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Addressing Yelling or Screaming in Class
Yelling and screaming are intense vocal behaviors that disrupt the learning environment. They may occur when a student feels they are not being heard, when emotions are escalating rapidly, or when they are overwhelmed by sensory input.
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What this can look like
Screaming at a peer or adult during a disagreement
Yelling out answers loudly without raising hand
Sustained high-volume vocalizations during transitions
Screaming when a preferred item is removed
Before deciding why it is happening
Yelling may be a sign of dysregulation or a learned communication strategy. Reacting with equal volume may escalate the situation.
Possible Contextual Influences
- —High noise levels in the classroom
- —Unexpected changes to a routine
- —Feeling misunderstood or unfairly treated
- —Difficulty articulating complex emotions
- —Previous success in getting demands met by yelling
Practical things to try
- 01Lower your own voice volume and speak calmly and slowly
- 02Use visual supports rather than verbal directions to reduce auditory input
- 03Acknowledge their feeling briefly: "I see you are upset," then offer a quiet space
- 04Provide a clear, written First-Then sequence so they don't need to argue
- 05When appropriate, briefly prompt an accessible communication signal; respond immediately to urgent help, health, or safety communication
Replacement Skills
Skills to teach and reinforce instead:
- • Using a volume scale (e.g., inside voice vs. outside voice visual)
- • Requesting a break or help using an agreed accessible signal, voice level, or card
- • Using an agreed-upon signal to show they need urgent attention
Common Mistakes
- — Yelling over the student to demand quiet
- — Attempting to reason or debate while the student is screaming
- — Immediately giving in to the demand just to stop the noise