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David Ganahl      "they love it enough to make some noise"

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David Ganahl      "they love it enough to make some noise"

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Collaboration, lack of silence, communication, story creating and storytelling!!!!

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"There is nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos"

I am looking forward to students talking and asking questions. Enthusiasm would be nice to see again. I want to make sure to celebrate success more in class; high fives to acknowledge when correct!!

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"The noise means that students are engaged"
I have shared with many that when we were remote, the hardest part was not hearing what students were thinking while learning. I want to see and hear what they are learning. To see their smile would be priceless.

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"there's something about your class that your students love, and they love it enough to make some noise"

It is wonderful to hear students create noise with laughter and see smiles on their faces.

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Let's not forget the noise.... made me cry. Being virtual last year I missed the noise sitting in an empty classroom often in the dark since the lights would go out. Having the kids whole group on zooms the feedback and glitching was horrible. Small groups were slightly better but so not the same.... bring on the NOISE this year!

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Sandy Hilsinger-Pate   Nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos!

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Sandy Hilsinger-Pate   Nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos!

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"There is nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos."

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"There is nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos."

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I play music daily in my class as they enter. I love the noise of heated debates, curiosity, and collaboration. When we returned from remote learning to hybrid, my students were still so very quiet. And then one day, I had them writing on the white boards around my classroom - and noise happened. It made me so very happy to hear them engaged in the learning. I could hear them critically think, ask questions, and collaborate with their peers. It took a delicate balance of social distancing and sanitizing a lot of markers - but it was worth bringing that atmosphere back into my classroom.

Kelly Sanchez

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"When the kids love it enough to hear the noise."
That was the weirdest part for me on ZOOM. The feeling that comes from each and every child as they are so excited to start each day a new and learn is something I am looking forward to ....down to my core.

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The noise means the participation. It is a great way for students to take the responsibility in their own learning.

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The noise means the participation. It is a great way for students to take the responsibility in their own learning.

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----Annie Wang

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"Nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos."

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"Nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos."

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Students have missed be around each other and are craving each other's company. No perfect way then to learn with each other with some productive noise.  I will be doing project based assignments this year.

Andrea Bosquez

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Lets not forget the things we missed most- the sound of learning

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Noise is an indication of life. and life is made full in relationships. God given relationships
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Tara Gudino - "There's nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos."

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Tara Gudino - "There's nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos."

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When students are engaged and are they are collaborating, it may sound chaotic, but it is true learning.

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"the noise means the love of learning, engaged learning... it is the sound of learning"

I will definitely allow this kind of noise in my classroom. It is controlled chaos. Relationships will be built and learning will occur.

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"the noise often means that kids love learning"

I can't wait to hear their laughter and their voice . I can't wait to see how they help each other . I can't wait to see how they collaborate and see their joy of learning.

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"...because that teacher might have some engaged students."
What a great and inspirational video! Our students are coming back from a year of quiet. We need to get them talking and as teachers, we need to be okay with that noise!

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"to let down their guard and express their emotions"
Allowing noise is part of that SEL growth. Being comfortable with noise and understanding the distinction between good and bad noise are signs that a teacher knows her students. At this point, students are bursting with the need to express their emotions but may need help putting down that guard more than ever before. It's important that our kids also understand the distinction in the noises made in a classroom and whether that means learning is happening and positive relationships are being built between peers. It takes a lot of time, effort to allow that kind of noise where vulnerabilities can be shared. As adults, we also need to learn how to let down our guard and set the example for our kids.

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"The noise can work as an affirmation- that you as a teacher are doing something right." 

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"The noise can work as an affirmation- that you as a teacher are doing something right." 

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Collaboration and building relationships is so important. Last year when we returned, some students had such a difficult time connecting with their classmates, and were so used to being quiet behind a computer on Zoom. This resonated with me because it reminded me of a time before where this noise made me feel happy to know my students were engaged. This next school year, I plan to have many team building activities right away so we can start forming those relationships and let our students open up-- so that we can hear that noise once again. ~ Elizabeth Denney

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"The sound of the muffled voices behind masks that doesn't seem to have the same effect." This line reminded me of the moment one of my students gave up trying to talk through the mask. I could see the disappointed look in her eyes. The classroom is a place where students should feel heard and many of them did not feel that way. Although we will still be in masks, I plan to bring more of the noise back through group discussions and using mics to help students project when addressing the entire class. I want them to know I want to hear every word they have to say.

