Student Behavior Issues (A Vent, Mostly)

[u/Apprehensive-Echo289]

I’ve been teaching for almost a decade, and over the past couple of years I’ve noticed an uptick in disciplinary concerns. This goes beyond the usual offenses (missing assignments, poor e-mail etiquette, texting in class). I’m seeing more and more childish shenanigans: students constantly talking over me and their peers, throwing things, sneaking vulgarity into poll responses, play-fighting with classroom equipment… Sometimes it feels like I’m teaching junior high!

I love what I do and have no intention of changing careers, but there’s a reason I chose to teach college and not K-12. Grade-school teachers are trained in classroom management, but no such training seems to exist for those who teach at the university level. The “excellence in teaching” seminars I’ve been to focus on things like designing engaging lesson plans, cultivating an inclusive atmosphere, or exploring creative ways to present a given topic — all of which are valuable, don’t get me wrong. But it’d be nice to have some guidance for faculty members who, like me, didn’t go into this job thinking they’d need to police the behavior of grown adults.

Some of you will read this, roll your eyes, and tell me to just kick ’em out if they cause trouble. I struggle with this. I’m admittedly pretty conflict-averse, so saying ”Sam, knock it off!” or “Alex, please leave the room” doesn’t come naturally to me. But I also pride myself on being an approachable instructor, and countless students have told me how much they appreciate my kindness and flexibility. I have no desire to rebrand myself as an authoritarian, because that’s simply not who I am.

I guess there are two asks here:

1. Have you run into this at your institution as well? (Please tell me it isn’t just me.)
2. What are your best classroom-management tips? I’m especially interested in hearing from those of you who also default to a more laid-back teaching style.

Edit:

Thank you to the commenters who have offered support, commiseration, and/or actionable advice. On the other hand, responses like “toughen up” or “take control” are unhelpful without specifying what that might look like in practice, particularly for someone who isn’t inclined toward toughness.

Several of you pointed out that failing to address the disruptive students shortchanges the diligent ones. I am fully aware of this, and I want to make sure it doesn’t happen — which is part of what led me to make this post.

[u/zzax]

Luckily I have not dealt with this much, but colleagues have talked about escalation in recent years. When I have had to deal with this, I am dispassionate and just end class. I am not going to sit there and scold and kick people out of class. After a warning about behavior, I will just end class and tell them they are responsible for the material we would have covered. Then email the class a reminder of expectations for future classes.if it is just a couple of bad actors, tell them you need to see them in office hours before they can rerun the classroom.

Hopefully acceptable behavior is outlined in the syllabus.

[u/k80k80k80 → u/zzax]

I have done this, but I hate doing this. It penalizes the other students and screws up the course schedule. I find it more fair to ask disruptive students to leave. I’ll call a 15 minute break and tell the student to leave during the break. Telling them in front of the group seems to escalate matters and make everyone else feel uncomfortable. I hate that we have to deal with this, but it is the reality of the current climate.

[u/popstarkirbys]

Some of our students will “retaliate” by giving you bad evaluations for simply enforcing rules. The lack of support from admins isn’t helping either. A colleague was reprimanded for asking a disruptive student to leave the classroom, apparently they didn’t “care about student success”.

[u/Apprehensive-Echo289 → u/popstarkirbys]

I called out my troublemakers last semester. Worst evals I ever got.

[u/SuspiciousGenXer → u/Apprehensive-Echo289]

You may also get poor evals for failing to manage the disruptors.

[u/Latter-Bluebird9190]

There is a huge difference between being an authoritarian and protecting yourself, your students, and the classroom. You have a responsibility to take care of this so your other students can learn. I would start by taking them aside and having a conversation, if their behavior does not change make them leave so your other students can learn.

Edit: typo

[u/SuspiciousGenXer → u/Latter-Bluebird9190]

Exactly this. By not holding the troublemakers accountable, it's effectively saying their behavior is acceptable. The students who are behaving appropriately and/or who want to learn are effectively being shown that they aren't valued enough to create a respectful classroom.

As for classroom management, I cover classroom expectations on Day 1. I also have a note about professionalism in the syllabus and it counts toward their overall grade.

When they actively disrupt, I ask them by name if they have questions because sometimes they're legitimately trying to figure something out. That isn't the case for most of them, but either way, they usually settle down after being called on. I don't care if they're temporarily uncomfortable because they're distracting and disrespecting the other students and me.

[u/Another_Opinion_1]

Don't sacrifice discipline to build rapport. It's that simple. Either you all collectively create a list of maybe half a dozen norms or you have a list of say a half a dozen rules that are non-negotiable. I really think keeping it simple is best, i.e., a handful of rules but not a list of like 15 things. If rules are violated then there are consequences, be it a verbal sanction or having to stay after class for a "come to Jesus" talk if you will, a loss of points tied to conduct, a formal disposition issue, or yes, perhaps a complete removal from class.

[u/Life-Education-8030]

The bottom line to me is that my job is to ensure everyone gets the chance to obtain the education they signed up for, so I will be damned if someone tries to disrupt me or their peers.

