Magnet Cup Shuffle
Three paper cups and one small magnet from the white board. Just
like you've seen in those old Forties movies with a guy on the
street, suitcase open. Write your name on the board with three
stars and the class' name with three stars. Overturn the cups
and put them left to right on the floor. Set the magnet under
the center cup, give them a simple shuffle, stop, and smugly ask
the class "This one?" of course pointing to the wrong one.
"NO!!!!!" they'll cry!!! Look a little disturbed, your face
thinking "Hey, I might lose" but still confidently point to
the second wrong cup and say "This one!!!!" "NO!!!!!!!!!!!!" Ok,
now, distraught face, point to the third and correct cup and ask
with animated dejection "This one????" They'll say
"Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!" You push the third cup forward and pick it
up. No kidding, they'll give a celebratory little roar. You
stand with mock saddness and erase one of your stars. Repeat two
more times, getting a little fancier with you cup shuffles but
always making it clear where the magnet is. Erase all your
stars. Count the stars for your side and their's. Say, "So you
are the…? They'll stand and say "Winners! Winners!
Yes,yes,yes!!"
The upshot of all this is to rivet their little minds on you. You've drowned out the individual little fancies that were dancing in their respective minds and unified their attention. They are "warmed-up" and concentrating on you alone. Now just quickly transition to your lesson.
Pretend
This one's great and easy. Walk in, stand everyone up and say,
"Pretend you are a table!" Giving a little demonstration. Then
walk about giving praise for the most impressive tables. Follow
a few seconds later with "Pretend you are a pencil!!!" Do the
same, inspecting, giving praise, pointing out exceptional
pencils. Follow with a few more. This is great because it get
them out of their seats, burning off a little energy,
concentrates them on you and requires thinking in English. Gotta
know what a pencil is; gonna find out what pretend means. If
some kids get out of hand, they have to sit down while the other
kids get to pretend. You can even welcome some class
suggestions. This will get them all jazzed up as they surround,
you shouting out personal favorites. Just say, "Pretend you are
a..." and look inquisitively around the room. Letting them
suggest is especially good for sleepy classes that have just
napped because you can wait a long time before you choose which
shouting kid's suggestion you like; making them shout louder,
jump more and get all woken up even faster.