Proposal for School Bus and Cafeteria Intervention:

Using Your Quiet Voice

Goals:

  1. Students can distinguish between quiet and loud voices.
  2. Students can state when and where the quiet voice and loud voice should be used.
  3. Students can demonstrate the quiet voice and the loud voice.
  4. Students use their quiet voice when on the bus and in the cafeteria.

Method:

  1. In class, with teacher or guidance counselor: explain, model, role-play, feedback.
  2. Students are reinforced for using the appropriate voice (e.g. high-five, verbal praise).
  3. Students are corrected when using inappropriate voice (e.g. "Let me hear your quiet voice!").

Procedure for Students:

  1. Am I inside or outside?
  2. What voice do I use here?
  3. Am I using the right voice?
  4. Are others using the right voice?

Sample Script:

"In the cafeteria we use our quiet voice so that only the people at our table can hear. My quiet voice sounds like this. This is the voice I use in the cafeteria. My loud voice sounds like this. This is the voice I use when I am on the playground. Raise your hand if you can use your quiet voice.

Chad and Steve, you sit at this table and show us how you use your quiet voices in the cafeteria. (They do it.) Those were excellent quiet voices! Who else can use their quiet voice? Sara and Judy, you sit over there at that table and use your quiet voices to talk to each other. (They do it.) We can't hear you, and that's the way it should be when you use your quiet voices in the cafeteria. Well done! Who is going to help their friends use a quiet voice? Jamar and Bruce, you sit next to each other at this table. Bruce, your job is to talk too loud for the cafeteria. Bruce, your job is to help him use his quiet voice. (They do it.) Great! Bruce, you used your quiet voice to remind Jamar to use his too. That would be the best thing to do in the cafeteria.

When you go to the cafeteria, the monitors will be listening for your quiet voices. If you all use them the whole time, then you can get a banner for your good work. Who's going to get a banner? Frank, I can tell you're going to help us get a banner by the way your hand was up so fast. Give me a high five!"