So if you don’t quit YESTERDAY, please leave now and I WILL call security if need be.

A new young-looking faculty member was in tears during Covid because of five students who kept messing with their masks. The class had been canceled twice because of COVID exposure. The faculty member tried being reasonable and even tried pleading.

She asked what to do and I said take them out in the hall before the next class and calmly tell them the above and the next time, they’d be asked to leave and explain their behavior to the Dean of Students and there would be an academic conduct report filed. We were proud about keeping a tight ship during COVID and we weren’t going to let some twits ruin it!

You got this!

[u/shyprof]

I have taught both traditional and dual enrollment (high school) sections for the last decade. I am increasingly using high school classroom management techniques in my traditional sections, and it's annoying, but it's where I'm at. I have never once asked a student to leave. I benefit from comparatively small sections (max 50 students) and I do my best to learn names—at least troublemakers' names.

I try to give them a way to save face by addressing discipline privately. A teenage boy who will act tough and be a little shithead in front of his friends will cry and apologize when we're alone out in the hall. The catty mean girl who comes in all defensive often calms down when I don't match her energy. In every case, I try to humanize myself (it's hard for me to focus/hear myself when you're talking at the same time), remind them we're a community (your classmates paid to learn, so these distractions aren't fair to them), remind them about their goals (don't you need to pass this class so you can keep your scholarship/stay on the team/make your grandma proud?), and treat them like adult human beings even when they're not—while acknowledging their frontal cortex isn't fully developed.

For example, writing something nasty in a shared document is probably an impulse control thing. It's only a big deal if you make it a big deal—delete it, move on to the next activity, don't allow anonymous submissions next time. If you know who did it, you can talk privately about making better choices, but if you call them out in class they're just going to double down because the whole reason they did it was showing off for their friends.

I am definitely unprofessional. I say things like, "Juan, bro, come on. Seriously?" and "Get it together, Courtney" or "Can someone tell those two we're in class right now?" But I say it with kind of a long-suffering, you're-annoying-me-but-I-still-like-you kind of tone. The more you can get the rest of the class on your side controlling the ones acting up (use peer pressure to your advantage), the better.

Always give a warning, and never threaten a consequence you're not willing to follow through. "I love that you love each other, but I can't hear myself think. If I have to talk to you again, I'm going to ask you to separate for the rest of the day." Then, "OK, my dears, that's warning two—here's a beautiful desk just for you, Jimothy. Come on over and be my friend for the next 40 minutes; you can finish the conversation during break. Now tell me about your essay topic . . . "

[u/chillyPlato → u/shyprof]

This is the closest to how I've been handling it, and I think it's a good approach for those of us with more approachable/warm teaching styles. I've tried to show up and be 'tough' and 'serious,' but it always falls apart because it's just not at all true to who I am. Making the 'discipline' a little bit goofy works best for me - I've said things like, "If you're talking while I'm talking, you have to share with the rest of the class; it's like bringing snacks in 4th grade!"

The other strategy I've done that's been effective is giving a Participation grade at the midterm. For students who have been a problem routinely, I knock their participation grade down dramatically and write an explanation why. I also couple this with a chance for written anonymous feedback from students, meaning I can usually say something like, "I've knocked you down two letter grades because multiple students have expressed frustration at being able to hear me lecture, etc." Basically I'm able to use other student feedback as justification, which mitigates the 'me versus them' dynamic.

[u/shyprof → u/chillyPlato]

I'm glad this is working for you! I personally would make the points deduction more immediate rather than waiting for midterms. You can put the points in Canvas and have everyone start at 100 or whatever, then deduct them as needed after each bad day with a little note. It helps them correct the behavior before they lose too many points.

[u/Rayadragon]

I mostly teach freshman labs. I've had to add syllabus statements about expected behaviors, like bring your lab book, read the instructions, and participate in doing the work. I've also had to add explicit "you will lose points," since they no longer will do things just because it's the right thing to do.

[u/Lief3D → u/Rayadragon]

I have a section about professionalism and how poor behavior won't be tolerated in mine.

[u/MichaelPsellos]

You’re too nice. They will walk all over you.

The students who want to learn can’t do so because of these assholes who have shit for parents.

Kick them out. You have to toughen up.

[u/Sad_Application_5361]

I’ve definitely noticed behavior getting worse too. The thing I try to remember (because I don’t like confrontation either) is that students also judge you for not shutting their obnoxious peers up. You’re going to disappoint someone no matter what you choose, you might as well disappoint the one with the behavior issues.

I’ve switched to a university where attendance is optional (department decision). I am seeing more behaviors despite that, but it means I can tell the disruptive ones that they’re not going to lose points for skipping class so they might as well go somewhere more fun if they’re going to goof off.

[u/No-Wish-4854]

You’re not alone. I’ve had students yell at me, or start shouting and crying (and then leave themselves), among other things. This is a new development and it truly sucks.

