Raising a Quiet Hand

A few weeks ago, Ms Sytsma wrote a blog post about the introduction of the Sharing Basket. She wrote, "We learn about conversation as children attempt to form questions to get more information from the one who is sharing."

The child sharing is in control of the conversation, they choose who will ask a question or give the next comment. As the children respond to each other and take on this responsibility, the importance of raising a quiet hand becomes apparent. It is a technique we have been teaching and modeling since the beginning of the year, especially when we're all together on the nest.

Music class is another time of the morning that we use the technique of raising a quiet hand. Mrs Mauldin now asks for suggestions to add to her songs, a motion for "Rise Sugar Rise" or which body part Jack hurt when he fell down.

Sometimes the children are so excited to share that their arm starts to wave or a voice calls out from behind the hand. It is truly an exercise in exerting impulse control, an important ability to develop and one that pays dividends in school and in life.

At home, perhaps you can play Red Light, Green Light or the Freeze Game, both fun ways to practice self-regulation.