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15 Clever Call and Responses to Use in the Classroom!

August 15, 2019 by Wise Guys 85 Comments

Remember teachers banging on desks to get students' attentions? Not anymore! Here's 15 clever call and responses to get your students' attention in a good way!

When we were students, we can remember teachers yelling, turning off the lights, or even slapping a ruler on a desk. Not the most friendly ways to get attention. Actually, they were down right frightening when the sound of a ruler cracked across the desk.

In recent years, we have learned about call and responses. For those of you who are not familiar with this concept, the teacher calls out a phrase, and then the student completes the phrase. It is a great way for students to refocus their attention back on you, the teacher!

Popular Call and Responses

Below are some of our favorite call and responses:
1. Gangham….Style
2. Mine….Craft
3. Do You Want to….Build a Snowman!
4. Peanut Butter….Jelly Time!
5. We Are Students….Bump, ba bump, bump, bump, bump, bump (from the Farmer’s Insurance commercial).
6. Harry….Potter
7. Click it….Or Ticket
8. Zip it Lock it….Put it in Your Pocket
9. Echo Clap (teacher claps a pattern and students repeat it)
10. Shake Shake Shake….Shake Your Milkshake

Here are five more!

11. All Right Stop….Collaborate and Listen (From Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby”)
12. Sportscenter Theme: Da da da….da da da
13. Hey Class….Hey What (say it in different voices and they mimic)
14. Insert school name and mascot: Moorehead!….Mustangs!
15. And probably the funnest one of all, make one up with your class!

We would love to hear what call and responses you use. Please comment below so you can share your wonderful ideas with teachers across the world.

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If you want increased student engagement check out some of our favorite resources below:

Brain Breaks (over 50!)

Random Acts of Kindness Activity

Student Engagement Task Cards

Here are five more call and responses!
16. Star….Wars
17. Watch me whip….Watch me Nae Nae
18. Are you ready kids… Aye, Aye Captain!
19. Hocus Pocus… Everyone focus.
20. Can you do it? … Yes, we can!

Remember teachers banging on desks to get students' attentions? Not anymore! Here's 15 clever call and responses to get your students' attention in a good way!
Photo credit.

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: call and response

Comments

  1. Gabrielle Ortega says

    September 20, 2015 at 10:33 pm

    One of my favorites is when I say, ” Minions” and the class responds with, “bananas!”

    Reply
  2. Wise Guys says

    September 28, 2015 at 5:52 am

    That’s a good one too! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Theresa says

      February 8, 2016 at 7:04 pm

      Teacher: Are you ready kids?

      Students: Aye, Aye Captain!

      Reply
  3. Elizabeth says

    September 29, 2015 at 2:24 pm

    “Red Robin” – “Yumm!”

    Reply
  4. Myesha Bizzell says

    September 29, 2015 at 9:43 pm

    I say “HOW ARE THE CHILDREN” & the students say “THE CHILDREN ARE WELL”

    Reply
    • Wise Guys says

      September 30, 2015 at 6:25 am

      I like it! Great idea!

      Reply
  5. Chelsea says

    September 30, 2015 at 9:34 pm

    We’ve got an ocean theme so I say “Shark Bait” they answer “Ohh haha”

    Reply
  6. Krista says

    October 1, 2015 at 7:59 am

    I use something similar when I’m subbing for middle school. I whisper, “If you can hear my voice put your hands on your head. If you can hear my voice put your hands in the air.” I do the motions with them and change it up every time. Similar to Simon Says. It prevents students from getting creative with the sub and screaming the response.

    Reply
    • Wise Guys says

      October 2, 2015 at 10:49 pm

      Great idea for substitute teachers and even regular classroom teachers! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    • Kristie says

      November 27, 2016 at 10:40 am

      I do this sometimes too and my students love it!! It’s such an effective way to get attention while promoting a quiet, calm environment!

      Reply
  7. Samantha says

    October 2, 2015 at 6:51 pm

    The two I use are:

    Teacher: “Hands on Top”
    Students: [put hands on head] “Everybody stop”

    Teacher: [put hand in air] “Give me five… four… three… two… one…” while also countin down with fingers
    Students: raise hand and count down either verbally or with fingers

    Reply
  8. Kris says

    October 3, 2015 at 6:36 am

    I am a Star Wars fan so I try to incorporate Star Wars whenever I can. I say “Yoda” and the class says “Chewbacca”

    Reply
    • Wise Guys says

      October 7, 2015 at 7:11 am

      Great! I am a big fan too. With the new movie coming out we are doing: “Star” and then “Wars.”

