Taking a Step Back - Getting Students to Listen

This week I implemented the Whole Brain Strategies for Teaching:
We have done:
1.  "Class, Class";  "Yes, Yes" response calls.
2.    Rule # 1. Follow Directions;
       Rule # 2. Raise Your Hand for Permission to Speak;
       Rule # 3. Raise Your Hand for Permission to Leave Your Seat.
3.  "Clap, Clap, Teach"; "Clap Clap O.K.!"
4.  "Swivel in Your Seat using Your Hot Wheels" (to see the speaker)
5.   Mirrors without Words
6.   Mirrors with Words
7.   Smiley Face and Frownie Face

What I find is that it will take several weeks to perfect, however, the class as a whole caught on quickly, and I spend less time disciplining.

I also find that singing participation songs to help with transitions are very calming and help to gain the attention of the students much more quickly than waiting for students to get to their seats by counting backward.

After meeting with the Speech and Language Pathologist, there is a clear need to establish LISTENING as our goal before we can proceed to emergent Reading Behaviors and Lessons.  Whole Brain Teaching utilizes the Cortex of the brain which engage Motor, Language and Emotional therefore tapping into the ability to retain information.
Also, the LANGUAGE Skills of the Class are requiring much intervention before we can begin to talk about "beginning" ," middle", and "last" sounds.  So I have implemented a guided small group intervention plan of 8 weeks to be sure that these necessary language skills are addressing for emergent reading to begin.
Finally, the PHONEMIC awareness area is a big concern.  That is, the ability to hear sounds without pictures or text.  Recognizing rhyme;  Attending to first sounds to recognize if they are alike, Segmenting sentences: "The dog is black". Each word is clapped and repeated: "The - dog - is - black".  As well as syllable segmentation: Each word is clapped and repeated: "telephone" -  "tel-e-phone".
Basically, PHONEMIC AWARENESS can be done in the dark, and is the precursor to PHONICS - Sound- Letter Association.

As my colleagues put it, I have my work cut out for me!