Comments on: How To Handle Talkative Students http://www.smartclassroommanagement.com/2009/11/25/how-to-handle-talkative-students/ simply effective tips and strategies Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:34:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Michael Linsin http://www.smartclassroommanagement.com/2009/11/25/how-to-handle-talkative-students/comment-page-1/#comment-324 Michael Linsin Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:06:19 +0000 http://www.smartclassroommanagement.com/?p=2125#comment-324 Hi Virginia, It's normal for students to gradually get louder as they talk over one another and other groups. They're not doing anything wrong per se, so enforcing with consequences it isn't cool. However, that doesn't mean you can't do anything about it. Students have to learn <em>how</em> to discuss in small groups--how to take turns, how to get everyone involved, how to paraphrase, how to listen, etc. They also need to know how to keep their voices at a level that doesn't interfere with the rest of the class--and drive you crazy. I recommend you schedule a lesson(s) to teach them. Most effective would be to choose 3 or 4 students to sit with you in a group while the rest of the class gathers around. Then teach, model, role play, review, and practice. Finally, after they've proven to you they understand and are able to discuss in groups exactly as you taught them, and under your close guidance, assign one student per group whose sole job is to monitor voice level. It's a good idea to assign that job to those students who have a greater tendency to get loud (sneaky, huh?). This should do the trick. Michael Hi Virginia,

It’s normal for students to gradually get louder as they talk over one another and other groups. They’re not doing anything wrong per se, so enforcing with consequences it isn’t cool. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything about it.

Students have to learn how to discuss in small groups–how to take turns, how to get everyone involved, how to paraphrase, how to listen, etc. They also need to know how to keep their voices at a level that doesn’t interfere with the rest of the class–and drive you crazy. I recommend you schedule a lesson(s) to teach them.

Most effective would be to choose 3 or 4 students to sit with you in a group while the rest of the class gathers around. Then teach, model, role play, review, and practice. Finally, after they’ve proven to you they understand and are able to discuss in groups exactly as you taught them, and under your close guidance, assign one student per group whose sole job is to monitor voice level. It’s a good idea to assign that job to those students who have a greater tendency to get loud (sneaky, huh?). This should do the trick.

Michael

]]> By: Virginia http://www.smartclassroommanagement.com/2009/11/25/how-to-handle-talkative-students/comment-page-1/#comment-322 Virginia Tue, 17 Aug 2010 03:23:13 +0000 http://www.smartclassroommanagement.com/?p=2125#comment-322 My district requires that our classroom seats be grouped and that group discussions, "pair-sharing," and group projects take place many times throughout the day. In my class each year of about 30 sixth graders, they are in groups of four or five kids. A repetitive problem is that they start off discussing at a reasonable volume, but it always gets quite loud. Though I can be tolerant of kids-being-kids, the noise level really stresses me because I am basically a quiet person. I've tried all kinds of bells and other warning devices, but they always quiet down for a little while, then within a few minutes they become too loud again. Any tips on getting them to maintain normal inside voices? My district requires that our classroom seats be grouped and that group discussions, “pair-sharing,” and group projects take place many times throughout the day. In my class each year of about 30 sixth graders, they are in groups of four or five kids.

A repetitive problem is that they start off discussing at a reasonable volume, but it always gets quite loud. Though I can be tolerant of kids-being-kids, the noise level really stresses me because I am basically a quiet person. I’ve tried all kinds of bells and other warning devices, but they always quiet down for a little while, then within a few minutes they become too loud again.

Any tips on getting them to maintain normal inside voices?

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