My 5-Step Resolution to a Loud Classroom

Mates, I’ve a query for you: Are the scholars in your classroom too loud?

In that case, then welcome to the membership nobody desires to hitch (sure, I’ve jokes).

I can relate to college students who’ve hassle preserving their outdoors voices the place they belong, outdoors. 

And principals who complain a couple of loud classroom.

It doesn’t matter what has introduced you right here, you and I each know there isn’t any magic repair for this little (however very loud) drawback. 

Sure, all of us want we had a magic wand generally. Alas, nobody has found that but. So, we’ll need to go along with the subsequent neatest thing…

What’s that?

Tune in to this week’s episode to search out out.

Are you prepared?

Let’s dive in!

However First, a Fast Story!

A loud classroom may be troublesome to take care of. I might know, I’ve been there numerous instances. Yearly it appears to be a battle to get youngsters to make use of indoor voices within the classroom, and a few years are harder than others.

There may be one 12 months that involves thoughts for me. That 12 months, I had 4 little boys in my class who all lived in the identical condo constructing. They’d been raised collectively and their mothers have been pals, in order that they have been fairly shut.

These boys performed on the playground of their condo advanced collectively each single day since they might stroll. They have been extra like brothers than classmates, which was nice for them, however unhealthy for me, as a result of their shouting within the classroom was uncontrolled.

I saved asking them to make use of their inside voices, however the issue was… they didn’t have inside voices to make use of!

 Suffice to say, I used to be at my wits’ finish. What was I speculated to do?

Properly, years later, I developed a five-step resolution to this situation (that I want previous me had considered earlier), and right this moment, I’m sharing it with you.

Uncover My 5-Step Resolution to a Loud Classroom

Almost every preschool teacher on the planet will tell you they have a loud classroom. It’s simply something that comes with the territory. 

And while it may seem like you’re fighting a losing battle, there are ways to teach smarter, not harder when it comes to helping your kids understand the differences in voice volume and which situations are appropriate for each.

Here is a five-step solution that does just that.

Step #1

Ask yourself: Which noise level do I feel is appropriate for the age group I work with? Are my expectations realistic? Do I need to adjust my expectations? Sometimes, those most bothered by noise in early childhood classrooms are those who are new to teaching this age group.

You see, there is a big difference between teaching a class of three-year-old kids and teaching a class of seven-year-old kids. One of them needs much more work and effort to learn what inside and outside voices are compared to the other. 

Step #2

Take into consideration the students in front of you. Ask yourself this question: Do they know what inside and outside voices are? Have I taught them how to modulate their voice levels? Your students won’t understand how to control their volume unless you teach them how.

Step #3

Use tools! Something as simple as a t-chart can be a great way to teach your students how to regulate their volume in the classroom. 

Create an “Inside/Outside Voices” t-chart with your students. If your class has difficulty with specific voice levels like when they’re at centers or in the hallway, you can also create a chart for that at a separate time.

Step #4

As you know, I love using fingerplays as a learning tool. And guess what? You can also use them here! Use fingerplays with louder and softer voices to teach your students the concept of inside and outside voices. Fingerplays such as Itsy Bitsy Spider and Two Little Red Birds are perfect for this.

Step #5

As always, don’t forget to use visual cues. A lot of children learn better when we use pictures and images. So, naturally, our last step is to use visual cues to scaffold for success.

I discuss all of this in more depth (plus share some pitfalls to avoid and troubleshooting tips) in the episode above, so make sure to give it a listen when you can!