Trouble Controlling Chatter in Classroom

Question:

I teach 1st and 2nd grade (combined classes).  I am having trouble finding inventive ways to control the chatter while I (or a student) am trying to talk.  Please help!

Answer:

My favorite suggestion for all classroom problems is to use class meetings to let the kids find solutions. They are good at it.  They are motivated to follow suggestions they help create, and they learn problem-solving skills.  Our book Positive Discipline in the Classroom focuses on class meetings.  You might even want to attend one of our two day workshops on this subject. Following is an excerpt from our book Positive Discipline: A Teacher’s A-Z Guide on Yakkers.