      Reply
  9. Nancy Eckert says

    October 3, 2015 at 12:02 pm

    I say “Hocus Pocus”
    They respond “Time to focus”

    Reply
  10. Amanda Kendall says

    October 3, 2015 at 7:09 pm

    In my first and second grade combined class I will say :

    Capiche (Caposh)
    Eyeballs (Click)

    Reply
    • Allison says

      September 3, 2016 at 4:02 pm

      That’s funny! I use “Eyeballs!” and the students respond with “CLICK!” too!!!!! I have never heard it being used by someone else!

      Reply
  11. Ana Simoes says

    October 6, 2015 at 3:52 am

    I love :

    I say ” All eyes on me”

    They say” All eyes on you”

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      October 11, 2015 at 1:34 am

      We often say : 1,2,3 Eyes on me and kiddos repeat 1,2 Eyes on you!

      Reply
      • Veronica says

        December 6, 2015 at 3:36 pm

        When I taught first grade I would say”1,2,3…” they would say “all eyes on you”.
        Some of my favorites I’ve picked up include:
        I say “ba-dop-bop-bop,-bah… they say “I’m loving it!”
        I say “ready to rock” they say “ready to roll” a good one to say before we enter the hall

        Reply
    • LaShawna says

      December 31, 2015 at 1:13 am

      Another variation…
      Call: 1, 2, 3 All eyes on me.
      Response: Red, Yellow, Blue All eyes on you!

      Reply
    • Alison says

      January 18, 2016 at 12:55 pm

      I say

      Teacher:Class Class

      Class: Yes Yes

      Reply
  12. Ms. Robbie says

    October 6, 2015 at 3:58 pm

    Back when it was popular we had the entire secondary trained that when we said “What does the fox say?” they all responded with “Ringa-ding-ding”

    Reply
    • Wise Guys says

      October 7, 2015 at 7:11 am

      Love it! That song still comes up every once in a while.

      Reply
  13. Ja'Lynn says

    October 8, 2015 at 12:44 pm

    I use,

    (Teacher) Ba da ba ba baa…

    (Students) I’m loving it…

    (Teacher) Okie dokie
    (students) Artichokie (play on Artichoke)

    Reply
  14. Cathy4th says

    October 10, 2015 at 10:04 pm

    The best for my Buckeye state students is O-H…I-O. We also do To infinity…And beyond. Nice thinkin’…Abe Lincoln. Winner Winner…Chicken Dinner. I call them holler backs, but my 4th grade students and I both call them out softly in the classroom. I love using them and my students really respond to them!

    Reply
    • Wise Guys says

      October 21, 2015 at 6:59 am

      Very creative! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    • Bonnie says

      July 14, 2016 at 9:48 am

      Being from Ohio and a Buckeye fan, I love it!!

      Reply
  15. Nonie Ogilvie says

    October 11, 2015 at 3:26 pm

    Wax on…..Wax off

    Reply
  16. Chrissy says

    October 12, 2015 at 12:50 am

    Hocus pocus… Everybody focus!

    Reply
  17. Rableather says

    October 12, 2015 at 7:05 pm

    Can you do it? Yes we can! ( Bob the builder)

    Reply
  18. Cissy says

    October 14, 2015 at 8:11 am

    I say, “everybody clap your hands” students respond by clapping to the beat of the song.

    Reply
  19. Julie Boose says

    October 14, 2015 at 2:28 pm

    I live in Ohio. I say O-H and students reply, I-O!

    Reply
  20. Marcy says

    October 14, 2015 at 6:36 pm

    all set? – you bet!

    Less talking – more working

    To infinity – and beyond

    Name on your paper – first thing
    Pencil on your head when you’re – ready

    Iceburg – straight ahead or where?

    Hey you! – who me?

    Just a few 🙂

    Reply
  21. Natalie Bush says

    October 15, 2015 at 10:11 pm

    A couple favorites in my room:
    Teacher: Flat Tire. Kids: Shhhhhh

    Macaroni and Cheese, Everybody Freeze.

    Reply
  22. Allison says

    October 20, 2015 at 9:24 am

    321…..talking is done

    Reply
  23. Marci says

    October 27, 2015 at 8:06 am

    I have a class of all girls, and so we love the one; Zip zip zap? We’re all that! I also want to try Zip it, lock it? Put it in your pocket!

    Reply
  24. Marie Goble says

    October 30, 2015 at 12:57 am

    With my kinders I say: 1-2-3…

    They reply: Can’t catch me!

