Don't over-react but be sure to react
The topic that resonated most with me was:
"Don't over-react to minor disruptions, but be sure to react." I have learned this with experience in the classroom that there are many situations where students will test the limits sometimes even unknowingly which is why it is so important to have an appropriate measured response to the disruption. I have found that having a disruptive student "table" their discussion for another time, usually makes them acknowledge their disruption (chatting with another student or talking out of term). I will definitely implement the "I" not "you" approach to recognizing the behavior and correcting it. That too makes it less confrontation and as stated before some students do not recognize their behavior as truly disruptive, and it will be appreciated over being singled out negatively.
If you just let the disruptive behavior go, it will continue. Expectations should be set on day one. I have found that most students don't realize their behavior was disruptive to either the instructor or the other students. The students don't always accept the correction, but it has been my experience the behavior usually stops after the student is aware.
I must become better at using the "I" approach to handling disruptive behavior. I have a student who continuously chats with others around her. She is on medication and I think these ramblings are a result of the meds. All the other students know this about her and I find myself "shushing" her quite often. Maybe if I use a statement such as "I find it hard to maintain my chain of thought with these side conversations", she will try to maintain silence for my sake as well as that of the other students.
Chrystal , it is also good for other students to see that you take action on your classroom policies and you do not treat anyone differently. What other students see is just as important as handling the disruptive student.
James Jackson
It is most important to react, but to do so on a positive way. If you fail to react, it might be seen as not caring about the class. Also, if you over react, the students will know that they have your number. In the future, they will make sure to act in a way that makes you over react.