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"Nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos!"

I agree that this helps students learn when they are engaged and enjoying the learning process.  A classroom or gym should have some noise as the students are learning and engaged.

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"There's nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos"  I loved every part of this video... I love a little controlled chaos and this past year the silence and stillness of my students made my job a lot less joyful.  I am excited to hear the laughter, learning and friendships....

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"There's nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos"  I loved every part of this video... I love a little controlled chaos and this past year the silence and stillness of my students made my job a lot less joyful.  I am excited to hear the laughter, learning and friendships....

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"Kids feel comfotable enough to express their emotions."
Students who feel safe being vulnerable with their emotions, feelings, and thoughts create a strong bond with those around them. Their learning depends and their success increases. They feel safe to make mistakes and grow from the process.

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"Nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos"

I also thought when I started teaching that my class needed to be quiet and each year I realize more and more that this is not always true. Classrooms should be filled with the sounds of children enjoying learning. I look forward to creating more hands on learning experiences for my students.

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Oh it feels soooo good! Much like the time after a workout! I will looked forward to the first moments after our day together again where I get to reflect on the "earned silence"...such a rewarding moment after a  great day teaching kids to be their BESTEST!

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"the noise often means that kids are loving learning."

I look forward to utilizing more collaborative structures than ever this upcoming schol year. After a year spent learning mostly in isolation, students need to talk, to feel heard, understood, and appreciated by their peers, as well as their teachers.

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"The noise often means that kids are learning."

I often look forward to finishing my instructions just so the students can get to work together faster. The faster they're working together, the faster they're learning the material.

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"Nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos"

I love the idea of once again being able to have a great discussion using Literature Circles, partners, groups, etc., or an engaging and interesting debate using a Socratic Circle session. I love the idea of playing background music to help students relax and share in a comfortable and safe environment.

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"Kids feel comfortable enough to express their emotions"

I have always strived to create an environment where students feel comfortable and safe. Now more than ever I feel that the classroom must be a place for students to share thoughts, feelings, and ideas.  One learning opportunity I plan on implementing is giving students time in class to work on individual and group projects.

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"There is nothing wrong with controlled chaos"

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"There is nothing wrong with controlled chaos"

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This noise or what some call  "controlled chaos" means my students are in a comfortable learning environment.  They've made a decision to lower their walls today, and have allowed themselves to become vulnerable.  This vulnerability requires trust and the belief that they are respected and heard.  They're able to share their thinking and defend their thoughts in a way that supports everyone's learning. For me, it means they've decided to step out of their comfort zone and take responsibility for their learning. This noise, or what some call chaos, is confirmation that today they have made progress- not only academically, but socially, and emotionally.  And when they leave for the day, they put another notch of self-worth and confidence in their belts knowing full well that tomorrow will be another opportunity to make "noise".

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"And perhaps one of those for you is the sound of learning, the sound of an engaged classroom, ... of a spoken word poetry slam, or loud group work, or desks scraping across..."
I've fallen in love with teaching middle school. Middle school students want to share their ideas, hopes, and dream. They are filled with so much passion for life and need to express it. To encourage students to create some noise next year, I will have them share their Wednesday creative/free writing. Students will read a poem, listen or watch a spoken word poem then respond to what they heard, watched, or read in a written response. This is low stakes writing that promotes reflection, thinking, and creativity. Then they will share their ideas, poems, or creative writing with their table partners and for a few brave ones with the class.

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"But I've also learned there is nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos."

As a new teacher, I related to the message that some people tell you that a quiet classroom is a good classroom. Sometimes my first class would get loud, but they were learning and collaborating. They were engaged and excited! Sometimes letting students learn and work in groups means a little bit of chaos. It can get noisy or messy, but the end product is worth it.

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"Perhaps you miss the noise"
Me...I miss the noise. I miss hearing my students talk...about anything. I miss students talking to each other, talking to me, I miss the interaction. I have always loved a noisy classroom because usually that means we are having fun and when things are fun the students are usually more engaged and the learning becomes more meaningful.

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"The sound of excited children."
I love the excitement of students coming into school. They are eager to learn and be productive. They love seeing their friends and getting to know new friends along with their teacher.

