Eastern Washington University
Helean, Taylor 
The “leave me a note” station serves as a valuable tool in the classroom to address varying communication needs among students. Providing a designated space for written communication, it not only helps manage excessive talking but also offers an avenue for quieter or more reserved students to express themselves comfortably.
This tool is a silent way to convey to students that they aren’t following expectations. Simply flip Ollie the octopus from happy to sad when students are not being kind, following classroom agreements, and being safe. Once students correct their behavior, flip Ollie back to happy.
This tool is helpful because it allows students to self-monitor their noise level during independent work time, partner work, or group work. It also has a timer, so that students can also track how much time is left in the allotted quiet time.
When the teacher or student says “Flat Tire” everyone says shhhhhhh and listens to whoever prompted the flat tire. This is a quick verbal interaction that is a fast and easy way to get students and everyone’s attention in the classroom.
When students need a brain break, put on a rollercoaster simulation video. Have your students act in their seats like they are on a rollercoaster ride. This is a fun activity that gives your students an engaging but timely brain break that gives them a quick reset so they will be ready to learn.
“Hold Your Bubble” is an effective strategy to use when students are expected to be silent. Students fill their cheeks up with air and are encouraged to “hold their bubble” so their noise level is at a zero when appropriate.
The NOISE Tracker allows students or teacher to quietly alert the class when our noise level is getting too high. When it gets too loud, a student or the teacher can remove a letter from the end of the word “NOISE” (which will be posted at the front of the class). Once only “N” and “O” are left, a class meeting will be called and consequences will be discussed.
Classroom scouts can be used during whole class or group work activities. Students are randomly selected, or scheduled to be the scouts for the day and are in charge of looking for students who are following classroom expectations. Scouts will have the opportunity to give a shout out to a peer that they think did a good job of following expectations.
Math tool kits can include manipulatives, white boards, markers, number lines, spinners, and various other math tools that can be pulled out during a lesson or group work. Math tool kits make math supplies easily accessible to students and provide the tools needed to represent their work in various ways or can be used for activities.
This tool is used for students to create three big rules for the classroom that students decide and agree upon at the start of the year. Students work together to come up with their three big rules they promise to follow and design posters that are hung and visible throughout the whole year.
Register to Vote
© 2023 INSIDE.EWU.EDU