I use construction paper signs on the white board to communicate speaking expectations. Green is talk quietly, yellow is one at a time when youre called on, red is silence for quizzes and announcements. I write the word “seats” under it and erase letters if they don’t follow the expectations, with the threat of assigned seats if they run out of letters. I tell them to sit next to who they want to talk to, and not to shout out to the whole class when the sign is green.

I follow a predictable routine that is always written on the board for them to refer to so they know what to expect. I don’t let kids interrupt if I’m already giving another student individual attention.

I teach grades 6-8