Classroom Interruptions! Should Schools Be Concerned If Instruction Is Impacted By Late Students, Phone Calls, Announcements, and Classroom Visits? Or Are Interruptions Just Good Practice For Life?

The Best Paragraph I've Read: "We estimate that a typical classroom in the PPSD is interrupted more than 2,000 times per year and that these interruptions and the disruptions they cause result in the loss of between 10 and 20 days of instructional time. Several findings suggest that there exists substantial scope for reducing interruptions. Administrators appear to systematically underestimate the frequency and negative consequences of interruptions. Furthermore, interruptions vary widely across schools and are largely caused by school staff. Schools might reduce disruptions to the learning environment by creating a culture that prioritizes instructional time, instituting better communication protocols, and addressing the challenges posed by student tardiness." This paragraph comes from two educational researchers: Matthew A. Kraft and Manuel Monti-Nussbaum who wrote a research article titled: "The Big Problem With Little Interruptions to Classroom Learning."  The article can be found here at Sage Journals: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/23328584211028856 Zac and Don discuss the article's findings on classroom interruptions.  They discuss whether student learning is impacted by interruptions.  They share some of their own experiences with classroom interruptions.  They also wonder if interruptions are just a fact of life.