Everybody clap your hands!
63. Piece of pie…Piece of cake!
64. Mona…Lisa!
65. Self…Control!
66. Focus UP…
67. Motivational and Inspirational
68. Hear ye, hear ye…All hail the queen (or king)!
69. Ready to Rock?…Ready to Roll!
70. Ready to listen?…Ready to learn!
71. All set?…You bet!
72. What are we here for?…To learn!
73. Work hard…Do right!
74. We are learning…All the time!
75. Every choice you make counts…Make choices you can count on!
76. Good, better…Best!

It’s important to remember that attention-getters are not just about getting students’ focus, but also about creating a positive and engaging learning environment.

So whether you’re using a tried and true technique or coming up with your own creative ideas, always keep in mind the importance of building relationships with your students and making learning fun throughout the school year.

By incorporating these attention-getters, you can capture your students’ attention and set the stage for a successful and enjoyable learning experience.

​