I borrowed that from someone (who never used it), but I wasn't too happy with it. It was too sensitive - I tried adjusting it and never could get it right. If a child coughed, it alarmed. If a child set his/her book down too hard, it alarmed. It drove me crazy. I just wanted it to alarm for too much (loud) talking, but it doesn't differentiate the noises.
I'd suggest borrowing one, if you can, before you ever buy it.
Same thing happened with me...It looked like a great idea, so I bought one. It drove me crazy! I couldn't get the sensitivity level to the level I wanted and found myself either excusing the behavior (because it was unintentional) or still correcting behavior (because it didn't catch the noise). I used it for about 2 days and put it in my cupboard. I wouldn't advise buying it.
I was so excited year before last when a parent donated money for me to buy a Yacker Tracker, but like the other posters, I was disappointed. It IS sensitive. But I have to say that it did teach the kids to be quieter about everything: banging chairs against desk, slamming books on desks, etc. The thing would go off though when someone sneezed or coughed!!! Now it sits in my closet unused because it's just too much hassel. I know that some teacher's have had success with it the Yacker Tracker so borrowing one first is a great idea!
I have one in my classroom. I turned off the alarm and I use it as a visual aide in my first grade classroom. I explain to the students that when I turn the light to red it means that there is no talking- this is my direct teaching time. Yellow light means that they may talk quietly with each other and the green light means that they are able to move around the classroom with their work.
I also think that the alarm is too sensitive, but by using it as a visual, I am better able to control the noise and movement in the classroom.
I don't have the buzzer on, but use the lights to let us know if we're getting too noisy at certain times of the day. I have 3 kids whose goal is to make it red as much as possible, so I always have to deal with them.
I bought one and used it without sound. Even with just the lights, it became a contest for the kids to see if they could get it to light. I ended up giving it away. I know it has been in at least 2 other classrooms since.
My mentor teacher made me a noise meter with an arrow that points to Silent, Whisper Voice, Indoor Voice, Outdoor Voice. I have used it for many years and I just move the arrow to what it sounds like if students are getting too noisy and they know it's time to use softer voices. No bells or lights and very effective!
You can make them to suit the noise levels you will tolerate or you could purchase the cute one in Really Good Stuff for $6.25.
I'm surprised by the other posts. My mom and I both have one and both love it!
It is more sensitive to "sharp" noises--dropping a book, coughing near it, etc. However, that doesn't happen that often, and it has to be near the Yacker Tracker.
I have mine set at 70 decibels and if it goes off 3 or more times in the day my class loses 5 minutes of recess. It only happened 2 or 3 times last year.
Keep it away from the direct activity--mine is in the back corner of my room.
I actually already purchased the Yacker Tracker last school year, but never took it out of the box. My new class is much different than last year so I think I will be trying it on Monday! Thanks everyone for the input. Hopefully I will agree with Triana. I can't get my Kindergartners to be quiet without raising my voice above them. I am 9 weeks pregnant and trying to stay calm throughout the day for my baby's sake! I'm going to need some prayers to make it through this year!
I like mine and so do the other 3 in my level. At first, the thing went off constantly, which was annoying, but so was the amount of talking. Eventually, the kids settled down and it only goes off if they get really loud or if there is a sharp noise such as a book being dropped on the table, but the kids try really hard not to let that sort of thing happen. I have mine set at 70 decibels. I did have it up on a shelf, but this year I have moved it, haven't tried it out yet, so don't know if this will be a good placement or not.
I'm surprised at the people who think it's too sensitive. I think it's not sensitive enough. I haven't used it in a classroom situation yet, but I've had it in my room and I've been "testing" it as I work in my room by talking out loud, shouting, singing, dropping books, etc.
I think it has more to do with vibrations than noise. I can yell, and it won't go off. But if I make it wobble (by stomping hard or dropping a book), it goes off. I'm going to experiment with it for the first few weeks and see if I can get it to work for me.
It sounds like there are a lot of people who have these and don't like them but a few that do like them. Why are people complaining that they are taking up storage space instead of putting it on e-bay for a low price so others can try it out without spending a fortune? I would love to try one out without spending a fortune, anyone want to sell theirs?
Any chance you want to sell that yacker tracker? They are rather expensive and with all the bad reviews I thought maybe someone would sell it for a lower price to help out a fellow teacher. Thanks!
A yacker tracker with a remote to change it with would be very handy, we would like to use it in our cafeteria, however the acoustics are terrible and we would just like to be able to control it when we think it is too loud.
I'm loving my yakcer tracker this year. I set it up while we're doing group work, and the rule is that if it goes to red, we have one minute of silent work to "reset ourselves." It's working really well. We know that binder snaps, dropping books, knocking into another chair, slamming desks, etc make it go off, and the students are careful about doing those things. I think it helps with developing body awareness.
I, too, was curious about the Yacker Tracker, and if it was worth the $75. Another teacher here on proteacher told me she uses a stopwatch as a visual instead. I tried it as she said...way cheaper than $75...and it works!!! My students are scared to death of seeing me with the stopwatch in my hand! I time how long it takes them to be quiet and/or get on task, write it on the board, add it up, and that's the time they give back to me on recess. It has been WONDERFUL!!! I was so worried about this class because they are TALKERS...but not anymore! I've been using the stopwatch for a week and the most they've owed me for recess is 2 minutes!
At my school, there is a 2nd grade teacher who bought a Yacker Tracker this year...she's buying a stopwatch this weekend! Same complaints as above.
We're now about 20 days in to the year and my second graders have only set it of (at 70 decibels) twice this year. WAHOO!! Both times they all jumped, and were silent after that!
They know the consequences, they learned the procedures, and it works great!
I was wondering if the deluxe is not so sensitive. I haven't purchased one yet, but they are available at classroomdirect.com for $63.00 (and that's with the remote).
Hello all, Thanks so much for your comments. We are a small non profit community hospital looking to find ideas to keep noise levels to a minimum to help with patient healing. If anyone would be willing to allow us to try this item (or purchase it from you) please respond to lbartholomew<img src="images/smilies...lyhospital.org. Thank you very much!
I set mine up in my classroom on Friday morning and it worked wonderfully at first. By the end of the day, it would flash green once, yellow three times, over and over.
I changed the decibel levels, turned it off, let it rest, but nothing made it stop flashing green and yellow. It went back in the box and will go back to the store this week.
Got mine through Scholastic bonus points and only use it when students are doing projects or small group activities. It works very well with that. That is the only time I use it.
08-18-2006, 07:37 PM
RKM
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