The syllabus is my primary tool. After going over each area, I ask for questions to clarify that there is understanding.
I am an ESL/EFL teacher and my students have mainly been Spanish speakers. Therefore, if from their facial expressions I determine that they do not understand what I am trying to convey based on lack of sufficient ELL skills, I will restate the expectations in Spanish. Luckily I am fluent in Spanish. However, I also let them know that that is the last time they will ever hear Spanish spoken from my lips in the classroom, as they are there to learn English.
Hi Arlene,
Having been through a similar situation in my own career I can understand how frustrating this can be. I hope for the sake of your students and yourself that this situation was not repeated and that you were able to get things under control. Generally "instructors" like the one you described don't last long but they can do a tremendous amount of damage while they are there.
Always maintain your professional attitude and you will come out the better instructor for it even though it may not seem like it at the time. I know I learned how to deal with such a situation plus I knew that I never wanted to be like that person.
Gary
Explain in details
Ask if there are questions
Then ask them to repeat in their own terms what I just asked them do?
When I first went to meet the students it is for skills lab, they had already started theory. The theory instructor is in charge so to speak which is fine because we are on the same page in the way we teach and expectations are the same. However, in the middle of the term a new lab instructor came in who was full time replacing former staff. She was totally disruptive. She lacked discipline, it was obvious that she feared the students and expected the other instructors to clean up the mess that she made, it was a total diastor. She completely undid everything all of the other instructors had in place. This set us bad a bit because we had things under control until she literally came in and changed everything which was not disruptive to the instructors but for the students as well.
The guidelines/expectations were set down initially with weekly schedule of skills lab practice. The students were aware if they came in unprepared they would go to the back of the line and wait until everyone else was finished.
Expectaions are clarified especially when one let them know the real deal by not allowing no one to fall in the cracks. As long as one sets the rules such as failure is not an option the majority of them will understand that they have to work hard or else.
Roberto Allen
what works for me is to cut out all of the BS and level with my students, i tell them exactly what is expected of them. as long as i am honest with them i have their respect.
I outline it in the syllabus along with my personal expectations. I then ask them what they expect to learn from the course after all is reviewed
I use the best and oldest teaching tool: Repetition, to make sure this objective is clear and that I mean business and did not come to waste my time or theirs.
That is a great idea. I am going to try that next term.
Creating and maitaining a positive role is to large extent the end result of 5 C's:
Creditable, candid, compassionate, committed & clear.
My expectations to the students is that they will have a positive learning enc=vironment. I would expect them to use me as a resource in their learning experience. I would expect them to put forth a positive effort to seek out knowledge and maximixe their full learning potential.
First and foremost, I hand out a syllabus that list out what the expectations and objectives of the corse are, than I request feedback from the class, I also review the class objectives each and every class and review the objectives for the next class. I also give my students open ended questions to assure there is understanding and we are on the same page. Also written hand outs clarify the expectations easier.
A method I use in order to ensure students understand what is expected from them is by asking questions on an individual basis. That is to say, each student in the class have to answer at least three questions which for the most if they do not have an answer for the first one they may not have an answer for the remaining questions.
This technique has always worked for me. Never the less, those are the students that does not do good on the test.
Roberto
I first start the class very strict. The students tend to be on their best behavior as they observe their new instructor. They will test you to find your boundaries and operate within the limits you set.
Hi Searcy,
Welcome to the teaching profession. I wish you the best in this new career choice. I know you are going to enjoy having an influence on the next generation of workers in your career field.
Gary
I am just starting to instruct. I'm going to follow the rules and ideas I've been learning from the classes. Thanks for the support!
I think there are several factors to consider.In our school instructors teach multiple courses. Though most start with your basic first day criteria, The syllabus, assignments, policies, evaluations, etc. Then depending on the course, use anything that will help clarify expectations.How about showing a film, pictures, graphs, lecturing or Q&A session.
By getting the student involved in class then backing off to see if they understand the concepts I explained then backing it up in lab so that they see the out come of the concept.Once they see what each procedure involes they normaly want to show you there results.By asking qwestions I can lead them to the best results.
Hi Jerome,
Well said. You have laid a very clear plan for approaching the students from the very first day. Plus, your effort at personalizing it makes it even better. Keep up the good work.
Gary
