Common Disruptive Classroom Behavior

1. Grandstanding- students who use a classroom discussion as a chance to speak about their favorite subjects despite the irrelevancy their comments may have in regard to the discussion of the class as a whole. Other students use the classroom as a place to communicate to their peers, tales of their personal lives, which is also not appropriate to the setting. Some students attempt to soak up the attention that they receive from their peers even though it may be annoying to other students in the class.

2. Sleeping in Class- this may not seem to be disruptive to a class, but in fact, is disruptive in two ways: the student who is snoozing is not interested and not participating in the classroom discussion. If a professor does nothing about it, it sends a message to the other students that involvement in the class is not of much importance to the professor. This may make the students feel like they shouldn’t have to participate either. Secondly, sleeping in class is considered to be disrespectful to the teacher and the other students.

3. Prolonged Chattering- students who carry on private conversations among themselves in the classroom are disruptive to other students because their frivolous chatter does not pertain to the classroom discussion what so ever. This is rude and inappropriate and should not be tolerated.

4. Excessive Lateness- tardiness is tolerated by many professors, because students have legitimate reasons for being late. However, professors don’t like it when students are late because it disrupts the classroom and other students are focused on the late student instead of on the professors’ lecture. Professors’ need to state to the students the importance of arriving in a timely manner.

5. Overt Inattentiveness- some students find it difficult to mentally pay attention for the full length a class. They read a book, newspaper, or doodle on paper. This is also considered disrespectful to the professor and other students in the class.

6. Eating, Drinking, Gum Chewing, Smoking, Carrying Pagers & Cell Phones, and Passing Notes- all of these are considered disruptive in a class room setting and should not be tolerated.

7. Unexcused Exits from Class- these exits from class are disruptive and should be discouraged unless the student has a legitimate reason and/or has spoke to the professor before hand.

8. Verbal or Physical Threats, to Students or Faculty- cases of threat to students and faculty has risen dramatically in recent years. These are definitely considered unacceptable.

9. Disputing the Instructor’s Authority or Expertise- students who have received substandard grades or evaluations from their instructors sometimes try to devalue the professor’s authority, judgment, and expertise.

The above list has been adapted from Amada, G. (1999) Coping with Misconduct in the College Classroom Asheville, NC: College Administration Publications, Inc. Pages 1-8.