what if a student just doesn't get it?
I have one student in the classroom that just doesn't get it. I spend a lot of one on one time with her while the rest of the class is working and I just feel like she doesn't get it at all. what does one do in this case?
As an online instructor, I often have to deal with students who have been out of school for a while and don't really have the reading comprehension skills that my composition class requires.
In this case, it's sometimes necessary to inform them that they will probably not do well in the class without tutoring. Of course, I try to give these students extra time individually, but I may have too many poor performers in one session to give them all of the help they need. Fortunately, my school offers free tutoring.
In the case of extremely underprepared students, sometimes this bluntness is the only thing that can save them.
Hi Karen,
This is what being a teacher is all about. By encouraging the student and finding support for that individual you are helping her to achieve success toward her career goals even if some extra effort is needed. Great job!
Gary
I also have a student that doesn't understand the material, but I also believe the student may have problems with reading and comprehending the material. What I did was contact the program chair to let the program chair know this is an "At risk student",and to share my observations of the student. The student is now receiving tutoring. After speaking with the student, we both decided it would be beneficial for her to retake the course again.
I would recommend a tutor to help pinpoint the roadblock the student is having.
Hi Darci
Good way to get the student comfortable and settled into the class. You are customizing your instruction to meet her needs as well as reaching all of the other students. Keep up the great job.
Gary
I had a student in a similar situation I met with the student privately to see if home environment was getting in the way or how the instruction of the material was being devlivered. The student had a learning disablility and after speaking with her was able to figure out that we needed to do some tutoring and what would be the most effective way. I also make a point to make sure she knows the material before I start asking questions and putting her on the spot. This made her very uncomfortable and she could not focus on the material just that she was going to get singled out.
Hi April,
This is a very good point that needs to be made over and over with students. Their preparation and skill development is going to determine how successful they are going to be in their chosen career area. They need to know that there are not short cuts and that they have to put forth effort if they are going to move forward in their lives.
Gary
I agree that you have to encourage them, but you also have to real with them. I'm very upfront with my students b/c I am trying to prepare them for the real world! It's more of a tough love approach, and it works for me.
William,
I have students bring fun web videos to class as a way to have them take ownership over their learning and to get them more involved in the class. Try to make your lessons more student centered that way they will be more likly to participate.
Hi KarrieAnn,
It is often that little nudge and additional support the gets students moving forward. Keep up the encouragement as it is really making an impact on your students.
Gary
Hi William,
Good plan for using peers to help each other. This helps as you know to reduce anxiety and increases peer ability to share information. This is a model that will work for instructors in almost every setting. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Gary
I find that in my classroom, students often feel like their not getting it or that their not creative enough to do the work. After the one on one approach isnt working for them, I find that letting them just do the best that they can do and praising them for their achievements propels them in the right direction. Wether big or small steps are made, the chance to do and the opportunity to praise gives them the encouragement to keep trying.
Ihave many students who are in a situation that is fairly new to most and it can be intimidating. The pressure of performing all they have learned in a lab for the last 12 months in a live setting causes them to shut down or become unresponsive. My strategy to reach the student is always taylored to that particular case but often I can have another student work with the challenged student to help him/her relax and refocus.
I have ran into situations such as that. Where I refer them to student services, offer tutoring and sometimes this is not the career for them and I have to cut them loose and they have to drop from my program.
Hi Daniel,
Great comments. I really like your last sentence. This is to me the "fun" part of teaching. Getting the set up for success. I am glad to hear that this is one of the key parts of your educational strategy as well. Keep up the good work.
Gary
When I began to instruct I ecountered students who I thought "just didn't get it" I have since gained levels of assesment for those students. Do they drive to school? What is there level of reading comprehension? Do they text? Of course there are learning disabilities such as short term memory problems that hinder instruction. If the student has demonstrated an ability to benefit from the education, I find it a challenge to my ability as an educator to get them the success they have come to school to achieve.
Hello Raymond,
I have experienced many students who fit this scenario at the beginning of the course. Many students must be referred to remedial labs or classes to continue working toward their goals. The most important thing is to continue to encourage, motivate, and praise for their effort. Many students who seem to be seriously lacking in skills are also lacking in self-esteem and personal accountability. Helping them to feel empowered to change their situation through goal setting, career planning and student counseling can be very effective in developing student success. This is not an overnight process and you may need reinforcements. I usually call in Student Advising, Academics, and even lab instructors for very extreme cases.
I have experienced some success with this approach. Encouraging even one challenging student to move from the starting gate to the finish line is a victory. Those are the days I continue to teach for.
Sincerely,
Carla Denman
well I guess I can refer her to the student services office, and see what they can recommend. thank you..
that's a good Idea, but the thing is what if they don't get anything at all. I mean Nothing... Major Learning Disability perhaps..
