Picking up the pieces
One thing that I found challenging is to try to correct some less than desirable habbits that student come into class with. I guess when you follow the rules in your own class and in previouse classes the students are not held to the same standard. It is very dificult to get them back on track so you can get back to what they are there for.Some classes this is not an issue but others this takes up valuble time. What are some techniques that work?
Communication between the instructors is a good start and if the students know the rules clearly you can’t let things slide or you will have to do that for everybody. They pay good money for the education and it’s not fair for the other students if your time is spent discipline and not education. Constancy could make the students and your experience better
I hold my students to the school standards and rules in my class.
I tell them I do not care what other instructors let them do, when in my class they are my responsibility, and would not be doing my job to the best of my abilities if i did not hold them to the standards which my job dictates.
Hi John,
You make a number of very good points about how to handle diverse students and make all of them feel included in the learning process. You are using a "common sense" approach and this is what teaching is all about. I wish you the best in all of your efforts.
Gary
The list on the first day gives the students guidelines. I gree fully. Having the students make the list helps them buy into the need for standards. If it is their idea they own it.
Another helpfull tool is to describe benifets of such habbits and practice those habbits ourselves.
I had some students speaking spanish in class. It was bothering other students. Some instructors have stated that in their class we speak english. Did not work. I tried asking them to speak english and explained it would respectfull for others in the class. I continued with asking them if they had ever been in a place where they couldn't understand the language beening used around. We agreed that even a glance from someone that we can not understand instills uneasy feelings, even though they are completely unwarrented. I also explained in now way do I want them to give up their culture. It will come in handy later in there career.
Hi Steven,
This is a difficult situation when standards of behavior are not maintained consistently across classes. As an instructor you are in charge of your classroom and the requirements within it.
To maintain the standards of behavior and/or dress for your students you can develop a list of requirements and share it with them. Review the list the first few class meetings and from that point forward you remind students when they don't adhere to the standards. This way you are only spending a small amount of time on the it.
Also, you can use a check list that you give out covering all the needed preparation for the class including such things as dress. The key is to keep reminders in front of the students about what ever topics or behaviors you want to focus on. These reminders help the students to make the changes a part of their daily professional lives. Habits become ingrained if they are repeated 30 times. So that is what you are striving for.
Gary
