It was a quiet, contemplative moment in church on Sunday as the congregation waited for the organ to play the offertory hymn. All of a sudden there was a loud “SSSHHHH” from a parent trying to quiet his young child. From where I was sitting in the back, I watched heads turn abruptly as people tried to locate the source of the sound. Were they wondering what the child was doing or were they, like me, trying to find the adult who made such a harsh sound that it could be heard in a sanctuary filled with over 300 people?

Early in my first year in the Montessori classroom, I learned that “shush” and “shhhh” are harsh sounds. While some may think that “shush” is a quiet way to calm a child’s behavior, the action has some undesired consequences. When a child is “shushed,” not only do you call the child’s attention to the matter, but as in the above example, everyone within hearing distance also notices. This seemingly innocuous sound breaks concentration and focus for everyone around. More importantly, rather than being discreet it has the potential to be quite embarrassing for the child.

Quiet in the Montessori Environment Promotes Skill Development… But How Do You Promote Quiet?

Alternatives to “Shush”

As a Montessori parent and teacher, I recognize the need to have a way to quickly and discreetly quiet or calm children. However, there are means of redirecting behavior that are more in keeping with the manner in which we teach the child — methods that are respectful and considerate of the child.

• Use sign language — Using the signs for “quiet” or “calm” is discreet and respectful. It works well for individual children and it is also effective in large group settings.
• Place a gentle hand on the child’s shoulder — No words are needed. The calm, reassuring touch quickly redirects focus and attention.
• Use specific language — Approach the child individually and use specific language to indicate your concern. For example, you may try something like, “Noah cannot hear my lesson when you are humming.”
• Turn down competing sounds — Take notice of the classroom environment. Perhaps the new world music CD is too upbeat to play during the morning work cycle. Turn it off or switch to a softer collection.
• Go outside — If you notice that you are having a morning where you are constantly redirecting behavior or calming noise level, go outside and let the children use their “outside voices.” Nature is a wonderful way to balance behavior.

The most powerful tool a Montessori teacher has to quiet and calm behavior is to consistently model appropriate behavior and volume herself. If you are loud, expect the children to be loud. If you speak in soft, calm tones, the children will too. Rather than calling across the room, approach a child directly, even if it means you need to get up and walk over to him. We must be constantly aware that we are the role models for our students. If we do not want to be “shushed,” then we should not “shush” others.