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"There is nothing wrong with controlled chaos."
This video had so many things I enjoyed. It helped me to remember... as this past year has pushed me to forget. I love controlled chaos. I do better in life with controlled chaos. The wonder, curiosity, comfort, energy, and overall performance is attained through real life situations. We have emotions, we need to express them, and kids need to be kids. Life has been too hard, too weird, too sad. I want to hear kids laughing again. I want to laugh with them.

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"The noise means, as a teacher you are doing something right"

Many others have already shared this "golden line", however it really resonated with me because working with Special Education students, they can often be shy or unmotivated to participate in class. I would like to be motivating enough for students to be able to have the confidence to speak up and participate, even if they may be "wrong". That participating doesn't mean they know the answer, but are critically thinking to try and understand the process of finding out.

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"that one kid who makes the rest of the class laugh" - I really missed the casual conversations between students before or after a lesson or during the down time. Or seeing students in the hallways or outside in the quad during passing period. It was hard for me to connect to them virtually because they were mostly just black boxes on my screen. I'm looking forward to getting to know my students this year and hearing all the noise!

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"The noise means, as a teacher you are doing something right"  I have always struggled with a noisy classroom.  I bought into the old school thought that a quiet classroom is controlled and noisy was chaos.  I now understand that noisy is a joyful sounds of children learning what I cannot teach....only an experience facilitated by me to prepare them for the world.

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"The noise means, as a teacher you are doing something right"  I have always struggled with a noisy classroom.  I bought into the old school thought that a quiet classroom is controlled and noisy was chaos.  I now understand that noisy is a joyful sounds of children learning what I cannot teach....only an experience facilitated by me to prepare them for the world.

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"The noise is the affirmation to you the teacher that you are doing something right."
I liked this line because I need to remind myself that "noise" doesn't always mean students are off-task.

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"Sometimes we need quiet...but there is nothing wrong with controlled chaos"
I have always said this.  Learning is not always quiet.

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"Let down their guards and express their emotions."
Students worry about what others will say or think as they may be judged/bullied. Thus why we must provide and establish a safe and welcoming a environment

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"The noise means students are engaged."
I can totally relate to everything he said. The collaboration, the community building, the insightful comments, and the laughter are all beautiful sounds that come from a classroom where students are happy to be. I can't wait for a new school year filled with the noise of learning!

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"There's nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos."

This resonated with me because I know in my heart that the chaos can be good - gets the blood pumping - fuels excitement and wonder - BUT I always wonder what it looks like to an outsider?  Next year I want to try and pull some texts that are more proactive.  I know my students need to create that noise and get passionate about what we're reading.

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"The noise means, as a teacher, you're doing something right."

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"The noise means, as a teacher, you're doing something right."

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As a teacher, hearing students feel comfortable enough to talk and share and laugh is one of the best sounds. We still shared that on Zoom last year but there is nothing like hearing it in real life!

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"The noise means, as a teacher, you're doing something right."

I've always believed that the students learn so much from one another, not really from me!  The noise is necessary.  It encourages the kids to discuss ideas, to support each other, to ask questions, and to engage.  Noise really is a beautiful thing.

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A quiet classroom has always made me uncomfortable. Of course sometimes silence is necessary, but overall, students need to share what they know, discuss their ideas, and ask questions to further their understanding, so how can all this be done if there is no noise? Embrace the noise and if need be, have a Tylonol handy.

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"The noise can work as an affirmation that you as a teacher, are doing something right."
As a teacher, the excitement of listening to students collaborate and problem solving is what makes my job so enjoyable. Next year I know it will be a little more difficult getting students to communicate since distance learning did not make that an easy task. I plan on starting early with students talking with other individuals and hopefully that will lead to them feeling comfortable speaking more often.

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"We feel this longing deep in our bones for the noise"
This past year I was put in virtual, and I think the hardest part about it was the lack of student interaction. I went the entire year and only talked to maybe 5 students in my daily zoom meetings because they weren't required to attend. Not talking to students was depressing, and made me realize how much I missed just interacting with them -- not teaching the content-- just talking to them and hearing about their lives. I think that it will be something to appreciate this next year.

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"Let's not forget the noise."

