Over the last two weeks, I’ve been dealing with increasingly disruptive students in my classroom.
Last fall, I kept the disruptions to a minimum, but this semester, they have occurred more frequently. Students texting (even though I have banned electronic devices in my class), talking loudly among each other and leaving the class during my lecture are now happening on a consistent basis.
I can’t figure it out. Some of it has to do with the fact that midterms are over and we have just over a month of school left. I’m guessing that more students are getting impatient about the end of the year and are looking forward to leaving campus.
But one of my students clued me in to another factor: Students have gotten more used to me. While last semester was a feeling out process between my students and me, this semester has been one of more mutual comfort. To many of my students, I’m no longer some “Other.”
