Students with personal problems
There are some students with personal problems and they use it as an excuse not to come to class or show up to class 1hr late for a class that last 1hr 50mins. what can i do to help them to catch up or to make the effort to get to class earlier or something? help
Hello David,
I had same problems with my students like your. My campus director always tell me do whatever it take to make students happy so she or he continue to finish the course.
At first I was very frustrade, but I did my best to help my students. I alway remind them. Their succeed is my succeed. If they know someone's care for them. They'll do the best to learning not just for themself, but for their family.
Absolutely. This topic goes back to the expectations we set at the beginning of class. All rules should be clearly stated from day one in the syllabus or handbook. When we have clear expectations in the classroom, students benefit from this.
Lana,
This is one of the enjoyable parts about being an instructor. When you see a class come together and create a learning community it makes you feel good as the learning leader. They form a bond while in the class and this will continue after course completion. You are the support and glue that holds the class together while they are creating their cohort bonds.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I see this as well. One thing that helps my students is a positivity drill first thing in the morning. I spend the first few minutes of every class going around the room and letting everyone share one positive thing that they experienced the day before. From the beginning of the term we set ground rules as a class to create an open, non-judgmental atmosphere. Students open up about their issues or problems and they really bond with one another. Over the term, students help each other with solutions and share information. They listen and empathize...and have a hard time leaving one another after the term ends...
David you are in a tough situation; however the rules are there to hold the student reponsible for their actions. With that being said we know that the financial situation is key. We all need a job. Bend the rules but don't break them. We have to sit with our students as well when they miss class. I give them a 10 minute grace period (unspoken) in the morning. If it is abused it is stopped. The school has a "no unexcussed absence" policy so when a student misses a test they are deducted 10% and quizzes can't be made up. So at the begining of the term we discuss the rules regarding missed time and make-up for exams. I set a specific day(s) for make-up and it is added into their calendar. Only if they miss after the the last scheduled makeup day or can not complete their missed hours within those day(s) they must speak with the program director and explain. This take the pressure off of you and maked the student accountable to soomeone higher up. Yes the fear is real but in the lone run you have to do what is right and best for the student.
George,
We are seeing increased numbers of students coming such backgrounds. You are right the more we know how to support them and help them be successful the more effective we will be. Thank you for bringing up this important point.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The majority of my students are from a military background and approximately 20% of the students suffer with some degree of PTSD. As an educator I must be aware of this problem and observe the students as they deal with the stresses of the classroom.
Khalid,
Good advice that you are offering them. They need to be able to see the value of what they are learning and how the courses they are taking fit into their career development. They need to see that the courses are more than just steps to a degree they are an investment in their future.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I have a few students in class who have taken too many courses, and also have a job. Then they start lagging behind the class in their work. When we discuss this, they say that they have to work to sustain themselves, and they also have to take more courses to get their degree sooner. I tell them to take as much load as they can bear, or they may fail both in college as well as at work.
John,
Thank you for these comments on how to work with a student population like this. Instructors are not expected to handle all situations that come their way so by having resources that can be called upon on and referral sources available the students get the support they need when they need it.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Eddie,
Listening is a valuable teaching tool that instructors need to develop. When we are listening we are learning and then we are able to take what we have learned and more accurately relate to our students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Nearly 60% of our students are former military and many have PTSD. All of our instructors have been taught how to handle certain personal issues with these students. One-on-one discussions with each student on how to better aid their learning is the most reasonable. After all, they are adults and we're taught to treat them as such. If the problem persists (tardiness etc) then we have a counselor on staff who can address the situation.
from my experiences I listen to them as much as possible and help them without getting to far out of the student-instructor relationship. if I cant help them as much as I would like to then I will send to the student advisers.
David,
You certainly are in a tough situation because with even all you do I would wonder about the quality of those that complete your program. How will they function in the workplace when their employers won't let them come when and if they want to or leave when they want to, not to mention the quality of work while they are there. I would think this would mean that before long employers won't be seeking graduates of the program.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Shiketheia,
They really need to get the message about being prompt and dedicated to their work. If they aren't they are not going to be successful and it won't be long before employers will stop taking students from your school. We need to strive to always turn out top quality well prepared new professionals. Our students need to see that pride we have in helping them to be successful if they will put in the work needed.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Hi all,
When we are dealing with a small student population, and student retention is one of the major keys to the financial success or failure of the school (thus potentially resulting in the school closing its doors), I am almost forced to coddle them, 'bend' the rules, and do almost anything possible to get them through the program. Is this right? In a perfect world, no. But in our case, what do we do? We have an unspoken motto at our school, "We never give up on students." Even those who 'drive us nuts' because they constantly have some personal issue that is impacting their ability to be present or to do well on exams. Then we have them re-testing exams all the time because failed the first time, or we have to reschedule exams for them because they missed the originally scheduled exam, or we have them coming during off hours to make up attendance (we are a clock-hour program), and so on. It's EXHUASTING. So how does a school like mine handle the students with personal problems if we can't really afford to enforce the policies you specified above for fear of losing them?
You are so right Gary: We see this every semester when the students go out for practicum experience. Not coming on time, not taking initiative to do task. So we must put our foot down. When we send them out, we want to be proud.
Shiketheia,
Your last sentence really says it all. Yes we are training them to be professionals so we must uphold the standards of our field. If we let them slide by then it wont 'be long before employers will stop hiring our graduates because we are sending our poorly trained individuals that cannot make it in their field.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I deal with this daily with students. I have started giving them deadlines to have work submitted before resulting in zeros and sticking to it. I know we all do this, but sticking to it is the biggest thing. We must advise them that their behaviors are not acceptable in the work force. We are training them to be professionals and having those contingency plans are the key.