I almost cried watching that video because he was spot on. I miss the noise of my classroom so much! I miss laughter when someone is funny and excitement when they understand something new or accomplished something they didn't think they could. I need to hear students talking about learning and debating about a novel, those things bring such joy and I think I didn't realize just how much I've missed it.

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"The noise can work as an affirmation that as a teacher , you are doing something right"

So often there can be doubt on what we do as teachers as we are trying to reach all learners. Yet there those activities when you can not only see the engagement, but also hear the excitement the student are having with the task at hand. At that moment, you just know that learning is taking place and you strive to create more opportunities for it to happen again.

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"So much noise coming through the cracks in the door that you can't stop smiling because that teacher might have some engaged students."

I've always been super nervous about what an administrator would think if he/she came by my classroom during a noisy part, and this was very rewarding to hear what we as teachers who are always in the classroom know: noise is not bad. I'm going to relax this coming year when the kids are talking excitedly in their groups.

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"The sound of excited children."
I am looking forward to a little normalcy starting this coming school year. Organized chaos that I have missed so much while on zoom. As much as the mute button was appreciated at first while on zoom, I found myself missing the sound of the students background noise when they are learning, engaged, excited, collaborating. I look forward to the students working in groups while I can easily walk around and check on their understanding without popping into their breakout rooms.

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"Let's not forget the noise and embrace it as it returns."
This line resonated with me because the pandemic has made some of us forget what normal used to be. We have now lived a year of not knowing when it is appropriate to hug, talk or stand too close to people. I am excited about hearing the noise in my classroom. It will be a sign that my students are on their way back to what was once "normal."

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"I was told when I was a new teacher that a quiet classroom is a good classroom."

This resonated with me because am a fairly new teacher I was scared that this is what admin wanted from me but I realized they want the noise that I enjoy. One way I will make sure to have noise is to incorporate more UDL to give student choice and student voice.

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"Laughing out loud, heated discussions, student collaboration, building relationships, the sound of joy, frustration, energy, performance, wonder, curiosity, hands-raised-and-calling-to-be-called-on"

This is what has been missing! I felt our fourth grade team we worked together) did an excellent job providing learning opportunities for our students through Zoom, but without the in-person interaction, the learning was different. Sure, the children learned content, but in class, they learn so much more than just the content by interacting in real time with their classmates and teacher...they learn the content more deeply, and they learn so many things that have nothing to do with the content being presented. They learn how to interact with others, and that they are a valuable part of humanity!

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"Nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos."

I use to think a quiet class was a good, well-managed class. However, I have learned through my years of teaching, that noise is completely ok and is proof that students are engaged and learning. Every student learns differently, some need to stand, some need to see it drawn out, some need to talk it out. When students brainstorm and collaborate together, learning is happening. Centers can be a noisy time, but, it is controlled chaos.

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"The noise can work as an affirmation that as a teacher you are doing something right. There is something about your class that students love!"

23 years ago, my Mentor Teacher said to me, "Teaching is all about relationships!" That quote has resonated with me (especially during the pandemic). When the students returned to the classroom in the spring, I noticed they needed to build relationships with their friends, their teacher, and the school staff. I remembered saying to myself, "give them grace, give myself some grace, too." They asked me several times. "Can we read with each other in a circle if we stay socially distanced" They were so happy to read with each other. As a teacher my heart was so happy. They even made the choice to come in early from snack to read with their peers. When we return I will enjoy every minute of the students reading aloud and together. :-)

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(Regarding what noise implies) "They feel comfortable enough to let down their guards and express their emotion."

I want to continue to let students work in groups and discuss problems with one another. I have always enjoyed hearing students talk. Others may feel my class is too noisy, but some noise is GOOD noise. They are learning and collaborating. I am going to open with some simple questions or debates to get students talking. Throughout the lesson, students will discuss problems and work together.

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"Let's not forget the noise and embrace it as it returns."

Last year teaching in an empty classroom was sad at times. I missed the giggles, the sharing of ideas, the singing, the dancing and just the conversation with kids. I am truly looking forward to having less restrictions as kids return. I'll definitely be embracing "the noise."

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"Let's not forget the noise.  Let's embrace it."

When I was a first year teacher, I had another teacher come over to my room to tell me my room was too noisy.  (We had open pods at the time)  My students were all engaged and all on task.  I ignored her and kept on doing my thing.  To this day, I embrace the noise that my kids make.  They are learning and having fun!

