Raising Your Hand??

[daycare]

I have a group of kids that consist of mostly boys. Most of them are all around the ages of 3.5-5 years old and I have about 9-12 every day.

Our morning time is when we do preschool and lately, the boys have been so loud, all talking over each other during circle time, lunch time, well pretty much all day. Most of it is only two of the boys ages are both 4.5, but then as the room gets loud from them two, the other kids try to talk over them making it even louder.

This is something new that has started and I found myself starting to talk louder, which really bothered me.

So now, I am requiring that they have to raise their hand when we are in class, meal times, lessons and etc. and wait for me to call on them before they can speak.

I also have a few kids that will raise their hand, while waving it back and forth with all their might, wiggle in their seats and just create a sceen.

I have never had to do this before, but I had to do something due to the unacceptable noise level.

Am I expecting too much from this age group, if so any other ideas??

I wanted to add, that I did try talking in a much lower voice and said if you can't hear me, you are talking too loud, but that did not work......

Thanks for your input in advance

[Blackcat31]

Ok, I understand that you run a preschool program but honestly it does sound like the two "loudest" and most "talkative" boys you mentioned are probably not developmentally ready to sit and listen for any length of time.

Is there a way you could just excuse them from circle or lesson time so they can go sit and look at books or talk/play in another space where they aren't bothering the ones who do want to sit and listen?

It just seems that maybe they aren't really interested in learning or doing circle so rather than turn it into a disciplinary thing where you have to be on them for interrupting, being loud or talking when you are.....just give them the choice to not participate.

If they choose not to, then have another activity they can do where they are still supervised but not participating in the lesson or circle time the other kids are doing.

I know that opens the door for the other kids to say they don't want to participate as well but if that happened, then I would just make your circle time or lesson time really super duper fun and make a HUGE deal out of how much fun you are all having and see if they can't be "lured" back into participating....with the agreement that they need to be quieter.

[daycare]

Thanks so much for responding. I do agree 100% with what you are saying but it happens all day long. Lunch time, translations, pretty much all day. These two kids are just naturally very loud, but all of a sudden have ZERO self control.

The time it bothers me the most is at meal time because what should be a 15 min snack turns into a 30+ ordeal.

[youretooloud]

I, personally wouldn't do it.

But, I also don't expect much sitting time either. We don't do lessons, we do circle time, and they sit if they want, leave if they want. It's short and fun.

Everything else is done as free play. If there is a project, it's at the tables, and they can choose to do it or not. I've never expected anyone to do something unless it was a gift for a parent.

I think it completely depends on the type of program you run.

[daycare]

Let me also add that I allow plenty of time for questions an conversation to take place with all of the kids.

One of the DCM said same issue at home too. I asked if they make time to talk and the parent said sometimes. So I do see that the child just really wants to be heard.

Also the kids love love our lessons, circle time and what not. Most of the time they are very excited and I think that's why it gets loud.

[Blackcat31]

Thanks so much for responding. I do agree 100% with what you are saying but it happens all day long. Lunch time, translations, pretty much all day. These two kids are just naturally very loud, but all of a sudden have ZERO self control.

The time it bothers me the most is at meal time because what should be a 15 min snack turns into a 30+ ordeal.

I'd set a time limit then for meals and snacks. When the time is up, snack is over....even if they aren't done.

I would also try and separate the two biggest offenders and maybe even consider using a "talking stick"...only I wouldn't actually use a stick...(we have used a stuffed animal and/or a Nerf ball for stand-ins before)

ONLY the person holding the "talking stick" is allowed to talk. The stick is then passed around for everyone to take a turn talking but if you aren't holding the stick, you can't talk.

I would also take the time to a bunch of stories and lessons on listening and being respectful of others.

