This story has been contributed by a student from Granger Middle School.
During classes, students have been disruptive, causing teachers to be visibly upset. They cannot keep teaching due to these issues.
To handle this, some teachers will say, “I’ll wait,” as a way of saying, “I’ll wait for you to stop talking.” Other teachers have yelled at students due to their behavior in class. These methods are sometimes useful, but are there more effective ways? Is there a way that can work better than yelling at the class?
Before we can start explaining effective methods, let’s go over ways that are NOT effective.
Yelling at the class is a method teachers use sometimes when students are getting loud. Yes, yelling will work sometimes, but it doesn’t work all the time. Some students will go right back to talking. Just sitting in a chair and waiting for people to stop talking is not an effective way to get students to stop. While some students may notice, most students will probably not notice and continue their conversations.
Granger sixth-grade teacher Darian Cozzi gives her methods on how to keep students quiet. Cozzi, like many other teachers, gets frustrated with classes that are distracting.
“Redirecting them, reward system, practicing expectations, reminders of expectations.” Cozzi lists out the methods she uses to keep calm.
One way that works is the “three letters” method. This method involves the teacher giving the class three letters, or three chances, to quiet down. The class loses one letter every time they don’t quiet down. If the class gets to zero letters, they get extra homework. The teacher can give the class as many letters or chances as they want. Not many teachers use this method, but I would consider it a very effective way of quieting down the class since most students don’t want extra homework.
Sixth-grader Yashovardhan Munagapati, or Yash, gives his opinions on other methods that work.
“Punishments are something I don’t like, but I guess it is a way for students to quiet down,” Yosh explains. “I think taking away partner work helps people focus in class. I also agree on giving kids prizes.”
Conversations with the class and taking away partner work will help them fix their behavior. Until the class manages to stop talking, they will not get back their partner assignments
Saying you will give the class prizes if they manage to be good at working and being independent is also a way of reducing disruptive behavior: giving out prizes can excite students into working.
There are many different ways of helping students reduce talking instead of yelling at them. Nobody wants to get yelled at.
