The 5 Finger Rule

The 5 Finger Rule is a management technique I used when I was a classroom teacher to get my students attention.  It helps students remember the 5 things I am expecting from them while I'm teaching: their hands are empty, their eyes are watching, their ears are listening, their mouth is quiet, and their body is still.

As a school counselor, I go into classrooms for guidance lessons and every classroom has their own techniques they are used to.  To alleviate the stress of remembering each teacher's individual system for their class, I introduce the kiddos to "Give Me Five."  I tell them that when I come into their classroom to visit, this is my expectation of them.