Call and Response-A Classroom Strategy

What is a Call and Response?

A call and response or call back is an effective classroom strategy to get the attention of your students. The teacher gives a verbal prompt and students respond in unison. This classroom strategy has benefits as a component of your classroom management.

Why use a Call and Response?

Using a call and response as an attention getter has five main benefits:

1. Improves listening skills-Students practice listening and responding quickly, which helps enhance their listening comprehension. More about improving listening skills here!
2. Engages students-a quick verbal response can refocus students and engage them in learning
3. Supports classroom routines-Regular use of call and response helps create predictable routines that help students feel safe and organized.
4. Strengthens memory-Repetition in call and response aids memory, making it easier for students to retain information and concepts.
5. Makes learning fun-using call and response adds an element of fun to your class management

How to Implement

Once you choose to implement call and response-start with a simple phrase and be specific. I start with “Class, Yes.”

Here’s what I say when I introduce a new call and response. “When I say class, you say yes.” Then I say “class” and my students say “yes.”

However that is only part of the process-you MUST teach your students EXACTLY what you want them to do when you ask for their attention. I specifically tell the students what I want them to look like and sound like when I ask for their attention.

The example below is from my call and response resource. I add in other call and response phrases for novelty. However at the bottom of each full page the expectations are listed. Use these to initally teach the expectations and then it becomes a reference point each time you use the call and response.

Get a FREE sample by clicking on the picture below!

Final Thoughts

1. Being consistent is extremely important. That’s why the expectations are the same even if the call and response words change.
2. My resource has 20 call and response to use-both familiar text and original text (created by me). Each call and response has a full page with expectations, 1/2 page for quick reference, color and black/white options, teaching guide and a blank template to create your own call and response.
3. You can use a call and response in conjunction with your current classroom management plan. This strategy can add in some novelty while building a strong classroom routine. Click on the picture below and check out the preview. 👇

Supporting you always! 💗