    Reply
  25. Debbie Barber says

    November 8, 2015 at 8:19 am

    I say, “Watch me whip!” They say, “Watch me nae nae!”

    Reply
    • Alison says

      January 18, 2016 at 12:59 pm

      I say watch me whip they say hey now watch me nae nae

      you have to do it in the tune of the song

      Reply
  26. Angie Muster says

    November 18, 2015 at 3:17 pm

    R E S P E C T……find out what it means to me!!

    Reply
    • Brooke says

      October 28, 2016 at 11:57 pm

      Love it!

      Reply
  27. Janet felton says

    November 20, 2015 at 5:58 am

    A couple I use are-

    Turkey, turkey…. Looking perky!

    Yakkity yak… Don’t talk back!

    Ready Rudolph… Ready Santa!

    The kids love them and they work well for bringing the students’ attention back.

    Reply
  28. Arline Thornton says

    November 23, 2015 at 11:18 am

    Very good ideas! However, “funnest”?????????????????? Please!

    Reply
  29. Brenna Banks says

    December 3, 2015 at 11:59 am

    1 2 3 eyes on me… 1 2 eyes on you

    Reply
  30. Lu Bartell says

    December 3, 2015 at 5:27 pm

    T: 1-2-3, back to me! S: 1-2 back to you!

    Reply
  31. Asia says

    December 5, 2015 at 10:57 pm

    My call and response is: Can you dig it! We can dig it!

    Reply
  32. Karen Heersche says

    December 7, 2015 at 5:46 am

    I say “Heersche” (Hershey), they say “chocolate.” This was their idea.

    Reply
  33. Sharon Banks says

    December 11, 2015 at 8:16 pm

    Teacher: tootsie rolls and lolly pops
    Students: we’ve been talking, now we stop!

    Reply
  34. Lynn C. says

    December 12, 2015 at 11:56 pm

    I also use the McDonald’s one ba-dop-bop-bop,-bah… but instead of saying them saying “I’m loving it!” they
    say “I’m learning it!”

    Reply
    • Patti says

      December 28, 2015 at 3:34 pm

      Love this variation!

      Reply
    • Alison says

      January 18, 2016 at 1:03 pm

      I say class
      they say yes

      Reply
  35. Dotty johnson says

    December 13, 2015 at 5:37 pm

    Macaroni and cheese… Everybody freeze.

    Reply
  36. Pamela Martin says

    December 15, 2015 at 10:39 am

    Yo ho, yo ho… a pirate’s life for me!

    It’s a small world… after all!

    Chicka chicka… boom boom!

    Reply
  37. Rachel says

    December 19, 2015 at 8:22 pm

    I have a ton that I use…here are some favorites:
    You say: Waterfall!/ Kid’s say :Shhhhhhh!!! *hands move down in a twinkling motion*
    You say: Mahna Mahna/ Kid’s say: Do do-do do

    and then I use a lot of local sports ones that my kids love (luckily, we live in San Francisco and our sports have been amazing and the teams are filled with a lot of great role models for my kids)…the one we’ve been using the most lately?
    You say: STEPH CURRY WITH THE SHOT! / Kid’s say: SPLASH!!!

    Reply
  38. Cheryl wallet says

    December 22, 2015 at 12:09 pm

    Teacher- Macoroni and cheese! Students- Freeze!

    Reply
  39. Sarah H says

    December 23, 2015 at 9:24 pm

    Teacher: Scooby
    Students: Doo

    Reply
  40. Josh Montero says

    December 25, 2015 at 2:14 am

    I always get a good reaction from my kids when I say “surf’s up!” and they reply in the voice of Crush from Finding Nemo with “duuuuuuuuude”

    Reply
  41. Brittney M says

    December 26, 2015 at 8:56 pm

    I say “watch me whip” and they respond with “watch me nay-nay”

    Reply
  42. Jean vengrin says

    December 28, 2015 at 7:48 am

    My children need practice with vowels so I say ah, ah, ah (as in at) they say short a.
    I say ai, ay, a silent e students say long a!

    Reply
  43. Carrie says

    December 31, 2015 at 8:37 am

    I call out “Waterfall” and they all wiggle their fingers down from the sky (like it’s raining) and they say “shhhhhhhhhhhhhh”. Works every time!

    Reply
    • Francy says

      June 10, 2016 at 2:39 pm

      I have to say “waterfall” was my all time favorite this year and worked the best with my 1st graders!

      Reply
  44. Deb says

    January 1, 2016 at 11:04 pm

    I’m not really sure how to incorporate the call and response into my math lesson. Can you post a video of a lesson using this technique please.

