Kindergartners - How to Quiet Them Down!

I have the best childrens manual for behavior, "Don't Make Me Count To Three." by Ginger Plowman. It's an easy read, 133 pages, it is full of great tactics that really work!! Good Luck. Teresa

I would definitely try a rewards program where they EARN something they like if they comply with your requests for QUIET. (i.e. extra recess, music during an activity, etc.) My son's knidergarten teacher had a candy jar where she kept "penny candy". When someone was doing an especially good job at anything(in this case it may be sitting quietly at their table) . . . she rewarded them by having them go & take a piece of candy. It cost her a bit in candy, I'm sure, but it certainly calmed the troops.

Marcia, I'm sorry to break the news to you, but the problem is not the children. The problem is that the adults in charge are not "sticking to their guns" on a consistent basis. This group of kindergarteners has learned that if they rebel long enough, the any new method of trying to quiet them down will go away too. It takes an average of two weeks to completely change a behavior. In order to change that behavior, you have to give a consistent consequence EVERY TIME an undesired behavior occurs. Letting them get away with it one time sabotages any progress that you have made.

Kindergarteners like "gimmicks". One to try that is really cheap. Buy a high pitched whistle, not a sports or gym whistle. One that makes a high pitched sound kind of like a train. I taught my kiddos that when I expected them to get quiet, I would blow the train whistle two times. In response, so that I knew they understood what was exptected from them at that time, they were to put their finger to their lips and say "shhh, shhh". They thought it was cool because we sounded like a train. I thought it was cool because I got what I wanted - quiet.

Reward system is good but in groups not individually. Each table table can get a basket and everytime there is too much talking or activity give them a marble or something in their basket. At the end of the day the table with the least amount of items gets to pick a prize, each child gets 1. My sons teacher has a bucket of very cheap items that kids love. He brings home pencil toppers or erasers and little what nots all the time. If the basket on a table would not work for your class it can also be done with tally marks on the board, it may help the children work together and remind their table friends to be quiet when needed.

Have you tried music. My daughter's teacher sang to her children and taught things in songs. She really had their attention. I am a nurse but a stay at home mom for 13 years. When things got crazy at home, especially when the kids were young i put on music and it always changed their mood, attention span and helped me keep my sanity. Try it and do a search for ways to use music. Talk to your music teacher at school. Good Luck. K. G. If neither of you can sing, use music on a cd. I often used music by cd, cause singing didn't just flow out of my mouth.

In a special needs classroom and early childhood classroom I worked in we started a conversation with the class at the front of the room and slowly lowered our voice. For them to hear they had to quiet down. It helped to have a bright colored visual for the lesson. They were curious about the visual and usually quieted within a minute or two.
Good Luck.

IF you were to talk in a low voice - the children do quiet down bc they are afraid of missing what you have to say. Furthermore, I was at a kindergartner class yesterday giving a speech and to keep their attention one has to keep the activities going. They have short attention spans. Make things interesting. The children love to "correct" me when I mis spoke a word but at least they participated. Yes, I acted a fool but was affective! Good luck!

One thing that stands out in your frustration is that you mentioned that "their homeroom teacher can control them; we cannot". THIS IS YOUR ANSWER. Find out what the difference is in your teaching style. Is that teacher more firm, or how is her reward system? Look at what is working in her class, and duplicate it with your style. Anything that is working, if assessed properly can be repeated. The down side, it is hard to try and regain control of something that has been out of control for so long. However, with consistency - it can be done with patience and love. Hopefully this helps.

Signing out... Mommy C

You're right. This has gone on WWWWAAAAYY too long. I'm a former pre-school and school teacher. You HAVE TO SET THE BOUNDARIES FROM THE GET-GO, EVEN IF they seem a little stringent. You can always ease up but it's VERY hard to tighten the reins when the kids have them! There are way more of them than you. If they've gotten by with things all year long, WHY should they think things should change now? You NEED to understand this!

Secondly, you NEED to talk to them WITHOUT yelling (don't know if you're doing this) but this happens when kids won't cooperate. The more you yell, the more they try to increase volume over you.

Try a sound ....tamborine, shakers, etc. that MEANS......when they hear that sound, YOU NEED THEIR ATTENTION. They need to ALSO understand that when you do this, it's important and they might miss out on something they need to do or know.

You need to talk about the issue of RESPECT. When an adult talks, they need to respect you and stop and listen. Acknowledge the kids who are showing repect and cooperation. Tell them you appreciate it and are proud of them. Acknowledge that it's good manners. Talk about getting attention thru GOOD/POSITIVE behavior rather than obnoxious and/or loud behavior.

Keep ALL of this in mind BEFORE you start the school year next year. You will enjoy the year SO much more and get ALOT more accomplished! On top of that........it's about character building and maturing the kids to move on.

You have to find an interest for the whole class. Try a science project. It works . Some thing new and challeging . They need a challenge.