5/17/01
Question 99
Dear Preschool
Teacher,
How in the world do you quiet a LOUD
classroom and what other kinds of discipline works besides time out?
Way too loud
Dear Way too loud,
You can turn off the nights to
quiet them down. I know the first few times will probably not
work but once they realize its time to quiet down when the lights go
out they should quiet down some.
Nadine
"Ask The Preschool Teacher Staff"
Dear Way too loud,
To quiet my classroom when it gets
loud, the children all find a space in the story area to lay down.
We get a book and listen to very quiet music usually a naptime tape
for five minutes. This works great I have three to five all
together in ages.
Sherri
"Ask The Preschool Teacher Staff"
Dear Way too loud,
We talk a lot about what the
difference between our "inside" voices and our
"outside" voices. I also turn out the lights to get their
attention. I also will talk real soft, and they want to know what I'm
saying to they quiet way down. Sometimes it's what they're playing at
free time that makes the class so loud. If that is the case, I'll
redirect the game they are playing to a quieter one. Do you have a lot
of boys in your class? I found the year I had 10 boys and 5 girls that
it was a really loud year, and there wasn't much I could do about it!
Peg
"Ask The Preschool Teacher Staff"
Dear Way too loud,
We use solved your own problem.
I walk over to some one and ask them why they are talking so loud.
They have to give me a reason. We talk until the voice comes down.
He than turns to someone and talks to them about the loudness or why
did you hit me. This continues until the problem is solved.
Grant it will take a lot of time to get them to do it, but it is worth
it. It took us three months to get a good handle on it.
Doris
"Ask The Preschool Teacher Staff"
Dear Way too loud,
When my classroom
gets too loud I simply go up to the children and ask them to use
inside voices. As far as a different method of time out, I sometimes
have the children sit at the table with quiet toys to separate them
from a child they might be having a conflict with.
Lisa
"Ask The Preschool Teacher Staff"
Dear Way too loud,
I personally do not use time outs
in my classroom. I feel that time outs are far over used in many
classrooms. I use what I call "Time Away". It is not really
a punishment, more of a regrouping time. When I have a child take a
"time away", I give sometime give them a blank piece of
paper and some crayons. They can draw a picture of the conflict or
situation. Then we discuss it.
Christa
The Preschool Teacher
Dear Way too loud,
Sounds like it's the entire
classroom that is loud. In that case, you need something to
redirect all of their attention to you. Maybe turning the lights
off and on to get their attention. Ringing a bell, or even a big
gong! Then begin a song or game that involves participation.
Maybe even use music with motions. I've used a video/CD called
"Kids in Motion" with
Scott Bayo. After you have their attention, another technique that I
find that works is whispering a direction.
These are broad ideas, but I hope they help.
Annie
"Ask The Preschool Teacher Staff"
Dear Way too loud,
This can be very tiring. I
would try to redirect the loud child or children. Sometimes
whispering can be effective to capture their attention, or start
singing a song, or flick off the lights.
When my class begins to get very active
I find the quietest, calmest cassette tape I have and play it.
Redirect to puzzle time. Or do some movement and singing
activities to try to release all their energies. Maybe do a
short outside time to let them run, if possible. Tell a VERY
animated story. Of course, remind them about their
"inside" voices. Good luck!
Kris
"Ask The Preschool Teacher Staff"
Dear Way too loud,
Sometimes singing a familiar song
helps. Children will start singing too and it gets quieter.
You can even sing quieter as more join you. Some people have a
signal like a hand in the air or turn off the lights. A whistle
might be used to signal quiet depending on your program. ( Some people
think it's rude.) Some people speak in a quiet voice.
The children want to know what is being said, so they get quiet.
I sing " quiet, quiet, do not make a sound, quiet, quiet, it's
time to settle down." My children always sing with me.
Other methods of guidance are: redirection - very popular right now.
Try to redirect the child to an acceptable behavior.
Praise a child who is doing
the desirable behavior. Most others will follow before long.
Then I praise them. Usually I say " I like how so and so is
doing something". I do use a think-about -it chair , but
sparingly. ( and I never leave a child there for long, then we talk
about what happened and think of ways to avoid it next time). I
usually remove a disruptive child
to a quiet area if necessary. Good luck.
Jackie
"Ask The Preschool Teacher Staff"
