how to diffuse the personal and family drama
how do we as instructors diffuse the drama before it overtakes the class. The problem I see is while attempting to redirect it ends up involving everyone.
April,
Well said and important part of what we do as educators. If they stay mired down in their personal problems they are not going to be successful as students and probably not complete their program. So if we can get them engaged for a brief period of time and focused on their future we will have been successful.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
This is true. Redirecting the students' attention from personal problems to their studies refocuses them on more positives and gets their minds off of their personal issues temporarily. Therefore, you have a more engaged student.
Jamie,
Good way to keep control but let them vent some. This way you are seen as a listener yet they see that you will not let them derail the class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I have recently run into this problem as well regarding certain personnel changes at our school. I let them vent for a little while, but I was able to steer them back by trying to let them see things from another perspective. Whether or not they were able to appreciate that perspective, they were at least able to acknowledge a different point of view: a lesson, I think, not only for the classroom, but also for real life.
Barbara,
Something I do is to handout a case study and put the students into work groups. By doing so I am redirecting their attention to the problem I have presented them in the case study. If you leave them in their class setting as a group they will quickly, as you know start to feed off of the drama and then drama builds on drama and soon the class is derailed. So redirect quickly and you will be able to maintain control.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
