I have a huge class of 2nd graders this year and at least 5 of them are "hummers". It is driving me crazy and I need some fresh ideas to get these kids to STOP! Thanks in advance.

My son hums (it is the Asperger's). When he was younger, we used to give him one of those "squeeze toys" to help him to focus. It also decreased his humming in class. Good luck!! emb

I know this problem all to well! I also teach 2nd grade and have a several students who are noise makers. One in particular is a boy who loves to make race car or buzzing noises. At first I thought it wa just a typical boy thing, but I started to realize he was unaware of what he was doing. It is a constant thing for him at all times. It drove me CRAZY!!! At first I was having him sit aside, but it did no good. He would just make the noise when he came back. What I am doing now is stating my expectations before we start a lesson (no buzzing sounds). Now I am watching for anytime he is working quietly and have students give him a ten finger woo or scoreboard points. He loves the postive feedback we give him. Sometimes after a lesson I will even let them all make a little noise, that way he and the others can release it! Now I am not saying he is cured from making noises, but he is much more aware of it. He catches himself doing it and says opps! I just tell him it's going to take practice.

Hi there:)!
We put "bubbles in our mouth". Hilarious in kinder because of course they have got big puffed up cheeks and way overdo it:P
So when it is a "moment of silence" moment (usually after we have done the TEach!Okay! and I am bringing them back) I usually say something like:

"Claaaaasssss"
They respond: "Yeeeeeessssss"
I say: Class! Class!
They say: Yes! Yes!
I'll say "HAnds up high"
They say: "Hands up high"
I say: Hands out wide!
They say: "Hands out wide"
I say: Bubbles in your mouth!
They say: Bubbles in your mouth!
And then I say "Hands and eyes" (which sounds like HMMM HMMM HMMM cuz they have a bubble in)
They repeat.

I have taught them about "quiet bubbles". We listen for the air conditioner. I tell them that when I can hear the air conditioner I know their bubbles are quiet.

Now if the humming is happening during their work time~ my suggestion, something that I do during all of our work times, is to play "brain" (classical) music.

Hope this helps!

PS: I went to a school site that saw me use the "bubble" and they changed it up to where the students would decide "what" they wanted to load their mouths up with (chocolate chip cookies, brownies, etc.). I've never used that modifications but the kiddos seemed to get a big kick out of it!!!!


Andrea