Using gestures during lessons and discussions was one of the five strategies I employed year after year after year; and another non-verbal and non-disruptive method of interacting. These gestures can be used for students to communicate with me or with one another, and for me to communicate with them. In an effort to help my students remember which gesture was which, I displayed these mini-posters in our classroom for a month or so. 

If you would like your own set of posters, click on this link to download the Classroom Gestures PDF. 

The PDF contains 14 letter-sized posters that show 16 different gestures. 

Shown below is a photo of some of the gestures hanging on the front wall of a friend's classroom. We taught her fifth graders the five basic gestures and, within a week, they had it down. 

Teacher Tip: Put a set of posters in the back of your room to help you learn the gestures your students will be using!

Secondary Teachers 

Thanks to a suggestion by Reggie Powell, a middle school teacher in the Desert Sands School District, I created a Classroom Gestures insert that secondary students can add to their planners or agendas as a reminder. 

You can download a one-page PDF that contains the same 16 gestures that are found on the posters here. Three-hole punch the copies you make and then pass 'em out to the students. 

Giving your students a reference sheet puts the ball in their court. Not only will they appreciate the "cheat sheet" you're providing, you'll be helping them to take another step on their journey to independence.