Tone Basics
How something is said, including pitch, volume, and emotion.
What is tone?
Students with this challenge may be especially sensitive to tone shifts and emotional intensity.
What is Autism
This strategy involves keeping your voice even and controlled, even during conflict.
What is staying calm or self-regulation?
You may use this to be funny but often misunderstood by students
What is Sarcasm
A student refuses to work. The best tone to use is this.
Calm or Neutral
Students often respond more to tone than
the words themselves
A harsh tone can increase this behavior in students.
What is escalation or challenging behavior?
When communicating with students, directions should be
What is short and clear
This tone may embarrass a student
Critical or judgmental tone
A student is escalating. Your tone should become this.
What is quieter or more controlled?
Raising your voice can trigger this reaction in many students with sensory sensitivities.
What is anxiety or distress?
Name 2 effects of Negative tone
•Anxiety
•Shutdown
•Behavior problems
•Can cause stress or fear
•May lead to withdrawal or shutdown
•Increases behavior challenges
•Reduces willingness to engage
When speaking with a student if possible position yourself at
What is their level?
Speaking too quickly makes it harder to understand for students with this type of disorder
What is a processing disorder
When giving corrective feedback, your tone should remain this.
What is respectful and supportive?
This tone helps students feel safe, respected and motivated to learn
What is a Supportive tone...calm or reassuring tone is acceptable as well
A positive tone helps build this which makes learning possible
What is trust or cooperation
Instead of saying “Stop that now!” in a harsh tone, you might say this in a calm tone.
What is “Let’s try a different choice”
This tone can escalate behavior and cause power struggles
Confrontational
A student is anxious after a staff member gives directions, what aspect of tone could have created this
Loud
Sarcastic
Harsh
Name 3 things tone affects
•Student confidence
•Classroom behavior
•Emotional safety
•Willingness to participate
Name 3 examples of Negative tone
•Raising your voice
•Sounding annoyed or frustrated
•Sarcasm
•Short or harsh responses
•Critical or judgmental
You should always match tone with
Body Language
When you take student behavior personally you react
Emotionally
After an incident, using this tone helps repair relationships.
What is empathetic or understanding?