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"I have also learned there is nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos"

If you have ever stepped foot in my classroom you would know I am a HUGE advocate of controlled chaos! I love a room full of chatter, laughter, song, and discussions. In doing this it is important that students know that their thinking out loud is welcomed and that we can learn from "making noise."

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"There is something about an empty classroom that doesn't feel right."

I taught remotely from my school site last year. I was the only teacher in my pod. Not only was walking to my classroom quiet, but all the rooms surrounding me. It was such a strange feeling. I can't wait to have a kids in class for a regular bell schedule. I can't wait to have them collaborate with each other! I am looking forward to a new year and some noise because,

"The noise means that kids are loving learning."

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"Noise works as an affirmation, that  as a teacher, you are doing something right..the kids are loving learning". I often forget that noise is good. When I stop and watch, I smile. The kids are enjoying time in my class and they are working and learning together. I am looking forward to the chaos and noise that will soon fills the air in my class, in the halls, and on the playground. Such an awesome reminder that life is good!

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The noise often means that kids are learning.

As a virtual teacher last year, I missed the noise and energy of a classroom that naturally occurs when kids are learning.

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I love the noise; especially when it breaks into a song. I am happy it is encouraged now. It means there is learning going on and students are engaging.

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"the noise can work as an affirmation, that as a teacher, you are doing something right."

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"the noise can work as an affirmation, that as a teacher, you are doing something right."

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I loved the energy when we sang and danced and beat our "drums"! The students loved being at school and then the learning could happen!

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"Let's not forget the noise. Let's embrace it as it returns."

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"Let's not forget the noise. Let's embrace it as it returns."

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When we got back to in-person school last Spring, students were so quiet and no expressions could even be shared due to masks. This school year, though we are still required to wear masks, I am going to work hard to have a time where we can shoot-the-breeze so students feel more comfortable sharing, asking questions, and knowing that I WANT to hear their voices.

Loretta Arenas

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Noise can be an affirmation that you are doing something right....

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Noise can be an affirmation that you are doing something right....

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I love the conversations during those noisy lessons. I love the noise after because that means they were so engaged they keep talking about it. I love on those exhausting noisy days when they leave for the day and they say BEST DAY EVER

Casey Ringrose

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"There isn't anything wrong with controlled chaos"
My favorite time of the day is center time in my TK classroom.  It is engaging, messy, fun, and very NOISY!! I can't wait to hear the sounds of the kids using their imaginations, creating, constructing, and playing!

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"There is nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos."

It feels amazing when the room is "ALIVE" with learning. They are talking, explaining, agreeing or disagreeing. When their bodies and minds are engaged in might be noisy but it feels right.

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...the sound of learning, the sound of an engaged classroom."

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...the sound of learning, the sound of an engaged classroom."

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Oh my gosh, how I missed the noise! And so did my students, the best times in Zoom were when we were laughing or arguing or crying, listening to music, sharing stories. We all agreed the masks interfere with engagement :(

Diana

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"They feel comfortable enough to let down their guard and express their emotion"

I have always LOVED when my kids are noisy! Even if the discussions aren't always 100% on task, I love that they feel comfortable enough to build relationships with one another and feel free enough to express their opinions and thoughts. When my table groups are talking, it feels like magic in the classroom. The quiet of Zoom was agonizing, and both students and teachers felt it. I can't wait to have a little noise back in my life this coming school year!

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"There is nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos."
Some of the most engaging hands-on activities involve quite a bit of controlled chaos. I will embrace the controlled chaos if it means students are engaged and learning.

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Muffled Voices Behind Masks

This will continue to be a challenge.

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Noise is essential to learning!

For children to learn they need noise! Noise is excitement, laughter, enjoyment, discussions, and conversation. To learn students need quiet, but also to learn children need noise!

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"Gasping in Wonder. . .  "
"noise" translates into the excitement kids feel when grasphing a new concept or seeing a sceince experiment work or not work!! Noise is essential to the everyday learning that takes place in a classroom and con not be subsituted!

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"Your classroom may be the place they love enough to make noise"

We all want our students to love school.  My hope is that my students feel confident enough to take risks and try things.  Kids who are engaged, feel safe, love school and love learning are making noise - it's that controlled chaos.  It is music to my ears!

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"Noise can be an affirmation you're doing something right...."

