Managing Noise in The Classroom

In a study by the Spanish Organization, Consumer and Users elementary schools are far too noisy. The Organization looked into ten schools in the Madrid and Barcelona areas. They found that inside schools the noise levels were above the recommended 40db. The noise levels in a classroom can easily impact the child’s learning.

There are a lot of noises that the teacher has no control over. The hum of the AC going on, the motor of the goldfish filter, noise from down the hall or an adjacent classroom. If you add to this noise loud children in the classroom, it is no wonder the teacher’s instructions get misunderstood.
Since children spend 40 to 60 percent of the time listening all the noise can be a big problem.

One way to help with noise management is to get a classroom noisemeter app. The app monitors how loud the children are in the classroom. Viewing the noise levels on a monitor can help children realize just how loud they are being. Telling a child to use a quiet voice can be confusing. The child might not know exactly how loud is too loud. The noise meter shows children exactly what the appropriate noise levels are. The meter also helps with self-management skills since the child can see his noise level and quite down on his own. The teacher can focus on teaching the class instead of bringing attention to certain students for being too loud.

Noise can be a confusing concept to elementary students. To help them understand how noise affects a classroom make noise the theme for a week. Show them using the app what it looks like when the class is loud, and what the class looks like when it is quiet. Explain to the students how noise … Read More ...