As toddlers, we learn to speak by listening to those around us. Speaking & Listening is essential throughout our education, whether the learning outcome is reading or writing, science or history, a target-led GCSE examination or free-wheeling creative work. The workplaces of tomorrow will be based as much on face-to-face discussions, zoom calls or videos as on traditional reading and writing. So, pencils down and ears open for our Noisy Manifesto …
- A Noisy Classroom can be a sign of engaged pupils who are active in their learning.
- Silence is important for reading, writing and reflection but it is not always the golden rule.
- Teachers are always in control of the decibel levels – the classroom is only noisy when they want it to be.
- Not everyone can always make noise at the same time; teaching good listening skills is at the heart of the Noisy Classroom.
- If we want to send off confident and articulate young adults into the world, we must let them practise their spoken skills as well as their reading and writing.
- Please be considerate of your neighbours. Warn them in advance of a noisy lesson or try to book another space in the school.
- Please be open-minded to noise. Don’t assume that a noisy classroom is out of control – it could be where the most exciting learning in the school is going on.