How to not fidget and be disruptive in class...

Post Reply New Topic

Hi my name is Katie and I'm currently getting my undergraduate degree in Neuroscience. I love all my classes, but I'm pretty sure not all my teachers love me. haha. I've always been that kid who never shuts up or sits still, but my teachers put up with it because I work really hard and I usually have the right answers. Now that I am in college; however, my teachers are annoyed easily by my behavior. I am thankful that they still remain patient with me because they are aware that I have Asperger's and ADHD; but I don't enjoy being that annoying kid. I have developed a "thinking out loud" learning style over the years because it helps me stay engaged, sit still, and not freak out over every sound (eating, drinking, tapping, etc.)I have tried to cut back on my disruptiveness, but now my classes are unbearable to sit through and I probably could just teach it to myself, but I don't pay outrageous tuition to sit in my room and teach myself. Also, my teachers are notorious for asking rhetorical questions and I never know when they want the class to chime in and answer or not.

I don't fidget much, but I do ask a lot of questions. What I usually do is when I disclose my disability (required to get services) I also tell them I tend to ask a lot of questions and say 'if it becomes a problem, talk to me after class and give me a maximum number of questions/comments per class'. Most profs never make an issue of it, and when they do, I can keep count and mostly avoid going over the number they set.

Can you bring a laptop into the class to distract you from fidgeting?

May not be the best idea, unless OP can maintain at least a peripheral focus on her lectures - a laptop could be too distracting.

Have you tried a stress ball or even fiddling with your pencils, ktmed? Converting some of that energy into motion - especially on smaller, less noticeable objects - might be of some use.