As educators, we understand the importance of teaching our students appropriate classroom behavior. For students in Special Education, learning how to enter the classroom quietly, calmly, and with attentiveness to the teacher is a crucial skill. In this blog post, we will explore a no-prep activity to help teach this skill, discuss related questions, and provide next steps for incorporating this skill into your curriculum.

Introduction

Entering the classroom in a calm and quiet manner sets the tone for a successful learning environment. This skill is particularly important for students in Special Education, as it helps them transition smoothly from one activity to another, reduces distractions, and fosters a sense of respect and responsibility. By teaching our students to enter the classroom with intention and focus, we are helping them develop essential social-emotional skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.

No-Prep Activity: The Silent Entry Game

A great way to teach students how to enter the classroom quietly and calmly is through a simple, no-prep activity called the Silent Entry Game. To play, follow these steps:

1. Have students line up outside the classroom door.
2. Explain that they will be practicing entering the classroom silently and calmly, just like Josh in our example. Remind them of the key actions: walking slowly, sitting calmly, putting away their backpacks quietly, and paying attention to the teacher.
3. Invite students to enter the classroom one at a time, demonstrating the appropriate behavior. As they enter, observe and make mental notes of their performance.
4. Once all students have entered, provide feedback on their performance. Praise students who demonstrated the desired behavior and offer constructive suggestions for improvement as needed.
5. Repeat the activity as necessary to reinforce the skill.

This activity not only teaches students how to enter the classroom quietly and calmly, but also provides an opportunity for them to practice self-awareness and self-regulation, key components of social-emotional learning.

Discussion Questions

To further explore the concept of entering the classroom quietly and calmly, consider discussing the following questions with your students:

• Why is it important to enter the classroom quietly and calmly?
• How does entering the classroom in this manner show respect for our classmates and teacher?
• What are some strategies we can use to remind ourselves to enter the classroom quietly and calmly?
• How does practicing this skill help us develop our social-emotional skills?
• Can you think of other situations where it is important to enter a space quietly and calmly?

Related Skills

Teaching students how to enter the classroom quietly and calmly is just one aspect of fostering a positive learning environment. Other related skills that students in Special Education can benefit from include:

• Active listening and paying attention during lessons
• Respecting personal space and boundaries
• Cooperating with classmates during group activities
• Using polite language and manners when interacting with others

Next Steps

Now that you have learned about the importance of teaching students how to enter the classroom quietly and calmly, as well as a simple activity to help reinforce this skill, it’s time to take the next steps in incorporating this and other social-emotional learning skills into your curriculum. To get started, you can sign up for free samples of various social-emotional learning materials and resources at Everyday Speech. By incorporating these valuable skills into your teaching, you will be setting your students up for success both inside and outside the classroom.