7:45am, 22 kids, and 1 teacher (me). Everyone either has a question about a project, or wants to tell me about a lost tooth, a hermit crab dying, or that they wanted to be first through the classroom door. Each of these stories has details, a purpose and feeling. Not all can be heard at once. We came up with a little system... one I've taught parents how to use at home, too!  When I'm listening to one child, and looking in her eyes, another child who wants my attention touches my arm.  While not taking my eyes off the child I'm currently listening to, I tap the other child back. This little tap lets the next talker know that I'm acknowledging his presence, and will listen to him with 100% of my attention when the current child is finished speaking. Kids love this system! Each child knows that he or she will have my full attention when it's their turn. Now mix together 22 kids, 2 parent volunteers, a speech therapist and an Instructional Aid, all needing to tell me a story or ask me questions. What to do when there are 8 hands resting on my arm?