When someone is new to teaching it is natural to want to be liked by your students. Getting off on the wrong foot could be detrimental to the entire process of getting to know the class. In career colleges especially, there can be a wide range of age groups. Whether the teacher is young or older, the mistake could be to seem as if you relate to one age group versus another. Establishing rapport with all students from the first day of class is one solution to avoiding problems or concerns with the class. Involve everyone

When going through the course material, the section on having students grade one another's assignments stood out to me. I am interested in hearing the thoughts on this particular time saving technique. I can see how it could be efficient for the professor, but I am concerned about the students may altered one another's answers in order to improve the students' grades. The students may view it as an opportunity to help each other out. If anyone has attempted to use this technique, how has it worked out? Have you encountered any difficulties?

The center stage student is usually identifiable on the first day of class. Sometimes the biggest issue with a center stage student is just that Attention. The center stage student can actually be a good thing provided you can keep them focused on one topic. When other students are hesitant to speak up during a class discussion, the center stage student will always be the first one to take part in the discussion which usually eases the other students minds about speaking up. It kind of gets the ball rolling and based on the center stage students comments it brings up other questions they may be reluctant to ask or discuss. So that can be used to an instructors advantage.

One of my biggest problems with up and coming college students is the lack of courtesy and manners that is running rampant in our society. I feel like this lacking has started at home and the parents of today are no longer requiring manners to be enforced in homes or even in public. This really bothers me because kids are being shown that there is no distinction between casual exchanges and business exchanges. Vocabulary is poor, grammar is horrible. No one is taught to revere your elders or respect them. There is no yes ma'am or yes sir. Common courtesy has lost its place in our modern society. I feel it is our place as educators to continue the responsibility of helping teach adults and young adults appropriate business behavior.

For better time mangement we should learn to rank our tasks from least to most important and spend most of our time on the most important task.

I have a small faculty about ten instructors that teach hands on culinary classes and I have issues with some on the instructors trying to hold kids with no experience up to their standards. The problem is the same things that they demand of trheir students I would like to see more of in them. They complain more than they have solutions and many of them are quick to jump to judgment when a student needs additional help. any Suggestions?

I love the idea of having the students "grade" the homework of the other students. I think it is a great class exercise and will also save me time. But I have a concern. What do you do about anonymity? Are their names of the homework? Is it okay for the students to know whose homework they are grading? I think we need to protect the identity of the students because it could be embarrassing for people to know if a student writes poorly or got all of the questions wrong. Any suggestions on how to address this?

Regarding late or missed assignments, It is important to remain consistent with students. The same penalties should apply to entire class and even an entire school. Students discuss things at break or after class, some start friendships etc. It is important that the students know and understand that the same rules apply to everyone, young or old, new student or experienced student. Not being consistent will only create problems, and a lack of trust from your students. Firm yet fair is my motto concerning late or missed assignments. Students know when you let another student get away with something, they tend to brag about it.

I am a nurse instructor so I have to role model what I do in the classroom and in the field. Many times I just want to dress comfortably for the day but I know they watch me every move. they also watch me in the facility so I have to watch what I do as s nurse also. It is essential to be the person we want them to be. It matters. Robin Jonas

I agree that when a student cheats he breaks my trust. But I don't want to throw that student out. Maybe this is why he does it. So after the first time I will talk with him being very careful that I don't outright accuse him but mention what I believe. Then we try together to find out why. What does it think is his problem and why would he risk his reputation to do this. Hopefully at the end we can make a plan and change his behavior. Robin Jonas

I had a student who though that she knew all the content and then when she flunked the tests she blamed it on me. I reflected and then sat down with her to talk to hr. She stated that she knew the content and that my test questions were the reason she failed. I pointed out nicely to her that she is on the text all the time and also talks in the back of the room. The second week she perked up and participated ending up passing the class. It takes a teacher to go above an beyond to meet the challenging student half way.

Some times due to time constraints and ill preparation I find that I have to go back and deal with an error I may have made. At these times I apologize to the students and then try to make it right. They appreciate my honesty and I try not to let it happen very often. Robin Jonas

I believe students can learn minimizing stress by using proactive planning and lists for each day.

Our industry (culinary / hospitality) has a very serious issue with substance abuse as a stress management outlet. Best that we talk about that with the students so that they don't get trapped with unhealthy behaviors.

We use online testing to allow students to manage their own time better, as well as opening up class time.

I emphasis with my students to plan their productions schedules around a "front end loaded" perspective. To be better able to incorporate more dynamic (flexible) time management should things change "on the fly"

How can you manage adult learners who didn't do well while they were in school before college...I have adult learners who still can't read

Just today a student of mine was discussing stress management in a live chat. He said you have to "archive" how you successfully deal with stress so that you can bring out the technique again later. I loved that! For me, choosing what to confront and what to avoid is a big deal. I have effectively decided to "choose my battles" when it comes to work, teaching, parenting, life, etc. There really are things that are out of my control (environmental stressors). I can work mostly on personal frustration and do my best not to be my "worst enemy".

The "juggling act" that I am used to can be a stressor. I react well to the curve balls that come with being a mother to three small children pretty well. It can get tricky when something else goes wrong, such as computer trouble, car/traffic issues, illnesses, etc. It is these unplanned events that can potentially throw me for a loop. I generally have a resilient attitude and figure "it will all work out" most of the time. A sentiment that was handed down by my father.

I am teaching a new course this semester and do not have very much experience in this topic. As a result, I needed to read and understand the content so as to be ahead of the students and become an expert. How has anyone adjusted to the same opportunity?