dealing with difficult students
I an always trying to talk in privat with students who have a some kind of problem in school and in the family.
Hi Stephanie,
Good strategy for working with challenging students. The key is to document what you have done and bring in others for support just as you mentioned. This way you can proceed with the class without one student high jacking the learning of others.
Gary
I think that taking the disruptive student to the side and speaking with them alone is very considerate and respectful. Although that student isn't being thoughtful, respectful, and considerate of others by constantly interrupting the class. I think the Manager, Director, or Dean of the program should get involved and help the instructor manage this student so that the instructor can continue teaching the other students that have also paid their money for an education. It is not that I can not manage my student or students but it can become time- consuming with interferences that can interrupt the learning of other students as well as their own, including positive interruptions such as a students that asks so many questions that can take up the whole class time to answer them.
I agree, dealing with the student in private and then addressing the class as a whole is the best route to take. You don't want to create a hostile environment because that's your 9-5 until that student graduates.
Hi Mario,
Being accessible to students is so important. By making it clear that you are available to students you are showing them that their success is very important to you. As you said, by talking with you the students have been able to see exactly where they are in the course and what they have to do to succeed.
Gary
I place a standing invitation to talk in my syllabus emphasizing that communication (with me) is key to both success within the course, as well as ameliorating the deleterious effects that life may present to a student's in-class performance. I also make a first-session "stump speech" about the importance and utitlity of communicating any and all issues a student may have. To date, no student who kept in the loop regarding his or her issues has had cause to regret speaking with me, so the word-of-mouth has been quite positive in this matter.
Most disruptive behavior I've encountered is in the form of whispering with one another vs. overtly disrespectful behavior. If I stop talking and attention is drawn to the whispering students, it usually ends. I find this works well, however with repeat offenders it's necessary to speak with them privately and respectfully outside of class. Treating the person with the same respect you are asking for is key I think.
Whispering students seems to be a continuing problem with many instructors. I have found that when I have this problem, the best way to handle the situation is to just be quiet for a moment. This usually causes the students to see why it is suddenly quiet, they then will also become quiet. However, if they continue to whisper, I usually take them out in the hall for a personal discussion on class conduct.
Hi Virginia,
Good job of taking control of the class. If you let these distractions go on they only get bigger because the students know you aren't going to do anything about it. So by stopping it quickly you are saying "I am the class leader and I intend on maintaining order while we are in session".
Gary
I have a few whispering students that become disruptive at times, I just stop the lecture and ask if they would like to add anything or share. That usually takes care of things!
Hi John,
Thank you for sharing this good advice on student management with us.
Gary
Hi Jackie,
Good strategy for dealing with such a situation. It is unfair to other students to have their education altered or reduced as a result of a student that acts out. It needs to be handled quickly and fairly and then move on with the rest of the class with or without that student.
Gary
This, I think, is my greatest challenge. I do not have a single strategy for difficult students, since my experience has been that those who have been trouble for other instructors are easy for me to manage. Then there are others who seem oblivious to any appeal to mutual respect or classroom decorum and then I find I have to be much firmer than I would prefer to be. Respect, though, seems to be my best weapon. If I don't allow someone's disruptive behavior to fluster me then it never gets into an unmanageable situation - at least, so far in my experience.
If a student is disruptive in the classroom, I would usually address the issue with them privately but also remind the class as a whole about proper etiquette in the classroom environment. If that doesn't work, I would take the necessary steps based on University policy and procedures for disruptive students.
