Be Quiet During Class

If you are a social person, you may like talking to your friends during class. If you are a restless person, it may be hard to stop yourself from playing on your phone, rummaging through your bag, or playing in your desk. If these behaviors go unchecked, however, it can hurt your grades, your reputation with teachers and can ultimately hold you back from learning. You can work to stop making noise in class by finding a way to negotiate the “social” side of class, practicing self-discipline, and focusing on your studies.

Steps

Cutting Down on Socializing in Class

  1. Inform your friends. When you have decided to change the way you behave in class, it is an important first step to inform your friends. If you explain your reasons for wanting to make this big change, your friends will support you. In addition, this will give them a heads up that you’ll be acting differently towards them, and that way they won’t be offended.[1]
  2. Ask your friends to stop talking to you. If your friends keep talking you and you feel forced to respond, explain that you do not want to get in trouble anymore for talking during class. Make it clear that your studies are important to you, and that you would be happy to talk later.[1]
  3. Move your seat. If somebody continually disrespects your request, change seats. If you have assigned seating, ask your teacher after class if you can move desks. Tell your teacher that you are becoming distracted in your current spot.[2]
  4. Start an open journal. If things you would like to say to your friends keep coming up during class, consider writing them down! It can be a fun idea to start an “open journal” with a few of your friends. An open journal is a journal that a few people share and pass between them. This can be a lot of fun, and it also helps you to communicate without breaking the rules in class.[3]
  5. Practice tolerance in class. If you talk a lot because you are angry or upset with others, learn to control how you respond. The next time somebody says something rude, simply stay quiet and nod toward the teacher to indicate that you are trying to pay attention. Raise your hand and speak to the teacher if the other person does not stop. If the situation is delicate and you would prefer not to make a scene, speak to your teacher after class instead.
  6. Silence your phone. Another aspect of being quiet in class involves turning off or silencing your cell phone. Remember to do this before class begins. Notifications and other audio sounds coming from your cell phone can be a huge distraction to your teacher, classmates, and even yourself. Furthermore, putting your phone away and refraining from texting, games, or social media during class is another way to be "quiet" and pay closer attention to what you're learning.[4]

Exercising Some Discipline

  1. Make a commitment. Every morning before you go to school, remind yourself not to talk or make noise in class. Just say it aloud before you get out of bed, or while in the bathroom. By reaffirming your dedication every day, you will be solidifying it in your mind.[5]
  2. Avoid eating in class. Another way that you can exercise discipline and increase your ability to be quiet is to avoid eating during class. Eating during class involves the rustling of packages, sounds of chewing, and a general distraction for yourself and those around you. Instead, try to eat a balanced breakfast and to snack between classes only.[6]
  3. Set small goals. It may be too big of stretch to simply switch to not making noise in any of your classes. Instead, start with smaller goals and work your way up. For example, if you tend to be very chatty in a particular class, work to stay quiet in just that one class. After a few days, maybe you can add 1-2 more classes to your “quiet list.” Keep moving in this direction until you can maintain this behavior throughout the day.[5]
  4. Use a reward system. You may consider implementing a reward system for yourself. Tell yourself you will only watch your favorite show or play your favorite game if you manage to go a specific length of time without talking or making noise out of turn. This is a great practice for developing a sense of self-discipline and pride in your work.[5]
  5. Pay attention to the behavior of others. Your entire life will be full of all kinds of different situations. In some of them, you will be free to talk and make noise as you please; in most, you will not. It is important to know what behavior is appropriate in which situation, as well as how to control your behavior. Take a look at the students who are talking and acting up in class. Chances are, they aren’t portraying a very positive image. Look instead for positive role models, and model your behavior after them.
  6. Let loose during breaks. Of course, nobody wants to be quiet all the time. It wouldn’t be healthy to do so! Instead, get all your talking out during the appropriate times, such as lunch, passing periods, or other break times. Use these moments to blow off steam, so that when class begins again you can focus.[5]

Focusing on Your Studies

  1. Come to class prepared. You are going to have a much easier time refraining from making noise in class if you are paying attention, and if you understand what you are learning. One way to help ensure this is to come to class fully prepared. This means doing any assigned reading or other homework, bringing the proper books or other materials, and just making sure that you understand the unit you are covering. If you are not sure about what you’re learning, take some time to speak to your teacher and get caught up.[7]
    • Part of being prepared also means arriving on time.
    • Get to class a few minutes early, so that you can get out any books, notebooks, or other materials, and avoid rummaging through your bag during class. (This is another way to stay quiet.)
  2. Pay attention in class. If you talk because you are bored, you are missing out on your education. Even a slow lecture can be filled with interesting information. By keeping your mind on the class, you’’ll be reducing the temptation to talk just to pass the time.[8]
  3. Take notes in class. One tactic to help you stay engaged during class is to take notes. Write down what your teacher says in a way that will make sense to you later. Also, write down any questions you may have. Even doodling on a piece of scrap paper will occupy you enough to help keep you from talking or making noise, while still leaving you with enough focus to understand the teacher.
  4. Participate in class. Aside from just listening to what your teacher says, you can stay engaged and prevent yourself from making too much noise by actually participating in class. Whenever you think of a question or comment, raise your hand and state it. In addition to preventing you from talking, this is sure to improve your grade.[9]
  5. Find a way to engage with the material. Any class is going to be more interesting to you if you can find a way to engage with the material and apply it to your life. If you can stay engaged and interested, you are far less likely to talk or make noise during class. Maybe you can use some of the algebra you’ve been learning to calculate how much gas money you’ll need for an upcoming road trip; perhaps you can use some of the communication theories you’ve learned in sociology to help some friends solve an argument; or maybe a book you are reading in English class can be an analogy for your life. Even if it feels like a stretch, search for some way to make the material you are learning more personal.[7]

Tips

  • When in doubt, ask your teacher for help. Your teacher will be glad to make suggestions and work with you to help you develop better speaking habits.
  • Try to bite your lip, not hard but enough to prevent you from talking or laughing.
  • Only respond if the teacher is talking to you.

Warnings

  • Classmates and teachers may be surprised by the change in your behavior; however, it is likely to be a pleasant surprise for them, so don't worry too much about it.
  • Friends may briefly get mad at you for not talking to them. Once you explain yourself, there should be no problem.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephenie-zamora/change-your-life_b_3535734.html
  2. ↑ http://blog.chegg.com/2013/08/19/the-art-of-where-to-sit-in-class/
  3. ↑ http://www.prevention.com/mind-body/emotional-health/journaling-and-sharing-can-enhance-happiness
  4. ↑ https://www.cpcc.edu/spark/archives/let-the-rest-of-us-learn-turn-off-your-cell-phone
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 http://www.essentiallifeskills.net/self-discipline.html
  6. ↑ http://www.dailycal.org/2013/11/22/dont-eat-class-9-things-shouldnt-professor-talking/
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 http://www.how-to-study.com/study-skills-articles/good-listening-in-class.asp
  8. ↑ http://www.how-to-study.com/study-skills-articles/good-listening-in-class.asp
  9. ↑ http://study.com/articles/10_Reasons_Its_a_Good_Idea_to_Participate_in_Class.html
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