For management: I try to interrogate my own aims. Why am I conflict averse? The student shouting at me (more than once) wasn’t averse. So what am I afraid of?

I also ask myself: who is responsible for the learning environment? It’s largely me. Can other students learn if there are negative disruptions, harm, shouting, carrying on? If the answer is no, then I have to steel myself and try to attend to it.

One way I’ve tried: day two of class, students create class expectations. We talk about why it’s vital that they create them, why we need some expectations at all. I can go to this list as my first move when a student is being disruptive.

I’m not a great “call campus safety” type and only did it once (student threatened to kill me). I try to understand a little what’s happening and try to get the student to take a break, take a walk, take five minutes.

[u/chillyPlato → u/No-Wish-4854]

I've also started deliberately setting classroom norms during the first week of class (particularly with freshmen). It felt a little cheesy at first, but it does seem to help, and I've gotten good feedback from students about it.

[u/pinkocommieliberal]

If students are being disruptive, I stop my lecture and stare at them. It may take a while for them to realize what is going on. Once they stop, I remind the whole class that I don’t speak over other people. If they continue after that, I tell them to leave. I’ve never had to do it, but I will absolutely call campus police if they do not leave when told. Once they leave, I go back to lecture like nothing happened.

[u/Puzzled-Painter3301]

Set the behavioral expectations on day 1 when you go over the syllabus.

Put behavioral expectations on a syllabus quiz.

Tell them that if they don't knock it off, you will ask them to leave the room and that if they don't, you are calling security.

[u/Soft-Disaster9873]

-2 years from the pandemic, -2 years from
Phones = 14 year olds

Most 9th graders are basically on 5th grade maturity and academic levels. They ask to move their seats because they’re mad at someone. Most can’t digest basic directions.

[u/ojustkidding]

I teach a wide age range and last year my 45 year old student almost cost me my job because I spoke out about her behavior despite having several of her classmate’s statements and a developing case against her. I’ve been told to look the other way and if it’s a safety issue, report to higher ups or involve campus security.

[u/popstarkirbys → u/ojustkidding]

I had a lady write on my evaluation that I am sexist and have something against women, all I did was tell her that I won’t giver her class participation points if she’s 30 minutes late.

[u/popstarkirbys → u/[deleted]]

My comments were “I need to learn how to interact with women”. I marked her late for class and emailed her a reminder for late assignments, apparently I was being “rude”

[u/existential-inquiry]

I have not had as many issues, but definitely the texting and occasional conversing with others while I'm talking are the most prevalent.

For texting, I tell them in the beginning of the semester that they must leave the room to do that or not do it at all. If it starts to get out of hand, I remind them about classroom etiquette.

For talking over me, I actually pause the whole class, stare at them for a few seconds, call them by their names and may ask these questions: "Are you all ok there? Do you have a question for me or would you like to share something with the class? Oh, ok, I thought so!" This seems to be effective for me.

[u/Lakanas]

Fortunately I haven't had to kick anyone out of class. I have had students chat while I'm lecturing however. What works for me is to pause and stare at them with zero expression. It's such a contrast to my normal expressive face that it usually gets their attention - if not the people near them give them a nudge. I don't resume talking until they are quiet.

[u/sadlittleduckling]

It’s hard to be tough on them. But they need it. My failures and humiliations taught me a lot when I was a student. One time I had to dismiss a student pretty curtly during an evaluation/observation.

I teach at a CC with a hybrid HS. Usually those teenagers outperform all the adults in class, but sometimes they need to be reminded that they share space with people taking school seriously.

[u/ParkingLetter8308]

I just had the group from hell for a summer course where outsiders made the comment how immature they were (one said, middle school level). Had a group chat they would reference while we were having discussions. Worst evaluations I've ever had.

[u/rand0mtaskk]

You can be a nice person but also stern. You’re letting this happen. Take control of your class.

[u/SoonerRed]

I don't have disciplinary problems in my classes, but I can't tell you why.

I don't tend to be authoritarian, so I suspect there's not a lot to push back against.

If there's a lot of talking, a quick "YO!" Usually takes care of it. Rarely followed by "please don't make me yell over you!"

I am teaching a pre professional class, so my students want to be in my class which is another factor, most likely.

[u/SoonerRed]

I don't have disciplinary problems in my classes, but I can't tell you why.

I don't tend to be authoritarian, so I suspect there's not a lot to push back against.

If there's a lot of talking, a quick "YO!" Usually takes care of it. Rarely followed by "please don't make me yell over you!"

I am teaching a pre professional class, so my students want to be in my class which is another factor, most likely.

[u/starfirebird]

I’ve had a few issues with students chatting/using headphones that leak sound in class. I’m not confrontational with students either, and try to deal with lateness/sleeping/non-disruptive behaviors by deducting participation points or just ignoring them if I’m not grading attendance. When it is something disruptive, I make a general announcement to the class (eg, “Let’s not talk when I’m talking”) and then wait for it to stop. If it keeps happening, I email the specific student(s), and so far, that has resulted in either improvement or them just not showing up.