Case
Fire Drills

My class does not take fire drills seriously. No matter how often I say to them, although fire drills are for practice, we still must follow protocol as if it was a real one they still act up. Embarrassed as my class is the only class running and talking during the drill, I've tried everything that I've seen suitable to get them to do right. What should I do?

Posted on: 10/12/15 | Views: 1384
Solution #1
Top Solution
As much as I hate to do it, sometimes bribery is the best option! Offer an incentive like 5 extra minutes at recess. Something small and realistic. I usually try positive reinforcement but you also have the option of a consequence. "If you continue to use your free time during fire drills, we will use your free time to practice fire drills." You could literally do a fire drill for recess every day until they take it seriously. I think it also depends on what age kids you are working with.

This is a great idea because safety is important for them to learn even if they have done it a million times.

Great idea.

I agree with this solution

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Solution #2
Make it sound like it is a competition about what class is the most quiet and best behaved. Also go over the procedure in class and practice it with your students on dates that are not fire drills so that they are prepared when the official fire drill comes up. I would offer them a reward for having a perfect fire drill, but do explain what your expectations for perfect are in order for you to give them the reward.

Great idea.

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Solution #3
If the students are not taking fire drills seriously I would look up news stories on school fires and share with what could possibly happen, and they it is so important that they stay focused and aware during any fire drill.

Great idea.

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Solution #4
Students rarely take anything serious that they do not see any value in. I tell my students at the beginning of the school year that safety is the most important aspect of school. Learning is second. If they still do not take fire drills seriously, consider sharing with them the effects of a fire and why practicing leaving the building in an orderly way is essential. Hopefully, your student will begin to see the real reasons behind safety measures such as fire drills.

Great idea.

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Solution #5
I would provide some sort of incentive for the class. I would also make it interesting by timing how long it takes to get out of the classroom and to the designated area and see how they improve over time.

Great idea.

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Solution #6
I would have a fire fighter come in a talk to the students about fire drills and why they are important. Sometimes it takes another person saying the same thing for the students to get what you are trying to get across to them. I would also have a reward system like class dojo implemented for the students as well. To help reinforce what you and the fore fighter have told the students about why fire drills are important.

Great idea.

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Solution #7
they probably don't understand the seriousness of a fire drill. one way you could try to address this is by having a Fire Marshall visit the class and talk to the students to explain why the fire drills should be taken seriously.
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Solution #8
I would definitely have a mini-lesson on fire safety and the importance of them being responsible during fire drills.

Great idea.

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Solution #9
You need to be more firm with the students, as each one of these drills should be taken seriously. The students safety is in the teachers hands.

Great idea.

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Solution #10
Give them some sort of incentive for acting right during drills, try a reward, I know it is not ethical but if they have never been in a real life situation such as a fire that is why they might not take it seriously. So try that if you want them to behave in public.
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Solution #11
One thing to do is to tell your class when fire drills are coming up and to set expectations. Also give incentives and possibly consequences depending on the behavior. Praise the students who did well and remind them of why the fire drills are so important.
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Solution #12
I think most students don't take fire drills seriously because they don't know how serious they are. I remember when I was in school fire drills were just something we did we were never told why we did them and why they are serious. I would explain to the students why this is serious, show them news reports of school fires and if they don't listen to you bring in a fire marshall to explain the seriousness of the situation.
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Solution #13
There needs to be set consequences for the class if they act up and for specific students as well. These consequences need to be enforced and used consistently as the students act up. The students need to know you mean business. If the students still do not behave after, then administration needs to be involved.
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Solution #14
I would not allow them to act like this or there will be a consequence such as sitting out for recess or having to be quiet during lunch time, this way they see how simple it was to just behave. Point out to them during these drills the other well behaved classroom and make it like a game, such as "lets see whose class can behave better" and provide a small reward if they do.
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Solution #15
In the beginning of the school year, practice drills on your own. Get it to where your students know what is expected and what procedures are to be taken. So when it comes time to do a real fire drill, they already know what to do. Because it is farther in the year, bribe them with extra free time, popsicles. It works.
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Solution #16
I would try enforcing good behavior with positive renforcement, if all else fails have the principle come in and speak with them.
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Solution #17
I would try enforcing good behavior with positive renforcement, if all else fails have the principle come in and speak with them.
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Solution #18
Do you tell them that it is a drill before it occurs? If students know that it is coming, they will not take it seriously. If they are still acting up, have the local fire department come and talk to them.

Great idea.

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Solution #19
Fire drills are very serious and maybe when there is a practice drill have a monitor who writes down all the students who are acting up during it. Once they get back to class reward the students who did what they were supposed to do with maybe extra points on a homework or a movie while the other students don't get anything and they do work in another class while the movie is going on.

Great idea.

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Solution #20
In this case, bribery is probably going to help a lot. Fire drills are crucial for students safety whether they realize it or not so anyway to get your students to understand this, I would do.

Great idea.

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Solution #21
I would discuss the seriousness about the fire drill with the students. There should be a consequence for the students that continue and maybe incentives for those who do what they are supposed to be doing.

Great idea.

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Solution #22
Try positive reinforcement, let them know that if they act correctly during the next fire drill, they will receive a prize.

Great idea.

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Solution #23
I know this might take some class time, but it might be better to spend some time on it versus them acting out during the fire drill. I would have them practice the fire drill the day before and the day of the fire drill. Modeling the expectations during the fire drill may help them respond better during the drill.

I wouldn't do this it might take too long.

Great idea.

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Solution #24
If you have tried everything possible, I would suggest having administration come in and talk to the class about their expectations. Sometimes having that more authoritative figure can help. I would also suggest practicing a fire drill during a more desired activity.

Great idea.

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