7 Classroom Management Strategies for a Talkative Class
So, you got that chatty class this year? The one where the kids just can’t…stop…talking!? Oh, I remember getting a group like that! The teachers from the prior year warned us…this group is a talkative bunch! Don’t get me wrong, this class was still a great group of kids, but they would just talk about anything, everything, at any given time! All of my go to strategies weren’t always enough and I found myself exhausted just trying to give instructions or asking them to work on their assignments. So, I quickly needed to be more strategic and systematic in how I approached each day.
Are you in the same boat right now my friend? Are you wondering how to manage a talkative class? Well, here are some classroom management strategies to help you navigate your day.
Classroom Management Strategies for a Talkative Class
Don’t talk over your students.
I can’t stress this enough! If there’s one thing to take away from this article, it would be just this! Don’t talk over your students! Starting your lesson or instructions with students talking over you just reinforces the behavior you are trying to stop. I know, sometimes you’re in that time crunch. You need to finish this activity before you rush them off to P.E., so you feel like you have to power through. Instead, take a pause…sometimes that’s all you need. Be quiet and wait until you get those chatter boxes to notice. However, we all know that in many cases, that’s not enough. So, try a new attention getter strategy! You could implement a hand signal, a chant, a bell, etc. Maybe even have two or three up your sleeve. Try what makes sense to you and suits your students the best. Just remember, don’t move on until they are showing you the correct behavior, even if that means you have to repeat it again.
Starting your lesson or instructions with students talking over you just reinforces the behavior you are trying to stop.
2. Set expectations.
Students need to to understand the distinction between appropriate and inappropriate times for conversation. It’s important to have this planned ahead of time as much as possible. Are students allowed to visit during morning work, snack time, specific independent working times? Knowing what you expect from your students and primarily communicating these expectations to your class, will help each part of your day run more smoothly. By keeping this as consistent as possible will also discourage students from testing the waters more often than they already might.
One effective way to communicate your expectations is with the use of noise level charts. I have mine posted on the wall at the front of the room and refer to them regularly. I use these four levels: 0-No Voices/1-Quiet Voices/2-Normal Voices/3-Presentation Voice. I tailor the expected noise levels to a specific activity, and then have students help gauge how they are doing. This, in conjunction with my teacher reminders, helps them assess their own sound levels and take ownership of their behavior.
*Here’s another tip with noise levels: Use offices, or privacy folders, when quiet time is absolutely required. I use them almost always for testing and very often during writing time. Not only do they help deter those wandering eyes, but they also keep students focused within their given space. The year I moved into a new classroom and found these in the cupboards, I initially wanted to get rid of them to make more space thinking I would never use them. I am so glad that I didn’t, as they made a such huge difference with my chatty bunch!
3. Give opportunities to talk.
If you have a chatty group of kiddos, it’s unrealistic to expect them to be quiet at all working times throughout the day. Honestly, it shouldn’t be an expectation for any class of students. We are social creatures by nature, and younger children have a genuine need for frequent verbal communication. So, along with setting your expectations, intentionally allow students designated times throughout the day to talk. There are two forms of this: free talk and productive talk, or also known as academic discourse.
First, let’s take a look at free talk. These are the times that students are allowed to talk about topics unrelated to school. This may look like conversations during morning meetings about our weekend, brain breaks, free time earned, etc. It can also be those times that students are working on a task where it really doesn’t impede their learning if they visit with a neighbor. For example, perhaps they are working on an activity that they need to color or cut and paste. There are some activities where I allow my students to visit as long as they are working. Many of my students will diligently work while visiting with a neighbor.
The other opportunity for students to talk is during PRODUCTIVE talk time, or academic discourse. Academic discourse serves as a valuable tool that not only satisfies students' natural urge to talk but has also been proven to enhance and deepen student learning. Some methods include: discussion strategies (such as think, pair, share), partner work, collaborative projects, etc.
Intentionally allow students designated times throughout the day to talk.
4. Consider your seating arrangement.
I have always been a fan of putting my students in groups as it lends well to group work and collaboration. However, sometimes the picture we have in our head for the perfect classroom set up, just won’t work. Do you remember that group of students I had mentioned earlier? They really struggled with having their desks in pods and being face-to-face with other students for most of the day. They could not help themselves! So honestly, that year’s students didn’t get that seating arrangement beyond the first couple of weeks of school. Instead, pods of two, facing forward, worked really well for this group. They still had a neighbor for partner work but didn’t have another friend directly in front of them to talk to and make goofy faces at. Each group of students might need a different arrangement then the next. Or even the same group might need an alternative arrangement at different times of year. For instance, they might need to go in single rows for a while too. My main point here is, don’t try to force your students into a seating arrangement that doesn’t work for them. Find what works and be flexible.
5. Know the power of proximity.
With a talkative classroom it is really important that you as the teacher are up and walking the room as much as possible. Hey, you’ll meet your step goal every single day! It’s a win-win! If you’re sitting at your desk, you won’t be able to as easily catch and deescalate the slowly rising chatter. Also, you just might get more easily distracted with grading papers or all of the other tasks that are calling your name, making it even more challenging for yourself to monitor that behavior effectively. Proximity to students helps keep them on track. Even just your presence near their desks will deter them from unwanted behavior, knowing that their teacher is right there. A quick tap on their desk or gentle verbal reminders will make a world of difference and not allow the volume to get out of hand.
6. Push the reset button.
Now sometimes, its time to hit the reset button. You’ve tried the attention getter, not moving on until they are quiet, but for whatever reason they are struggling. This is when I hit the reset button…heads down on the desk. My students know this isn’t an actual punishment as many assume it might be. It truly is just a reset. Students put their heads down on their desks and are quiet for a few moments. I remind them (with a calm voice) that we need to reset and refocus. After a few moments I have them sit up and “check themselves.” At this point they get into their learning positions and show me they are ready to move on.
Along these lines, if the day is especially rough, you can always call a quick class meeting. I would do this after a class reset has already been done. During this quick meeting we would discuss what we are doing right now, review our expectations, as well as any consequences that might follow if we don’t correct it quickly.
7. Stay positive!
I always focus on the positive in my classroom. Have fun with your kids and find times to have real conversations with them. Building those relationships will only help you in the long run.
Also, set some class rewards! There are so many options out there for this…beads, marble jars, clips, etc. Every time your class is working quietly for a set amount of time, give them their token towards earning their class reward. More ideas on this coming soon in another post!
As for yourself, stay positive! Be intentional with student activities and your expectations but be sure to give yourself some grace when things don’t go according to plan.
