The Talkative Classroom: Noise Volume Control Methods

Being known as the teacher with ‘loud’ classrooms and the teacher who can manage ‘loud’ classrooms brings me great joy to share some of my classroom noise volume control methods with you. If your classroom is anything like mine, highly social and full of positive energy (most of the time), you may notice that it can sometimes be quite loud. Some “neighbour” educators see a noisy classroom as poorly managed, which can sometimes make you feel a little embarrassed, or even annoyed that others perceive your teaching that way. Even though that is not the case! Read on to learn effective classroom noice volume control methods that have helped quieten my classroom whilst maintain the positivity and sociability.

Seating Changes

Tip 1: Unfriendship Groups

I noticed massive noise volume improvements by pairing students with other students they weren’t as comfortable with. This can seem cruel to some; however, by splitting friendship groups in my classroom, the students chatted less. I also believe it teaches children skills such as: communicating and moving out of the comfort zone, learning how to communicate and get to know others, and developing new friendship groups.

Tip 2: Splitting The Noisy

This method has been used since the beginning of humans (I think), yet it is so logical and straightforward. Split the students that can’t yet control their noise volume. Sit one at one end of the room and the other at another end. This does run the risk of disturbing the quiet on-task students, but I feel this may be one of those ‘best-case scenario’ situations. With any luck, the noisy students may feel a sense of shyness and control themselves.

Chilled Sounding Music

Never underestimate the power of calming background noise. This has proven successful for me ever since I started teaching. I recommend using calm music without any words. Instrumental or natural sounds are my choice of music, as they provide a lower sensory stimulation (compared to worded music). It helps by cancelling background noise and providing a hypnotic effect that allows the students to zone into their learning. I tend to use Yellow Brick Cinema or calm jazz playlists through Apple Music and Spotify.

Teaching how to whisper and set noise parameters

We teach children curriculum knowledge, behaviour and safety; why don’t we teach them how and when to use specific noise volumes? This can start with a simple game of Chinese Whisperers, and move deeper into explicitly teaching students how to use low and high voice tones. Secondly, I set parameters for control. I.e. Students on other tables should not be able to clearly hear your conversation, as it should sound like murmurs. Teaching these skills will require time, modelling, reminding, and explicit teaching; however, the outcome is worth it.

Goal setting

Goal setting is an extremely powerful instrument in all aspects of education. A person focuses their mind on the task to achieve success by setting a goal. Therefore, goal setting can be used to lower the noise volume of your class.

I have a team rewards-based system, where if the team (classroom) is successful in their tasks, they receive a reward. When the classroom is becoming too loud, I offer a reward for 10 minutes of complete silence. This instantly drops the noise volume. Even after the 10 minutes have passed, I find the classroom has a natural lower noise volume as the students are more settled than before. A couple of students always whisper during the silent time, and how you manage them is up to you. I tend not to single those students out but let the whole classroom know that I am resetting the timer because of those students who cannot control themselves. Guilt then usually plays a role in quietening the talkative ones.

Frantic Silence

This can be fun and cruel at the same time. Give the class a 1-hour task, and tell them they only have 30 minutes to complete it. You will then notice a frantic silence as the students strive to work harder and faster than ever. You can make the time limit as realistic and unrealistic as you please. Your professional judgement of your students is key to this method.

Silence Is Contagious

One morning, I opened the door, and I was silent. No loud hello’s or good mornings as is usual for me, just quiet. My students know the morning routine, so I first let a handful of the more silent students enter. Those students quietly got their books and began their morning of learning. I slowly allowed the quietly waiting students to join over the next few minutes. Without me saying anything, the students understood how to enter and what they needed to do. I then went and sat quietly in my chair and looked around at all the quiet and hard-working students in my classroom, with no word said or noise made. Then, of course, my loudest boy came late and bustling into the room, and before he opened his mouth, he paused and looked around. There was no noise, and all the students were deep into their morning learning. So what did he do? He quietly grabbed his books, sat down and started his learning. The silence was contagious!

Now I can’t say that this will always work; however, as a social experiment, it was pretty fun and worth doing in your classroom from time to time.Noise volume control methods are abundant, but what is most important is that you utilise the ones that work best for you in your classroom.

I would love to hear your opinion on these noise volume control methods, how they worked for you, and if you have any that you wish to share with our Educationalist community.