TOO LOUD!

WHY IS THE CLASSROOM SO LOUD?!

Well, the big picture answer is probably because our classrooms are overcrowded.

For whatever reason, not based on our understanding of child development IMHO, kindergarten classrooms often have close to thirty students in our small spaces.

If you put half as many adults in that same small space and told them to actively engage with the materials using their "Inside Voices!" ... no doubt the room volume would still increase to an unbearable level as they tried to explore, share, and express their learning.

Sometimes it feels as if our only option is to push down on students to be quieter in their own space.

I remind myself that I can reach out and push up to find ways to improve the environment for everyone.

Reach out to peers to build professional connections and share inspiration on how to support students in our crowded classrooms. As a member of the ECE supply team I spend time in different classrooms where I look forward to exchanging ideas on building safe and engaging classroom routines.

Reach out to the unions to ensure they know overcrowding and understaffing is a trend we need to fight.

Push up towards those who have influence and power to set the classroom size assignments. Everyone from the local school admin, to the senior administration at the board and the school board trustees, to the politicians: let them know our professional perspective on environments that ask four-year-olds to compete for the resources, time, and space needed to be successful in our school system.

Families can also be included in these conversations. If a family expresses interest in their child's day to day environment I believe it is okay to to be honest about the pros and cons of the space where their child spends the school day. It is not an opportunity to jump on a soap box and shout political opinions nor is it appropriate to attempt to blame the child for being too much ... too shy, too energetic, too big, too small, ... etc. Simply offer a professional perspective of how we are best supporting their child in the current environment. If a family asks to have a voice in setting classroom sizes - direct them to administration, trustees, the board, and our political leaders.

Whether a classroom is overcrowded or not I want to establish classroom habits that build safe and engaging learning environments. We all need a space where we can "hear myself think" in order to be effective in our classroom goals.

Walk to Talk

• If I need to talk with one student I try to walk over to them to quietly have the conversation.

  - I avoid yelling out during a group lesson. Calling out one student's name while everyone else is focused on the lesson interrupts the group's learning.

  - I avoid yelling out to a student during independent activities. It breaks the flow of concentration of the other students and it teaches the group to tune me out.

Small Groups

• We know our brains seek social connections.

  • Large groups may not provide young kindergarten students with the opportunity to experience that connection during an academic lesson.

    • If students cannot feel a connection in that moment you may notice them tuning out or engaging in connections with their peers . This is often labeled as "unfocused", "attention seeking", or "disruptive."

    • We all have our 'off' days, but if I notice the same students feeling overwhelmed and under connected in every large group lesson then I will advocate for more small group learning opportunities.

      
      
  
  

  

Fewer Transitions

• Transitions often instantly raise the volume level of a room.

  • Group transitions can send every student scrambling to finish a current activity while simultaneously rushing to join the next activity.

    • Clean as you go

      • I try to avoid group clean-ups by supporting students to put away their materials before they head to a new activity.

    • Lights vs voices

      • In the classroom I will dim the lights for a moment to let the students know it is time to pause for group instructions.

        
        

Get Outside

• In kindergarten almost all learning can be just as successful outside as it is inside.

  - If I find myself constantly saying: "Indoor voices!" to the entire group then I look for ways to take the learning outside.

When the classroom's volume gets too high it prevents learning. Students need, and deserve, a learning space that supports in-depth, extended and uninterrupted thinking and learning opportunities. Finding ways to reduce the volume can improve the school experience for both staff and students.