    Reply
    • JessicA says

      March 12, 2016 at 9:45 pm

      How about during stations. Mor anytime you’re ready for the, to transition.

      Reply
  45. Jessica Smith says

    January 4, 2016 at 10:12 pm

    Teacher:Whistles the mocking jay (from hunger games)
    Students: repeat and raise the mocking jay salute.

    Reply
  46. Beth says

    January 13, 2016 at 9:44 am

    My eighth graders chose “Stop” and then they responded “hammer-time.”

    Reply
  47. Jeanne Congdon says

    February 20, 2016 at 5:14 pm

    I would say, “Give me 5”, then I’d start counting backwards from 5, while holding up my fingers. I taught the kids from the first day of school that when we reached 1, they were NOT to say, “Blast off!” In fact, as we reached 1, our voices got quieter.

    Reply
  48. JessicA says

    March 12, 2016 at 9:47 pm

    We love turtles and dr. Seuss. I say “yertle!” And they say, “Turtle!”

    Reply
  49. Francy says

    March 23, 2016 at 10:39 pm

    My students favorite…
    Teacher: ABC….
    Students: …it’s easy as 1, 2, 3 (Jackson 5 song, ABC)

    Reply
  50. Tressi Dando says

    April 6, 2016 at 7:16 pm

    Scooby Dooby Doo……….where are you!

    Reply
  51. Maureen says

    April 21, 2016 at 8:56 pm

    I say Here he, here he.
    They say All hail the queen

    Reply
  52. Lori says

    June 9, 2016 at 10:11 pm

    Are you ready?….. I was born ready… (one of my students responded one day with this and we kept it)
    Get it…. Got it…. Good
    Bada Bing…. Bada Boom

    Reply
  53. Cheri says

    August 8, 2016 at 7:40 pm

    Groovy?….Groovy Mannnn!
    I teach art… so we use artists that we’ve learned Leonardo…. DaVinci!

    Reply
  54. Mandy says

    September 4, 2016 at 6:21 pm

    When calling on a student to respond to a question, “Hit me with your best shot….fire away.”

    Reply
  55. Amy Delmanto says

    September 25, 2016 at 8:07 pm

    I saw Red Robin and they respond with YUUUMMM!

    Reply
  56. Mariah Hickman says

    October 1, 2016 at 7:44 pm

    To infinity… And beyond!

    Reply
  57. misshutson says

    November 10, 2016 at 3:33 pm

    We use a few

    T: Cha-cha
    S: cha, cha, cha

    T: Gobble gobble
    S: Wobble wobble

    T: class, class
    S: yes, yes
    and I mix this one up and they just mimic and replace “class” with “yes”
    ex. T: oh class, oh class
    S: oh yes, oh yes

    T: 1, 2, 3 eyes on me
    S: 1, 2 eyes on you

    T: oh me
    S; oh my

    Reply
    • Kristie says

      November 27, 2016 at 11:08 am

      We’re in Ontario Canada so for

      September (I was teaching in a Core French class) we did
      T: C’est la
      S: vie!

      October (playoff baseball)
      T: Blue
      S: Jays!

      November (because of Remembrance Day)
      T: Give peace….
      S: a chance.

      December:
      T: Hot…
      S: chocolate!

      Reply
  58. Yolatl says

    January 3, 2017 at 4:46 pm

    My students clap “we will rock you” by Queen

    Reply
  59. Jessica says

    March 30, 2017 at 8:02 pm

    I say Marco! They say Polo!

    Reply
  60. Ashley says

    October 24, 2018 at 11:09 am

    I use Mona…….. Lisa (they have to sit like Mona Lisa but hands on desk)
    And flat tire……..shhh

    Reply
    • Angela says

      November 23, 2018 at 7:38 am

      Tootsie Roll, Lollipop
      We were talking, now we stop
      is our current favorite!

      Reply
  61. Robin says

    March 17, 2019 at 2:29 am

    This little light of mine……IM gonna let it shine!

    Reply
  62. Ashley Cormier says

    May 17, 2019 at 5:53 am

    My favorites are
    “flat tire” “shhhhhhh”
    “hocus pocus” “everybody focus”
    “Mac and cheese” “everybody freeze”
    “class, class” “yes, yes” (said in a silly voice usually.)

    Reply
  63. KPAX says

    May 9, 2020 at 12:26 am

    “Hear ye! Hear ye!”
    “All hail the Queen!”

    Reply

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    […] with these myself, so I like to consult these lists from innovative teachers like Angela Watson and The Wise Guys.  Playworks has a video demonstrating the use of several popular techniques in this […]

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