Introduction
As educators, we constantly strive to help our students develop strong communication skills. One aspect that is often overlooked is the importance of using an expected voice volume. Ensuring that students speak neither too quietly nor too loudly is essential in fostering effective communication and positive social interactions. This blog post will explore an easy-to-implement, no-prep activity designed to help students understand the concept of expected voice volume and its significance in daily conversations.
No-Prep Activity: The Volume Dial
The Volume Dial is a simple and engaging activity that requires no preparation or materials from the educator. To begin, have your students sit in a circle, and explain that they will be practicing their voice volume during this activity. Select a student to be the “dial master” who will control the imaginary volume dial. The dial master will point to different students in the circle, and as they do so, the selected student will speak a predetermined phrase such as “I like going to GameStop.”
However, there’s a twist: the dial master will also indicate a number between 1 and 10, with 1 being the quietest and 10 being the loudest. The student speaking must adjust their voice volume according to the number provided. This activity helps students become more aware of their voice volume and practice adjusting it to an expected level in different situations.
Discussion Questions
- Why is it important to use an expected voice volume during conversations?
- How does speaking too quietly or too loudly affect the people you are talking to?
- Can you think of a situation where you needed to adjust your voice volume? How did you handle it?
- How can practicing voice volume help improve our overall communication skills?
- What strategies can we use to remind ourselves to maintain an expected voice volume during conversations?
Related Skills
Teaching expected voice volume is just one aspect of fostering strong communication skills in students. There are other related skills that are essential for effective communication and positive social interactions, such as:
- Active listening
- Non-verbal communication (body language, facial expressions)
- Appropriate conversation topics
- Empathy and understanding others’ feelings
- Asking and answering questions
Next Steps
Now that you have learned about the importance of teaching expected voice volume and have a no-prep activity to use in your classroom, it’s time to take the next step in your journey as an educator. To access free samples of skill-building materials and resources for teaching effective communication and other social-emotional learning concepts, sign up at Everyday Speech. These materials will provide you with the tools needed to support your students’ growth in communication and social skills, setting them up for success in all aspects of life.
