Calling Out
Calling out is saying something out loud at the wrong time.
Calling out happens when we speak:
without waiting our turn
when someone else is already talking
when others are not ready to hear us
Calling out in class is not OK and can make teachers unhappy. Calling out an answer can also make other children unhappy because they lose their turn to say the answer. It is OK to know the answer and not say so.
It can be hard to remember to not call out. If we accidentally forget an adult might remind us again to not call out. This is OK. Trying our best to remember this class rule will make the teacher happy.
Calling out is not OK and can make others unhappy. It is important to wait your turn and not shout out unless the teacher asks you to.
Shouting Out The Answer
Shouting out the answer to a question in class is not okay.
Shouting out the answer to a question is not allowed because:
Every student needs a chance to talk and share their ideas. If one person shouts all the time, it is not fair.
Shouting out is disruptive for the teacher. It makes it harder for them to know if all the students are understanding the lesson.
It breaks the classroom rules that help keep things organised and fun for everyone.
Shouting out can stop other students thinking about the answer and learning. They may need more time to think of the answer.
Shouting out the answer can make the teacher and other students unhappy. The teacher and other adults may get cross.
Shouting out the answer is not okay. It against the rules and make other people unhappy.
Waiting My Turn to Speak
Waiting my turn to speak is staying quiet until I'm allowed to talk.
I can wait my turn to speak even when I know the answer to a question. I can then give someone else a chance to say the answer. I can put my hand up and the adult will know that I have something to say.
I can wait my turn to speak when I have something to contribute to a discussion. While I wait I can listen carefully to the person who is already speaking. I can show the adult that I have something to say by putting my hand up.
Sometimes I will get a chance to speak and sometimes I might not. I can try and accept this. I understand that not everyone gets a chance to speak every time they want to.
If I don't speak I might feel disappointed but I will be OK. The adult will know that I wanted to speak and if I am lucky they might choose me next time.
Waiting my turn to speak is OK. I can give others a chance to speak and show that I have something to say by putting my hand up. Sometimes I may get chosen and sometimes I will not. This is OK.
Notes on creating your own personalised social story:
Use the above examples to create your own personalised social story for the child. If you need to modify the language to support younger children ensure that the exact meaning intended remains clear and unambiguous. You may want to add photographs or pictures to illustrate the meaning or provide motivation to use. Alternatively, print out versions of the social stories are available below.