The common thread running through the literature about disgruntled, unhappy, angry students is this: communication. Most of the time, these students simply feel that they are not being heard, being listened to. Giving them a forum, whether during class or in private during office hours, generally resolves whatever conflict is happening within the angry student. The first instinct of the instructor might be to simply ignore them, and while this approach may avoid a public confrontation, it probably won't solve the underlying problem and allow the student to learn the material

I believe that when you introduce something new to your students, you need to make sure they understand it. I do this by showing the students examples and working through group assignment, where each student is working through a problem. Once you break it down, have them show you that they are understand the assignment, they will be successful in working them individually.

Instructor to often try to have friendships with there students It becomes a conflict and students lose respect for the instructor so there is no learning.

I am human and am bound at some point to make mistakes. When I do so, I admit my mistakes and move on. By doing so it is another way to show the students that I am a normal person. It also shows that I am not perfect and neither is any doctor, nurse or person for that matter. I don't expect my students to be perfect. I expect them to do their very best and understand the information we go over in class. To understand it doesn't mean and A or being perfect.

I am very firm when explaining my cheating policy on day one of class. I tell them that this explanation will be their 1 and only warning. If I see or suspect cheating, I will say nothing. I will walk over and politely take their test/quiz. If that happens they know why and they know their grade will be a zero. I tell them that we will NOT discuss the issue. I will not monopolize the classes time to discuss it. The rule is the rule and they need not even go to administration. I do explain though that as the instructor when I am walking the room that I am NOT in between students so I have no idea if they are talking about meeting up after class or really asking each other the answers to a question. If it appears to be cheating then I consider it to be. As for eyeball rollers, I tell them to let me know in advance that they tend to look around the room while thinking about an answer to a question. I tell ALL students to keep their answers to themselves as assisting with cheating by keeping their answers open for the taking is considered to be cheating as well and may earn them a zero for a quiz/test too. This usually leaves the actual cheaters without a means to gather information from someone else.

If you get too deep with college stuff on the first day with discussion your class information; maney of the students will not comprehend you by being overwam with course information. it all new information. The second day you can comunicate with more comperhension.

I recently had a relatively good student doing not so well on tests. I have noticed she does not bring a book to class or take notes in class. When speaking to her about this she told me her other teachers wrote all the notes out for the class on the board and they just had to copy. This does not seem to be affective learning to me. At college level I feel they should be taking notes as we cover material. I use power point as well as class discussion of book material. Any thoughts on handling this situation?

Creates numerous conflicts and complicates the success of the learning process.

Placing students in small groups is a means of allowing even quiet students to become involve. A team spirit is often created in small groups and the team most times will encourage each other to become involved.

I have learned in the last two years of teaching, that students have an excuse for everything! My struggle has been to be empathetic while still enforcing the rules. I've learned that if you treat the situation with understanding, but also explain that rules/policies are in place to make them better students, they are usually more understanding.

One relaxation exercise you can do at your desk is to sit up stright in your chair, extend your arms, cross and grasp your hands. Now, pull your hands under and up to your chest. Next, take in a slow and deep breath inhaling as much as posssible and exhale while firmly holding your hands to your chest. Each time it will stretch the muscles in your back and chest and give you a feeling of relaxation.

I have found that often, students need to be mentored and encouraged. I have done this as a trainer in corporate America as well as here at CEC. The value of encouragement can mean the diference between success and failure.

I liked the idea of deducting 20% each day an assignment is late. Although I would probably deduct only 10% I feel this is fair to all in the class. Those who complete an assignment on time get the credit yet those who hand it in late still get some points but get the penalty for handing it in late. It also shows that the instructor gives everyone a chance to succeed yet it's up to the student to do their part in contributing to their education. I will definitely start implementing this idea.

Something I had to learn in my early years as a teacher was that I needed to not focus on the trouble that students were causing me but to focus on the trouble they were encountering in their lives, both in and out of the classroom. Yes, it's painful when students make our lives more difficult, but we are there to serve their academic and personal growth needs, not the other way around. So a little mental shift helped me get my attitude right and help my students more effectively.

Dr. Daniel Amen wrote a book by the title listed in the subject line. He says that we have ANTS. That is Automatic Negative Thoughts and we choose to accept or reject them. If we reject it diminishes our stress, if we accept...well you know the answer.

When students are writing essays they often come with limited or minimal organizational skills. Some of the predictive analytical software has the ability to find common strands and keywords that are appropriate to a topic. Though the words are different, they have similar menaings. I sometimes I have students use different colored highlighters to identify keywords or concepts in their writing that are similar to one another. This allows me to determine their critical thinking skills and how they relate to various bits and pieces of their writing. It helps the student realize if they have wondered off course since outlining has become a lost art.

In a team focused professional learning community it is often difficult to plan in the longer view when others are planning shorter, or not at all.It makes it difficult when members fail to interact with partners when they fail to communicate. Impromptu, or meetings that are poorly planned and yield little to no results, can destroy the plans for the day and if enough of them occur in a short time frame this might apply to the week.

Class management is important because the instructor will be able to engage the various learning styles.

Meetings are important, but last minute meetings can disrupt time management. There are times when there must be a last minute meeting, but make sure that all meetings are productive to the individuals who attend. I have found that most meetings are unproductive even if they are scheduled. Most of the information can be placed in an email or sent through an interoffice memo. People must remember that wasting your time is your business, but wasting other people's time is disrespectful.

When stress starts to get a grip you need to be able to notice the signs and take a mental break. As a practioner of numerous martial arts we are taught to notice situations and deal with them. When you notice stress you don't even have to stop what your doing to take a mental break. Breathing is a good start, having a trigger to start a quick relaxation period. The relaxation period doesn't have to last that long, just long enough to take the tension away.