Ya’ll….I’m gonna be real about classroom management and using a quiet signal in the classroom! When people clap at me to get my attention, it irks me.
When people count to get a group of kids quiet, it irks me. We need a more effective quiet signal!
Here’s why…the counting and clapping just make more noise! If we’re trying to get our kids quiet and paying attention, we don’t need to add more noise. We need something a little more soothing…a more appropriate attention-getter.
Call and response? Noise. Flick the lights? Looks like we’re starting a dance party.
There has to be a better way….right?!
So, Mr. Greg, how can we get their attention without clapping or counting or a call and response or flicking the lights?!
A DOORBELL!
True story. It plays a soft, soothing chime that gets our attention quickly and easily!
You can purchase a wireless doorbell that plugs into any outlet. The wireless doorbell I LOVE is from Sadotech that plays 50 different chimes!!
Click Here
And it comes in fun colors!
I used hot glue to attach the button to a clothespin so I can wear the button all day.
Whenever I want my class’ attention, I ring the bell! They stop, put their hands in their lap, their bubbles in, and look at me!
Of course, this is a procedure that we learned at the beginning of the year. It has to be taught and modeled and practiced!
You can put your buzzer in a sanitizer holder, as seen here. This is a sanitizer holder from Bath & Body Works. They fit PERFECTLY!
You can also hot glue the buzzer to a clothespin and clip it to your lanyard!
How The Quiet Signal Works:
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35 comments
What do you do or have as a consequence for any children who do not stop at the sound? I love this idea and have been contemplating it this whole year. Maybe I can still try it out at the end of this year before a new batch of kiddos come in.
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I use a wind chime in the same way but I love the idea of having it attached
I find repetition and practice will do it, rather than consequences in the long run.
Our school uses PAX Good Behavior Game. It is a researched based program that has been around since the '70s! Their program uses a harmonica. Through research they have found that the pitch of a harmonica is best. We start the first day of kindergarten using the harmonica. Students learn to freeze, look at me, give a quiet symbol (peace sign) and a finger over their mouths. They know I cannot given directions until all four things happen from EVERY student. I have to wait. At the beginning it took forever, but within days, they get it.
Kindergarten is such a fun year for writing and reading progress. I wish I would have saved more samples from my years of teaching over the years as each kid has such a unique style!
kids schools
I love this! I use a soothing chime to signal clean up and transition, but I love the mobility of the door bell and need a look at me signal. Excited!
This is SO fabulous! I hate the clapping thing too.
II love this idea!! I hope you don’t mind me aharing this on my Facebook page!! I just jumped on Amazon and ordered one to try our next year. ????
Of course! Thank you for sharing!!
[…] Check out this post about my favorite classroom management tip! […]
Do students have consequences in your class? Thanks!
My behavior system is based upon expectations and relationships. There are definitely consequences for not following directions.
What do you mean when you say they get their bubble?
Cath a bubble in their mouth. Basically it means to be quiet.
I absolutely love this!
Can you share what you use the mini trampoline for? My curiosity is piqued beyond measure. Totally getting a doorbell too. Clapping hurts my hands, call and response takes too long sometimes, and countdowns have students launching themselves (and that is with high schoolers ): grr).
I actually have an entire blog post about it! Just type “trampoline” in the search and you can read all about it!
How do you get their attention when you are not in the classroom?
Just by using my voice.
I just received my doorbell in the mail. I am so EXCITED to try it out this year!
II can’t find the fun color options on Amazon or the SadoTech website. Do you know where to find the colors you have pictured above (blue, yellow, pink, etc.)? Link?
They should be right there using the link in this blog post. The “large” picture will just be the white one but look at the small pictures below it, that is where you choose the color you want. However, they have sold a TON of them so it is possible they are sold out of the fun colors.
What are the consequences you enforce in your classroom for children who do not follow directions, or behave negatively towards peers.
This is a great idea! We use a doorbell at home as a signal for my own children to come up from downstairs. It’s a great way for my husband and I to get their attention without yelling down the steps. Who needs more noise?! I didn’t even think about bringing this same idea into my classroom. Thanks!
[…] I saw this in a colleague’s kindergarten classroom and thought it was GENIUS! I loathe raising my voice to students and I despise talking over my students as well. I was always looking for new attention-grabbers for my classroom. This was a perfect idea. The teacher would wear a doorbell on her and whenever she wanted her classroom’s attention or it was getting too noisy, she would just ring the doorbell, it would chime and students would put their eyes on her! She didn’t have to raise her voice and the students knew exactly what to do. It can be used to remind students they need to speak quieter, give out new directions, transition to a new activity… it just works! Try it out and I promise you… you’ll be using it forever! I like this doorbell. Just hot glue a clothespin to the push button to clip onto your lanyard. Below is an example from The Kindergarten Smorgasboard. […]
When teacher ask kids to put a bubble in their mouth, it irks me.
Can more than one chime be programmed at a time? I would like one for clean up and one for getting students’ attention?
With multiple buzzers/buttons you can!
Hi! I would love to use this idea with my kindergarten students. I’m curious to know if this is the only attention signal you use, or if you use this along with another attention signal?
That’s it!! I do use a song for clean up
So how loud is the doorbell? I teach preschool and was thinking about trying this but worried that when they are in centers it wouldn’t be loud enough for them to hear? Thanks!
It’s pretty loud….I would say it IS loud enough.
lDo you recommend 1 or 2 remotes/transmitters?
I have 1 remote