Case
Speaking Volume

My school has lots of students that do not understand inside voices. They yell in the hallways. They speak loudly in many classrooms. I, on the other hand, do not think it is acceptable to speak so loudly. How do I teach students to use their inside voices in a school that does not?

Posted on: 10/18/15 | Views: 1207
Solution #1
Top Solution
Unfortunately, you can only control the volume in your class and maybe even the hallway outside of your classroom. Make sure the children know that yelling and being obnoxiously loud in your classroom will not be tolerated because they are in your room. Teachers might see your success and want to implement the same rule in their class.

I agree with this.

I agree with this and would do this if I were in the same situation.

I agree with this and would do this if I were in the same situation.

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Solution #2
Top Solution
One thing that I have seen that I love is a poster of a stoplight hanging at the front of the class. There will be a magnetic arrow on the stoplight that shows the students where their volume should be during class. The volume may vary during different activities during the class. It is up to the teacher to move the arrow and let the students the change in volume.

This is a great idea!!

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Solution #3
My school adamantly enforces silent hallways. Students must be silent during transitions. In my class, I vary my speaking to display what is and is not appropriate. During group work, I will often say "pause" and assess the volume. Generally the louder they get the more off topic they are. You may reward students for speaking in an appropriate volume in your class. Also, if the same student yells in the hallway, revoke his privilege of being in the hallway with his peers. Hope this helps!

This is a good idea.

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Solution #4
I would re-direct the students when possible, but I realize that this is difficult during transitions and such. I have one particular student who has a difficult time communicating in an "inside voice" and I simply explain that I will not answer him when using that tone. He then corrects the problem even if only for a short time.

This is a great idea.

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Solution #5
On the white board draw a noise level graph. Students can see the acceptable level and have a visual you can point to when the level starts rising.
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Solution #6
It is hard to get students to be quiet, especially in the hallways. I would just continue to encourage them to use their inside voices in the classroom and maybe that will transfer over bit after a while. Good Luck!
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Solution #7
Unfortunately, you can only control what goes on in your classroom. I would start by making sure your students are aware of your expectations. I would re-direct students often. I went to a school where the teacher had a voice level chart. He used the chart for the students to self monitor and re-directed when necessary.
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Solution #8
I think that talking with an inside voice is something respectful that you have to teach the students to do. This is something that should be taught inside of the classroom and hopefully be exhibited outside of the classroom as well. Start there and see what happens.
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Solution #9
We use the voice level meter in my classroom, these are the various levels and what they mean Level 0 - No talking Level 1 - Whisper Level 2 - Partner Talk Level 3 - Group Talk Level 4 - Presentation Voice Level 5 - Outdoors Students are always reminded to utilize specific levels for specific activities. For Think Pair Share they use Level 2 , for Group work it is Level 3 etc. Students are rewarded for using the correct voice levels.

This is a good idea to use.

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Solution #10
A simple lesson plan focusing on this specific top should do the trick. Start back with the basics.
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Solution #11
If the problem is constantly happening in the hallways, I would contact the principal and ask for assistance. If there is a school policy handed from the principal to the teachers who then go over the rules and consequences with the students, for using loud voices then you will see the behaviors start to change.
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Solution #12
If this is continuing outside of your classroom, there is not a whole lot that you can do about it individually. However, bring it up as a concern at leadership that it is disturbing classroom instruction, but make sure you have a solution to offer.
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Solution #13
It is hard to get students to be quiet, especially in the hallways. I would just continue to encourage them to use their inside voices in the classroom and maybe that will transfer over bit after a while. Good Luck!
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Solution #14
Something that I have found to be super useful in the classroom is when my students become too loud, I will lower my voice to a whisper. When I lower my voice, students are forced to lower there's and even to stop talking so that they may hear me. I will ask them to respond in a whisper tone too and that gets the class volume down quickly and with little effort.
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Solution #15
Students have to be shown how to act in the hallways and in the classroom. Model the behavior for the students. Show the students bad behavior, not good behavior, and great behavior. Then have the students ONLY model the good behavior. This will get them to see the difference in good and bad behavior. This will also get the students to understand how loud they really are.
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Solution #16
This can be a quick lesson. Have students practice what is a appropriate and what isn't at what times. Incorporate a jingle or clap that can be your classes secret signal they are being too loud. Give students scinerios like walking to lunch, what level should we be at? It's always okay to throw in some rewards too.
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Solution #17
Having certain volume control problems myself, for the class it ends up being the reminders and rules in place. If some is being loud wither remind them that their doing it or have a hand signals to point out they are being loud. Once they learn when to be quite they may take it to other places.
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Solution #18
Create classroom and transition rules for your students and make sure to reinforce the rules periodically.
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Solution #19
If want your students to maintain a controlled voice, then it may benefit you to put it in your classroom rules. That way the students are well aware of your expectations inside, and outside, the classroom. The consequences for breaking these rules should be followed to show your students that you mean business.
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Solution #20
Not yelling/shouting in classrooms and hallways is usually always a schoolwide rule. I would remind students of this daily, and if students still continue to break this rule I would give them consequences such as a detention.
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Solution #21
Constant reminders in my opinion are the only way to correct this. This is something that students have to learn. I think that a stern hand can make this happen.
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Solution #22
You can model the correct speaking volume, and then give warnings if students go above the proper volume.
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