Punctuality, Participation in Class, and Listening During Lectures: The Three Important Rules to Succeed in a Classroom Environment

When it comes to the classroom, there are certain etiquette procedures that need to be taken to ensure your success and the success of others. Without these procedures, the classroom can become chaotic and distracting to everyone involved. I have chosen three rules of classroom etiquette that I feel are three of the most important rules to succeeding in a classroom environment.

The first of these rules that I have chosen is to show up to class on time and with all of your materials. This means bringing your writing utensils, notebooks, calculators, textbooks, etc. to class. I feel this is the most important rule of classroom etiquette because it shows that you are prepared for the class. Without your materials, you cannot take notes nor can you follow along with the class. When you show up on time with all of your materials, you are showing responsibility, preparedness, and an eagerness to learn. An example of why you should always come to class with all of your materials is when your instructor asks you to open your book to look at a diagram, graph, or section of text. If you have your book, you can follow along with the lesson, but if you do not have your book, you may miss a vital piece of the lesson or you could be disrupting others by asking to take a peek. In essence, it is crucial to bring all of your materials to class so you can participate in the lesson, which brings us to the second rule.

The next rule of classroom etiquette that I have chosen is to participate in class. This means to ask questions, bring current events to the discussion, and share personal experiences. I feel this is the next most important rule of classroom etiquette because it shows that you are investing yourself in the lesson and that you are trying to learn the material. When you do not participate, you may be leaving out questions or experiences that could be valuable to not only you, but to the rest of the class. When you do participate in class, you could be asking questions that some of the other class is also wondering about. An example of why you should always participate in the classroom is when the class is discussing a topic that is rather challenging and you have some experience that could help the rest of the class better understand the topic. If you do not share your experience, no one else will be able to gain your knowledge nor will they be able to add to yours. If you were to share that experience, the rest of the class would have another resource to help them in their studies and they may even be able to add to your experience. In essence, it is crucial to participate in class because you may get some of your questions answered and others may benefit from your knowledge.

The third rule of classroom etiquette that I feel is important is to not carry on conversation while the instructor or another student is talking. This means exactly what it says, do not talk while another individual is talking. This is an important rule of classroom etiquette because discussion is a distraction to others. When you are talking to another student while the instructor or another student is sharing an example with the class, you may be distracting those around you, causing not only you but others to miss valuable information. When you are not talking to anyone, you are not being a distraction to those around you and you are not causing anyone to miss valuable information. An example of why you should never talk to others while the instructor or another student is talking to the class is when the instructor is giving specific instructions on how to complete an assignment. If you are talking during those instructions, you and others around you may be missing necessary instructions, causing you and/or others to not be able to complete the assignment. If you are not talking, everyone will be able to hear those instructions, helping them to complete the assignment at hand. In essence, it is crucial to never talk over another individual because you may be causing a distraction.

In conclusion, you must follow the rules of classroom etiquette if you wish to succeed in class. Always bring all of your materials to class, participate and share your knowledge, and do not converse while the instructor or other students are talking. Following these rules will help myself and others succeed in class by keeping us prepared with all of our materials, keeping us active and invested in the classroom, and limiting our distractions. Following these rules keeps us focused on the lessons at hand.

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