Teachers, what's a good way to keep a preschool class from getting too loud?

Question

I'm thinking of cute things like "let's get into mouse-mode" or assigning a "sh-sh-sheriff" each day to help the rest of the class keep a bit more quiet.

Answer 1

In my class we play "The Quiet Game". The last one to talk loses. It really works.
And classical music calms them down too!

Answer 2

When things get too loud in my class, we play the circle game. Give them a quiet activity to do and put them into four or five groups. Each group should correspond with a circle you draw on a whiteboard. If a child speaks above a whisper, you put a mark in his group's circle. The group with the least amount of marks after 3-5 minutes (whatever is possible for your group) gets a small prize. Or, they get two gummy bears, and the rest of the kids in the class only get one, something like that. The trick is to keep it fun. No one gets in trouble for being loud you just remind them about the game.

Answer 3

I agree the best way of keeping the noise level down is to keep the kids very busy. Vary the activities often throughout the day. When they are starting to get noisy it is a clue to change activities. Use transitions between activities.
Maybe recite fingerplays, sing songs, or do silly things that keep their attention while moving to the next activity. One I do is "catch a bug." You clap your hands up fast like you are catching a lightning bug or something. They will do this and hold their hands together. This eliminates the hitting, punching etc that sometimes happens in line for example. Good luck!

Answer 4

In general, loud is a part of preschool and you can't change that, however to keep them from being TOO LOUD is to keep the children "interested." Basically, do not keep them "hanging around" too long. And if you are starting to "lose them" then change the theme to a more interesting theme. And remind them that inside voices are quiet and the outside is for loud voices.

Answer 5

You have some good ideas. If those don't work, try wispering to the children so that they can see you talking but have to quiet down in order to hear you. The best thing is to get them before they get too loud. When you start to hear the noise level rising, start to use whatever method you choose to quiet them.
Someone mentioned singing a song. Choose a song that talks about being quiet. Children love songs.

Answer 6

I find one of the noisiest times of day to be at "pack up time". To alleviate this, I often play a game called "pack up freeze".

Put on a CD that they love, and they are not allowed to talk as they pack up.... they have to listen to the music, so that when the music stops they must freeze... in the middle of packing up... the children remain quiet, and things seem to get packed away quicker, even though they keep "freezing" during this time.

Another idea is to have the "quiet magic wand".... move around the class, and when you tap the child with the "quiet magic wand" they know they are being too noisy, and with practise they should revert to their "quiet inside voices".

Answer 7

I am a Montessori preschool assistant and we use a bell. When they here the bell they put their hands on their heads and freeze. We then tell them it is to loud and show them how to speak in soft voices. We tell them if you are sitting across from someone and you are talking to them I should not be able to here what your saying to them if I am on the other side of the room. If someone continues to be extremely loud they are sent to time out. Once the other children see that someone has been put in timeout the rest of them will automatically talk softly because they don't want too be put in time out too.

Answer 8

I have been a nursery school teacher for about 10 years. First I say in a very loud voice "Everybody Stop, Look and, Listen" Then I wait for their eyes- usually they are shocked by the loud adult voice. Then, in an exited queit voice I tell it is time to settle down because we are going too......, or I'll tell them who I see playing/ working nicely. Usually if it is getting to loud it is because whatever they have been doing (playing or working) has been going on to long and it is time to change tasks. Don't let it wear you down- find the routine that works and praise them when it does.

Answer 9

teach then 2 use there ''inside voices'' in the classroom and use there ''outside voices''' outside, or make up a little ryme or saying like quiet quiet 123 and wen u say the phraise everybody must be quiet untill u can allow them 2 speak. and do more quiet activetites like story time and pick the most well behaved kid 2 help be the ''story helper of the day''

Answer 10

Teach the kids a song that will help them understand that they are too loud. Try call and response. Younger kids love that sort of thing. Tell your students that when they get too loud you will say, "TO KEEP THE ANIMALS AT BAY", the kids say "WE SCREAM AND YELL AND PLAY. You say "BUT TO KEEP THEM IN THE HOUSE, the kids respond in whisper, 'WE'LL BE QUIET AS A MOUSE. It doesn't have to make sense, and it rhymes which kids love.