Tuesday. Seventh grade world history, special ed. It was the day before Valentine's Day, so they had assignments based on that.
It was a fairly easy day for them. They had some reading with questions. Then they had an online Edpuzzle (which is a short video with questions embedded in it--they do this on their own online). And finally they had a coloring page.
After they finished all three assignments, they were to work on "a quiet activity". Which is basically saying that they had free time. With computers, they could watch a video, play a game, etc.
Only, seventh graders don't really do quiet well.
The conversations got loud. The room was small, and the kiddos who were talking were seated close to each other, but they projected their voices so they could be heard at the back of the theater. (I'm exaggerating, but not by much.) I wish the kiddos would put this much power into their voices when we're doing discussions and reading in class.
But, that kind of volume on side coversations? It was a bit much.
I'm used to this sort of thing. But the class' instructional aide was not. She warned them that they needed to quiet down their voices or she'd find another way to keep them busy.
The regular teacher, Ms. P, was on campus at a training. There were a couple students that Ms. P wanted updates on, so Ms. V (the IA) and she were texting back and forth. Ms. V texted the teacher about the students being done with the assignment. And Ms. P added more work online for them to do.
Oh, the whining...
The volume calmed down once they got working, although they couldn't understand what the problem was. They weren't that loud, they said.
I told them that they really needed to stop going to raves, then. Because they were talking as if they had to compete with loud, booming music.
Eventually they learn to not call attention to themselves when they've finished their work. Just not in the seventh grade.
That's the thing to learn, don't let anyone know you've finished your work! That goes for adults too. I remember a girl in my kids' home school, when she finished her math, her mother gave her the next day's lesson. It would have taught any other student to go slower, but not her!
ReplyDeleteThey do understand this in high school, but in middle school someone is always letting me know that they're done with their work.
DeleteIt seems like the people who are loud never realize they're loud. My sister's normal voice is loud, but she swears she isn't loud. I guess they're used to their own volume level?
ReplyDeleteYeah, some people don't realize how loud they talk. Or we could just be used to more quiet.
DeleteI think we were all loud in 7th grade but I not so fondly remember some classmates who were loud, even in hushed, private conversations.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely the age. They mellow out as their hormones begin to even out.
DeleteThey have to learn the lesson on when to stay quite sometime.
ReplyDeleteThe world has certainly changed now that a text message to an absent teacher results in an immediate assignment
ReplyDeleteYes, it's lovely to be able to get ahold of them that easily. Not always (sometimes they aren't available). It depends on why the teacher is out.
DeleteThey need to be noticed. I was always quiet..the teachers said I was painfully shy and timid...not now!
ReplyDeleteIt's the age. They're not this loud in (for example) the 10th grade.
DeleteInside voice is not taught these days...
ReplyDeleteIt's the age. Older students don't get this loud.
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