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Managing Classroom Noise: The Noise Meter
To help control the noise level in my classroom I have created
a "noise meter" poster
that I stick to the chalkboard in the front of my room. My chalkboard
is magnetized and I move a refrigerator magnet on the poster
to indicate the acceptable level of noise. The levels are labeled:
0, No Voices; 1, Whisper or "Buddy" Voices; 2, Table
Voices (can only be heard clearly at the student's table); and
3, Classroom Voices (can be heard clearly across the room, useful
during whole-class discussions). At the first of the year we
practice these different noise levels. In addition we discuss
when the different levels are most appropriate and why. Many
times during the day I let the students choose which noise level
they wish to work at, sometimes I limit their choice to a couple
of different levels and sometimes I don't.
The noise meter is a visual reminder of the agreed upon/appropriate
noise level. If the students' noise gets too far above this,
then I ring a small brass bell (one of those that are found at
import stores, not the big loud ones) to get their attention
and I gently remind them to work quieter. If I need to do this
again, then I get their attention in the same way and we practice
saying a phrase in the appropriate voice. For instance I might
say, "I noticed we got a bit too noisy again so I want you
to repeat after me... Math is fun in a table voice." Then
I count to 3 and we all begin repeating the phrase while using
the appropriate volume. This way the students get to practice
what their voices should sound like and they get to hear what
it should sound like in the classroom as a whole.
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