[senco-forum] controlling children's voices in schools

"We just listed desired voices for situations clearly

Aly,

Thanks for the update on information on your web site.

The angle I am coming from is that of controlling voices of children in a
classroom or school environment where there might be a child with APD who
needs the general level of noise to be controlled so that they can function
optimally; so general awareness of volume that is not aimed at individuals.
We are professionals and we know who needs to be noisy and who needs to be
quiet.  And allowances are made for individuals.  But the classroom in
general needs to be managed and children in general need to be aware there
are different levels of volume that are appropriate for different
situations.

For example, in my Year 1 after school club I feel that one of the children
may have some kind of visual and auditory issues.  His eyes are misaligned.
He definitely needs to be allowed to be noisy.  He is allowed to be noisy
when we are acting the story out.  His speaking voice is loud.  He listens
and partakes avidly.  He chooses to come.  He even stopped me at another
time in school to eagerly tell me about which story he wanted next.  I am
currently discussing his needs with his class teacher and parents.

And when on bus duty with over 100 children who all liked to chat at the end
of the day (and why shouldn't they?) a hand signal to show them noise levels
worked very well indeed.  The general level of noise otherwise could be
unbearable and some children would put their hands over their ears.

And no-one mentioned punishment.

Philippa

On Nov 10, 2007 5:47 PM, Alyson Mountjoy <saylon_uk at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

> "We just listed desired voices for situations clearly
> somewhere in the classroom; practised them and then
> expected them to be followed."
>
> Children who have APD may be unaware of the volume at
> which they speak, some may naturally speak very
> quietly and some speak louder than average.
>
> It is not a conscious thing to speak too loudly or too
> quietly and for many may be beyond their control.
> These concepts may never be learned by children with
> APD, it is like asking a deaf person not to shout....
> they will not be able to do it. To expect them to do
> so or punish them for not doing so is unreasonable.
>
>
>
> Best wishes,
> Aly
>
> Chair Auditory Processing Disorder in the UK/APDUK
> www.lacewingmultimedia.com/APD.htm
> www.apduk.org
>
>
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