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"Noise can be an affirmation you're doing something right...."

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A TK classroom is often loud, I have experienced some adults coming into this environment and being uncomfortable because of the noise.  The good kind loud in a TK classroom is exciting because learning is happening!

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"I was told when I was a new teacher that a quiet classroom is a good classroom."

I have never believed this nor was I taught this nor was I ever corrected for having a noisy classroom. I always believed that we don't learn in isolation so I always wanted my students to check with their classmates on topics and have discussions. In my years of teaching, I would venture to guess that my classroom would be the noisiest in the department, but hopefully because my students were having meaningful discussions about our topic.

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"They feel comfortable enough to let down their guard and express their emotion."

This line resonated with me because some of the age group that I love teaching often feels like they don't fit in. But I know that when they feel comfortable enough, they'll let down their guard and share with me.

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"Let's not forget the noise.  Let's embrace it as it returns."
Yes! Yes!  This line speaks to me because my greatest loss last year was the authentic participation in group work.  I get energized as I hear the kids hashing out problems and sharing ideas.  Naturally, this are noisy moments, but they are oh, so sweet.
Next year, I will work to model what learning sounds like and create groups that support the exchange of ideas, right or wrong.

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"But I've also learned there is nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos. Laughing out loud, heated discussions, student’s collaboration, building relationships, the sound of joy, frustration, energy, performance, wonder, curiosity, hands raised, and calling to be called on noise."

I love these lines they embody the reasons I teach. Students collaborating and engaging in meaningful lessons will fill my classroom joy. It will help create a positive responsive classroom where students grow and learn together. To encourage this noise, I will provide learning opportunities where students are encouraged to share and communicate with each other.

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"the earned silence"
I always love the end of the day when it's quiet and I can reflect on what's gone on. Where to begin tomorrow depends a lot on how today went. If it was loud, controlled chaos, and kids letting their guards down to be heard because they feel comfortable....I've done my job and earned my "silence".

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"There is nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos."

I love this line because you know students are engaged when they talk to each other on their own without any prompting. The key difference is the "talk" is productive and task orientated. The noise level definitely increases during labs and performance task. Students are engaged and testing out their hypothesis or prototypes. You can hear and see the excitement on their faces or you can see the wheels turning as they are trying to problem solve.

As a science teacher, this makes my heart happy.  Science is about wonder, asking and answering questions, failure, and success. My hope is that students never let go of that inquisitive part of themselves. My job is to keep that spirit of wonder alive.

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"But there's something about an empty classroom that doesn't feel right"

This line hit me hard as a virtual teacher that returned to my classroom filled to the brim with desks from other rooms instead of students last spring. I sat in that "empty" room waiting for my regulars to come into class on zoom so I could do my favorite thing about my job--help guide them through their processing of what the teachers on Edgenuity showed them. I cannot wait for that emptiness to be gone this school year. Though it was nice to be able to provide so much more support--I hated not getting to know all of the faces that matched the names on my rosters.

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"The Noise can work as an affirmation that as a teacher, you're doing something right."

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"The Noise can work as an affirmation that as a teacher, you're doing something right."

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After first, I enjoyed the silence and head space of being in quarantine. But, I remember, there was an evening I was rewatching "Perks of Being a Wallflower," and it was the scene where they are all at a Friday night Football game. I just sat on my couch and cried. I teared up many times through that film, especially during the scenes in the school where students were excited or running through the halls. I missed the noise.
And when we returned this last spring, the silence reverberated even louder. I'm looking forward to the students doing the talking and I doing the listening this next school year.

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"The earned silence at the end of the day."
This resonated with me because the silence he talks about here is different than the silence of a classroom that has been vacant for a year. THIS silence is the silence of a classroom that has been filled with kids for the past 6 hours, learning, laughing, sharing, and discovering...and now the silence is a chance to rest and begin again!

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"There is nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos, laughing out loud, heated discussions, student collaboration, building relationships..."
I love the phrase "controlled chaos"! The best part about being a teacher is looking around a classroom and seeing students who are learning and having FUN at the same time!

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“Laughing out loud, heated discussions, student collaboration, building relationships, the sound of joy, frustration, energy, performance, wonder, curiosity, hands-raised-and-calling-to-be-called-on noise.”

