Show originality when introducing new skills. Begin a new lesson with a song or talk with a different voice until all the kids are listening. Your students will keep watching to see what you say and do next.
Implement fun ways to line up or transition to different areas of the classroom. Call on all students whose name begins with a certain letter to line up. Tell all children who are wearing blue socks to go to the classroom library first. These simple activities make hum-drum routines fun and grab kids' attention while they wait to see when they will be called.
Use hand signals to get children's attention. Teach students these signals during the first week of school. Keep them simple. For example, when you raise your hand with palm up, the class will come to attention and look at you. When you hold up two fingers on one hand, the students know they are talking too loud in groups.
Use a variety of teaching methods to keep students engaged. First graders need frequent changes in pace. After whole-group instruction, transition to cooperative learning groups. Then review an activity using music or a classroom game. This mode of teaching helps meet the needs of your diverse students population.