A Laundry List of Tips for Responding to Classroom Incivility

Best General Advice Address it lest you be seen as condoning it Address facts rather than feelings Respond appropriately to passive vs. active incivilities Consider your own role Try “Gracious Public Embarrassment” (Carbone) Ask student to meet outside class Point out impact on other students Ask student to leave? Threats require immediate law enforcement response Document serious episodes Consider roles of Health Services, Judicial System

Tips React to problem in a general way; don’t put people on the spot While talking, move near students being disruptive Pause and wait for quiet Make eye contact (but don’t glare) Direct questions to the general area of the talkers Ask talkers to share with class Directly ask them to stop / Say no Ask class to respond to challenges- does it concern them? Admit errors with grace Require grade challenges in writing Stop for one-minute papers, think-pair-share, etc. Reframe: give student a graceful way to back down Reframe: acknowledge & empathize Re-engage/re-approach student

Don’t Ignore it Laugh it off Make exceptions Reteach class Get in an argument or press for explanation Conduct a quiz at start/end Assign seats

For more information on these tips and classroom incivility in general, see the Classroom Civility section, “Center for Teaching and Learning Workshops” course site at campus.fsu.edu.