My question is this, what if a student comes straight out and says he is furious with his girl friend. That his anger really has nothing to do with the class, but he is very angry?

My biggest classroom management issue concerns students who text. I usually have one or two each term who love to text and are fairly oblivious, even to specific, individual requests to "cease and desist". This term I'm going to tell students -- in a humorous way hopefully -- that their participation points for each class are going to include behaving like technological dinosaurs (like their instructor) and NOT texting in class. A texting incident is going to result in a point lost for that class. Then I think I'll e mail the texting student immediately after class about their loss of a point so they get an immediate consequence. I hope this will be effective, and I'm thinking that the use of humor will make it sting a bit less. Any other ideas about the nemesis that is texting?

I have a couple of classes in our program (Computer System Specialist) that students can't seem to link to the importance or relevance of the material to the course description. Any feedback would be very much appreciated.

Being prepared and ready for class sounds simple but it makes a big difference in how students see you. I could not stand professors who were disorganized, sloppy or unprepared, even if they knew their material. It made me feel as if they didn't care and were trying to be charming to compensate. Now that I teach, I make sure that I am always prepared and ready. Whether I like it or not, I am a role model and need to set a standard of professionalism for my students.

I thought that this module was helpful but it did not mention the problem student who is bound and determined to be your best friend. They show up early for class, they stay late and they ply you with endless compliments and questions. At first it is flattering to have their support but after a while it gets tiresome; in addition, the other student tend to resent (if not despise) "Paul the Pal" as a brownnoser. How do you tone them down without alienating them?

I have not be teaching very long and need some advice: what can you do with frustrating students, particularly students who can't seem to get their work done on time. I email all of my students who miss a deadline and then try to talk to them--I either get no response or empty promises. Any "tricks of the trade" some nice person might want to share with me?

I have found it helpful to invite quest speakers to class to share their real-world experiences with my students. It is very important to select good speakers and it is also helpful to give them a "tips" sheet covering specific topics that I know my students will be interested in knowing. Q&A sessions are also very useful although I am occasionally surprised at what students will ask!

One of my biggest problems comes from students who copy and paste information from the Internet into their assignments, and present the work as their own. Mano of them will cite their sources, which makes it even easier to catch. Ironically, it is the students in our criminal justice program who have done this in my classes. I'm interested in understand the personality types involved here.

I have learned that adult learners have an attention span of about 15 minutes. I know when I have taken classes that is true. When I start to feel unfocused, I simply close my eyes and take several slow deep breaths. I find this brief break to help focus my attention on the task at hand.

i usually try to talk to my bestfriend when i am stressed and it works great.

i always get to work 20 - 30 minutes early to work to get my day started.

I am pretty good at grading. i grade my paper work within 1-2 days from receiving paper work

As nursing instructors it is so important for us to be able to get involve in some form of stess reduction management. We not only have to deal with our students, our patients, our co-workers, but our family as well. When we walk into the class room stressed out our students can see it right away, and the rest of the day is down the drain. This inservice was so helpful, we know this but revisiting this topic was very timely.

You are not their friend, buddy or therapist and nor should be their employer, supervisor or subcontractor. I believe in religiously avoiding having any sort of dual-relationship with my students if humanly possible. I am their teacher and nothing more. Being in any type of employment or social situation with a student is undesirable as it creates the potential for a dynamic that "no good shall flow from"--avoid them altogether and you'll both be happier. Example: A fellow professor hired a student (and their team) to paint her house. The professor was unhappy with their work. The student later claimed that the teacher retaliated by giving them a low grade in a class.

Some "cheating" is innocent and reflects novice students' lack of familiarity with the need to properly attribute sources or a misunderstanding of the requirements of needing to do original work. Calling them a "cheater" is counterproductive. Even those who blatantly cheat will be reactive and hostile to the term. Diplomatic word usage is strongly advised until you can determine if they erred out of ignorance vs. out of malice.

"Selling the move" is a professional wrestling term that refers to the need to make the act convincing in order to keep the audience engaged while not actually harming your opponent. In teaching, the term means to convince your students that the subject matter is worth caring about and being involved with; this task is particularly crucial for general education classes like history that students are only taking because they have no other choice. Remember that just because you might love the subject matter, it doesn't mean that they do.

I like to send students who miss deadlines humorous "threatening" emails reminding them to get their work turned or that they will face some wildly improbable but unpleasant consequence as a result. Frequent mention of specially trained ninjas, flying monkeys or the Inquisition (because nobody expects the Inquisition) is usually sufficient to get their attention (or at least a laugh or two).

One of the stresses that I have experienced have ocurred when students fail to apply the basic techniques and skills they learned from previous classes. Even when I review and demonstrate the techniques and skills again for them, they tend to forget what was just covered.

I have been privileged to adopt a consistent routine of quiet reflection usually first thing in the morning. This helps to relax you and set your frame of reference in a positive tone for the rest of the day. The process of meditation will help the individual stay focused on what is essential in their health and their mind. The focus is on the individual. We must realize we cannot control the the thoughts or actions of others. Instead we should strive to deal with stresses and conflicts the best we can without changing others behaviors. The old addage 'kill 'em with kindness' has merit even today.

Most students prefer a roadmap or outline for their day in class. I always write on the board the topic for each hour and identify which topics will require student participation either on their own or in groups. By letting the student know what is expected of them at the beginning of the class, they will have chance to organized and become more efficient in the learning process and ultimately save time during the classroom period.