“…or that feeling at the end of the day when it’s finally quiet, that earned silence.”

I interpret Muir’s mention of that “earned silence” at the end of the day as the feeling that all the activity (all the noise) of the day was worthwhile. The silence isn’t completely appreciated (or earned) unless there has been the noise of active learning and enjoyment first. That silence is only palpable when there is a reference point to the opposite condition of learning come to life.

I did miss that noise. Teaching remotely seemed unnatural because of the controlled nature of student “noise”. As we moved to the hybrid model, the kids and I welcomed the energy that gave life to our class again.

Next year, I hope to set a standard of active learning and engagement in our classroom by building my kids’ confidence in themselves and trust in each other and in me. When appropriate, my class will return to their teamwork and collaborative learning where questions, discussions, and wonder will abound. I will create an environment where they know their questions, their responses, their interjections, their facial expressions, their “noise” are not only welcomed but expected and necessary for learning to come alive.

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"Nothing wrong with controlled chaos."
"the sound of learning."
"The music you love to play before class begins."
"That earned silence."
"Let's embrace the noise as it returns."
I can't choose one. There are too many. If you know me, all of these are true-that is why they're here. They're quotes written in my notebook to be honored every day this year, and I think because I honor them, the kids will too, and thus real relationships and real learning will grow.

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"There is nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos."

i am often referred to as the Chaos Coordinator. i love that students can express themselves in drama in a way they may not be able to in other classrooms. Next year in Drama, I am going to create more opportunities for learning loudly, with laughter and impromptu silliness.

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"The noise can work as an affirmation that, as a teacher, you are doing something right."

I remember this year telling students I couldn't wait until they would start talking - the quiet was driving me insane

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"The noise can work as an affirmation that, as a teacher, you are doing something right."
The chatter both social and academic are essential for the well rounded student. I miss just looking around and seeing an engaged group of kids excited to be learning with each other. And sometimes the unexpected turns into the best lessons ever :-)

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Chris J. - I will consider what learning could sound like: "the sound of pencils scrawling across paper" or when a student "gasps" in response to an experiment. I hope my students will love my class enough to make noise.

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"The noise can work as an affirmation that, as a teacher, you are doing something right."

I never realized how much I depended on the 'noise' to guide my teaching until this year. Without that feedback from my students (laughs, cheers, even cries) when muted on Zoom, it was difficult to know where my students were, not only in the learning process, but, also in their emotional state. That 'noise' is such an important piece of teaching.

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"There's something about your class that students love and love enough to make some noise."

I felt this video with my whole heart. I have felt this way since I first began teaching because I too was told that a quiet classroom is a good classroom...but it doesn't work for me. My students are talking, collaborating, laughing... making noise, but when someone would walk in I would feel guilty and apologize. I think the reason I have always felt the need to apologize for my unique and loud classroom is because I was told and brought up to think that a classroom has to be silent. So when I heard him say "there is nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos, laughing out loud, heated discussions, student collaboration, building relationships..." it honestly spoke to my heart!

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"There is nothing wrong with a little controlled chaos, laughing out loud, heated discussions, student collaboration, building relationships..."
I just love the statement - controlled chaos! And it is the best part about being a teacher when you have a classroom of excited students wanting to learn and they are having fun at the same time!

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"Something about your class that students love and love enough to make some noise."
I love when students should out this was the best day ever!  Those engaging experiments, PBL projects, partner or group based activities are things I long to hear the NOISE  from as I watch and hear their excitement and minds at work in this upcoming  new year.

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"The noise can work as an affirmation as a teacher you are doing something right."
This video resonated with me and how much I missed being in the classroom with my students. Classroom noise is a sign that they are learning, engaging and collaborating with each other. I cannot wait to be back in August to hear the laughter and chatter of five year old's!

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"The noise often means kids are loving learning."
Being on Zoom and virtual this year, was unexpected. I missed the students voices. I. have never believed in a fully quiet classroom as I encourage discussion, comments, and interaction. I cannot wait to have my students interacting with one another, to hear the laughter, and ah-ha" moments come to life once again!

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"Because the noise often means that kids are loving learning."

I missed the noise in my classroom this year. I've always enjoyed a little organized chaos and knowing that even if they get off topic sometimes, that they were engaged and enjoying being there and with each other. I'm looking forward to allowing for even more noise this coming school year.