HAND SIGNALS FOR MANAGING GROUP LESSONS {Teacher Tip #27}

You all know "that kid."

He's the one who ALWAYS raises his hand (or sometimes doesn't and just yells out instead) when you ask a question.

Except that he doesn't actually answer the question.

He instead uses that infamous uptalk voice and starts with, "this one time....my family...well my neighbors were there too and they are not my family...but, my family and I were at our camp....it's not really a camp though it's more like a cabin...and this one time..."

And all you had asked was "what does 2+2 equal?"

And you glance at the clock and then back to the boy and then back to the clock and then over to the 21 other kids who are now totally off task and you have that fake smile (you know the one that is really big and wide and comes with the crazy eyes)...OK you get my point.

When brainstorming the procedures and routines that are going to make your classroom flow smoothly, this scene is one that you want to have playing in your mind. Because you absolutely need a system for heading off junior before he starts to share his riveting, yet unrelated story.

Enter "Whole Class Hand Signals!"

Three simple little hand signals that will save you oh-so-much time each and every day.

Instead of having your little friends raise their hand during lessons, have them "raise a sign."

The raised pinky means, "I have a question."

The sign language A means, "I have an answer."

And the sign language C means, "I have a comment."  You can call on them accordingly.

I had shared this tip last year and had many requests for signs to go with them. 

Happy to oblige...many many months later.

{Click here to access and print this packet}

This printable packet includes several different versions of the 3 signs. You can make them like mine of you can just print them and hang them as is. 

{Click here to access and print this packet}

For more tips and ideas on organizing and managing your classroom please check out my Clutter-Free Guide. This post is part of:

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