I have had many different challenging students. Some who can barely read, to "center of stage" students. The "observer" method works very well. The other students need tutoring beyond my scope of time and resources and need to be referred to a counselor. As I was reading through the posts, I noticed a "been there, done it all" thread. That carries over farther into life as well. I have a fellow instuctor that has this syndrome. I'm not so sure as it is a mental health issue as it is a "low self esteem" issue.
Hi Cicely,
What a great way to get the challenging student involved; it is also a good way to make them realize they know a lot, but they do not know everything.
Patricia
My most challenging students have been those who have been to multiple community colleges and have found themselves repeating some of the same information or courses. I might call on them to explain some grammatical term in a way that made sense to them( after I have explained it my way), based on their experience in the other classes. That positively empowers them, or makes them realize that they should take a backseat sometimes.
I find most of my challenging students are the ones who think they 'know it all', or the information I am giving isn't relevant to what they feel their future may hold. One method I've found is to challenge their ideas of what they think they will be doing later in a career. Bringing in guest speakers, or field trips help to convey a sense of what is needed to succeed in an industry. Or, by giving them more responsibility as group or project leaders seem to bring out more a sense of reality.
sometimes the student that have a lot of issues outside the class. I find that they have a hard time focusing. Some of the things I try to do is to remind them that no matter what we are going through we always have to do our best. Also some of the hispanic or any student with a language barrier. I always tell them coming from experience due to the fact that english is not my first language. Keep practicing, ask questions, don't be afraid, ignore any comments that will not make you increase your knowledge, and never give up.
Hi Howard,
This generation is taking longer to get the importance of impeccable work ethic. We must continue to do all we can to get them to see the importance. I talk about work ethic in every class at least once a week.
Patricia
I think a seating chart should not look like a form of punishment for bad behavior. If you have the inclination to use it as such then one should build the use of a chart into everyday/every cohort because you cannot predict when that uncontrolled behavior will happen or when your personal tolerance of what does occur regularly will change.
Hi Terry,
This goes to show that sometimes just a simple talk will bring about improvement. You get from students what you expect.
Patricia
I have one particular student who has trouble engaging while in class. After the second day, I placed my students in groups. The unattentive student responded well, the first day, but later started talking off subject thus disturbing his group. I had to remind the class that participation was crucial in determining overall final grades and that I would be observing. At this time, my trouble student is participating better.
I find younger students as the most challenging. I have difficulity dealing with their lack of work ethics. I tell them sucess stories of hard working students and my own sucess stories.
My more challenging students are the ones who are trying to be manipulative me and always have a handy excuse available, and the students who come late, leave early and want to know why they did not pass the class.
Hi H.,
Electronic devices should not be allowed to be used in class. First time should be a warning and the next time needs to be an infraction. At my school if cell phones make a sound the student is sent home and marked absent for the day. These electronic devices are not going to be allowed at work, and we are preparing our students for the workforce.
Patricia
Most have short attention spans. Electronic devices are a problem as well. I actually am liberal on use of devices if they are short in duration.
I think the best way is to engage them in the class and usually they will stow the devices.
Hi Ernest,
I concur. We must be able to sell the relevancy of an education to these students. Once they understand why they are in a particular course, and how it is going to help them in the workplace, they tend to develop a very receptive attitude.
Patricia
Adolescent and young adults that have not made a personal commitment to their success in school.
Often these students have parents or other benifactors that have provided financial support.
Many view their enrollment experimentally and some find the school a "place to park" while they figure out what to do with their lives.
These unfocused students can be challenging, but they also present an opportunity. If you can capture their interest through enthusiasm and creating a "WIFM" (Whats in it for me?), these students see concrete benifits to their personal lives that can only be acheived by embracing the learning opportunities the school provides.
My last class ends at 10:00 in the evening, and most of the students work full time during the day. They are exhausted for the last hour of the class. They can barely stay awake, let alone pay attention, and some of them become very irritable to the point of rudeness. I encourage them by telling them that I think in spite of being tired they are doing a great job, do not get frustrated and do not give up. When I sense their concentration is fading I tell a funny story about something that happened to me on the job that incorporates what they are learning in the class, and they always enjoy this. I think students need to know that you understand what they're going through and that in the end their hard work will be worth the effort.
I am also a chef instructor but my classroom is in a restaurant dining room. The first and second day of class, as an exercise for memorizing the dining room floor chart and position numbers, I call out a student's name and tell them to go to table 32, position 3 and sit down. I assign table numbers and seat numbers to everyone. Each time a students sits at a seat position, I ask the rest of the class if they sat at the correct table. This also allows me to walk around the 'classroom' while lecturing instead of standing in front of everyone in one position. I can better control the class, especially if some of them try to text or talk.
Hi Meron,
I emphasize to my students on Day 1 the importance of attendance in order to be successful in the class. I also let my students know that employers are real big on great attendance. Attendance says a lot about your character. In addition, I mention to my students an employer would rather have someone with impeccable attendance than to have a 4.0 student.
Patricia
Hi Lisa,
You are very encouraging. As educators, we must be our students biggest cheerleader. I also have students their age talk to the ready to quit student to let them know that they can do it.
Patricia
Hi Robert,
I understand. Actions do speak louder than words. I have found that most do not know as much as they think and begin to humble themselves and open their mind to learn.
Patricia
