Save Your Voice, Quiet Your Students
Monday September 29, 2008
After a long day of guiding, supporting, and announcing, I sometimes get tired of hearing my own voice. That's why, as often as possible, I try to use these nonverbal techniques for keeping my classroom quiet and on task.
One of my favorite techniques for keeping my students on their toes and paying attention during a lesson is to use a deck of cards with the students' names on them. Each morning, I shuffle the deck and take the top card off the deck whenever I need to call on a student throughout the day. The students never know when they'll be called next and I can move quickly through my lessons without trying to decide who to call on. It also eliminates the need for hand-raising and those over-eager students who always volunteer.
What is your favorite technique for maintaining a quiet classroom?
Comments
This is an excellent idea! I’ve never thought of doing this before. This is a great way to make sure all of your students get involved, and get called on equally. Do you use a standard deck of cards and just write their name on them? Or do you make your own special cards? Also how effective is this system with shy students?
This is a great way to get all of the students involved. There are always those shy students who never answer questions, but know the answers. This could help build up their confidence and self-esteem. Also, this may make students study harder, because they do not want to answer the question wrong in front of the entire class.
This process will help keep the focus off of those few students who have to be the center of attention and answer every question. Great idea!
I do the same thing but with tongue depressors. I can carry the in my pockets and move the ones I’ve “used” or called on from one pocket to the other without much fuss. Sometimes I pick from either pocket so those already called on don’t get lazy.