• Have a "whisper ONLY" hour
• Play Simon Says
• Role play with loud/quiet noises
• Do demonstrations of what interrupting means and what listening means

If all else fails get one of these: It's called a Yacker Tracker and lights up when the noise level gets too loud. We had one in our Head Start classroom. I think they are under $100

http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Advantage-CTU3030-Yacker-Tracker/dp/B007FIAX9I/ref=pd_sim_indust_3

http://www.gabstopper.net/noise.htm

http://www.zeecraft.com/talk_light.html

[Country Kids]

I'm thinking of getting one of those stop light things for my room.

Yes, make them raise their hands!!! Next year when they go to school it will be required so why not have them get use to it now.

Hope everything is going well with you and family-

[Starburst]

I imagine the issues you are having with these boys look something like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaL-qfYTqUM

Where I worked at there were very few times where it was just a sit down time and they were required to raise their hands to speak but there were sometimes where we did ask the kids questions and tell them that we will only respond to those who raise their hands quietly (like preschool time or during group activities and lunch time).

I don't think it's too much to ask that they learn to raise their hands quietly because as a preschool based program your goal is basically to make sure they are ready for kindergarten and most kinder teachers probably have this as a class rule. Have you tried ignoring them when they wave their hands flopping around and start yelling "Ooh, ooh! TEACHER! PICK ME!" by not picking on them but picking the kids who are staying nice and quiet and compementing the kids who are doing what they are told by saying something like "I like how Amy and Suzy are raising their hands quietly and sitting still"

[daycare]

I imagine the issues you are having with these boys look something like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaL-qfYTqUM

Where I worked at there were very few times where it was just a sit down time and they were required to raise their hands to speak but there were sometimes where we did ask the kids questions and tell them that we will only respond to those who raise their hands quietly (like preschool time or during group activities and lunch time).

I don't think it's too much to ask that they learn to raise their hands quietly because as a preschool based program your goal is basically to make sure they are ready for kindergarten and most kinder teachers probably have this as a class rule. Have you tried ignoring them when they wave their hands flopping around and start yelling "Ooh, ooh! TEACHER! PICK ME!" by not picking on them but picking the kids who are staying nice and quiet and saying or by compementing the kids who are doing what they are told by saying something like "I like how Amy and Suzy are raising their hands quietly and sitting still"

hahah that was such a funny video! YES that is exactly what they are doing...

Everyone is soooooo excited or just wanting to answer the questions that they are going NUTS. I love that they are so into what we are doing and wanting to share their answers, thoughts, ideas and etc. But lately, the noise level is so high that it makes my head spin.

One of the kids that is loud, can not even go to the bathroom quietly. I will have to walk back to the bathroom standing outside and say can you please use a nice inside voice while you are using the bathroom.

The program is a kinder ready program, however, I have a few kids that are 3.5 that are very very smart. Funny part is that they are actually better listeners and students that most of my 4 year olds.

I do overlook those they are shouting out with their hands up and ignore them, sometimes they need to be told I can't hear right now because you are being hurting my ears, lets use a softer voice. But it will only last a few seconds.

BC......

That traffic light is AWESOME..we have one that goes on the wall, but it is not electronic. That one looks amazing.

Thanks for your advice too. We play a lot of games like simon says(sp?) We just played a games called bees please...touch your _____________(stinger, nose, jump, so on)

We play lots of silent games. Where I will touch my nose and ask them to copy me to see if they can follow my directions by only using their eyes. I go fast, slow, lightening speed, granny speed and so on.

I think that if I were to get that traffic light and use it as a reward if we can stay in the green it would work.

thanks again for your advice

[daycare]

I'm thinking of getting one of those stop light things for my room.

Yes, make them raise their hands!!! Next year when they go to school it will be required so why not have them get use to it now.

Hope everything is going well with you and family-

Im going to get one on friday when i get paid.. I can't wait to start using it. Hopefully it will be a positive experience! I have 3 kids right now that are really testing me with not asking before touching...I only have this rules with the scissor and playdough, everything else is free game. Ugh...