Talking, defiance, lateness top classroom disruptions across all grade levels

A recent poll conducted by Teacher Tapp has identified talking out of turn, not following instructions, and student lateness as the most frequently reported classroom disruptions. This announcement was made on Teacher Tapp's website on February 14.

According to the poll, classroom disruptions are a significant source of teacher stress. Seventy-five percent of teachers reported that students talked when they were not supposed to, and 74% noted that students failed to follow instructions. Lateness was also highlighted as a key issue, affecting half of all lessons, with 61% of teachers saying students started their work slowly. These issues are most pronounced in elementary and middle schools, where over 80% of elementary teachers reported talking out of turn and students not following instructions. High school teachers experienced these disruptions less frequently.

A study published in 2023 by CENTEGIX found that K–12 educators lose an average of 5.5 hours of instructional time each week due to disruptive student behavior. Over a school year, this equates to approximately 10–20 days of lost learning time, underscoring the widespread impact of behavioral issues on classroom instruction.

The National Center for Education Statistics reports that during the 2021–22 school year, 56% of U.S. public schools noted increased classroom disruptions due to student misconduct, while 48% observed a rise in acts of disrespect toward teachers and staff. These behavioral challenges were widely attributed to the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on student development.

Teacher Tapp is a daily survey app founded by education researchers Laura McInerney and Becky Allen. It enables teachers to share their perspectives on education policy, workload, and classroom challenges. According to Teacher Tapp's website, the platform’s data provides valuable insights to support decision-making across the education system.