A cafeteria can be a noisy place. Students talk, laugh, and eat with their friends. These sounds are all just normal in the cafeteria setting. However, silence is essential for students to concentrate on their work.
There are many dissimilar methods that teachers can use to help students keep the noise level down. These strategies include creating a distraction-free environment by separating groups and placing them around the room to minimize talking across tables or using wireless headphones for music so that students aren’t distracted by sound from another table.
Read on to learn how to create a quieter and more productive cafeteria environment for your students.
Why is noise an issue in the cafeteria?
It’s challenging to work when the noise level is too high. Students will often struggle with focusing on their work and spacing out their thinking because of all the students talking in the cafeteria. It becomes nearly impossible for teachers to hold students’ attention and ensure that they are doing what they should be doing.
Additionally, a cafeteria can have a lot of distractions that cause students to lose focus. Whether it’s the person sitting next to them playing games on their phone, or someone yelling across the table, noise can become an issue.
When the noise starts to become an issue in your cafeteria, there are many ways you can help decrease it and help students keep focused on their work. Follow these steps below to create a more undisturbed and more productive environment for your students!
What can teachers do to help reduce noise in the cafeteria?
The second strategy to help reduce noise in the cafeteria is to create a distraction-free environment. This can be done by separating groups into different classrooms and placing them around the room so students cannot hear each other. It’s important to note that this strategy will not work if students talk across tables or wear wireless headphones that are not associated with their table or group.
Another way teachers can help reduce noise in the cafeteria is by encouraging students to wear wireless headphones while they are listening to music that they have chosen. This will allow students who prefer to listen quietly to do so while those who want to talk, laugh, or eat with their friends can still do so.
It’s also important for teachers to provide a place where students can go if they need a break from their work without getting disturbed by noise from other tables or classes. Having a quiet room out of sight from the cafeteria can help too.
How can teachers create a distraction-free environment?
Teachers can help students create a quieter and more productive environment by implementing methods that minimize noise. One of the most standard methods is separating groups. This can help to minimize talking across tables. If you have groups at different tables, the groups will be less likely to interact with one another, which can also decrease noise.
Another strategy is using wireless headphones for music so that students aren’t distracted by sound from another table. Students should be able to listen to music without distracting their classmates. This can also create a distraction-free environment for your class.
How can teachers use wireless headphones to minimize distractions?
As we’ve discussed, making the most of a cafeteria setting can be difficult. Teachers should use wireless headphones to help minimize distractions by creating a distraction-free environment with music playing in each student’s ear.
This will allow students to immerse themselves in their work rather than being distracted by noise from the other tables. One teacher showed the benefits of this strategy for her students on Twitter:
“Students are listening in class today and not talking across the room! Thank you for supporting our school’s efforts to create an enjoyable and productive learning environment!”
The teacher explained that when she first started using wireless headphones, students were more focused on their work because they weren’t being interrupted. This led to higher test scores and fewer disruptions during class time.
Teachers can implement many different strategies to help students be able to concentrate on their work in the cafeteria. The first step is to create a distraction-free environment by separating groups and placing them around the room. Next, teachers can use wireless headphones for music so that students aren’t distracted by the sound from another table. Finally, teachers can teach students how to minimize talking across tables or use screen-sharing software so that they are able to collaborate without having to talk.
These are just a few easy ways that educators can address the noise level in their classrooms and create a more productive environment.