In a good classroom, and throughout the day, there is something called quiet-noise
This is a kind of white noise that is audible only to a teacher. When the students are all working and (To the untrained ear) not a sound can be heard...a teacher’s ear can detect the quiet-noise. One student moves in their seat, others are writing answers, someone sniffles, another scratches. It all culminates as quiet-noise. A teacher’s ear hears it well.
The BEST classrooms, now and again, experience something in addition to quiet-noise. Less often, but profound indeed…a DEEP-quiet can permeate our space. It shushes even the quiet-noise.
The deep-quiet is not only heard, but felt, and though it doesn’t last, it is incredible! For instance, it can happen during a novel read. As you read-aloud through a certain chapter, you feel the quiet-noise diminishing. The shuffling stops. The fidgeting stops. Everything completely stops, but anticipation. Then, you look out and see your students waiting, with bated breath, to what comes next. The deep-quiet is the best part of the day, the best part of the week.
There is no way to measure the deep-quiet, so some may ask the question…
“How can this be part of a school that mandates a data-driven classroom?”
I have no answer for that.
I can only say that there are many parts to a classroom. Some measurable and some not. The importance of the measurable is valid...sure. The importance of what is not measurable is...priceless!❤️
