Strong Personalities
I once had a student that possessed a very strong attitude. I once felt that it would be better if this student did not even come to class. Towards the end of her tenure in my class I realized that she just wanted someone to care about her, someone to just say they were proud of her accomplishments. Once I did that (She did earn them by the way), her attitude and presence in class improved tremendously! As a matter of fact 10 minutes ago I just got the text message that she was hired as a phlebotomist. I'm very proud and feel like I have made a difference in this student's life. Awesome feeling!
Hi Megan,
You need to get your DOE to support you. The two of you need to have a firm talk with these students, and if things do not change, they need to be removed from your class. Remember, for the new grading period lay your ground rules on Day 1 and reprimand your students accordingly. Even adult students will take advantage of you, if you allow them to. You do not have to put up with this foolishness. Put your foot down.
Patricia Scales
I am having a very hard time with a group of strong personalities. They are using the gang up on me method. They I know I am very new to instructing student in a formal setting, and I definitely need to lay my expectation and my objectives for the class more clearly to these student. But even then they are unwilling to accept the course. (it is just a foundation course). They become frustrated and rude. I am seeking advise on how to get the trust of my students/control back in my class or have I lost them completely?
There's at least two types:
Those who tend to seek control having learned that not having control leaves them wanting and unsatisfied.
Then there are those who will seek control as a matter establishing pecking order or dominance.
The first type is generally of a fair nature and will respond to reason and fairness if it's pointed out they may be behaving selfishly while creating unnecessary barriers to theirs and others learning.
The second type is the bear. You must find a way to bring them to their own higher bar on their terms. Directly hallenging them or otherwise trying to pull authority is typically counterproductive. It's about getting them to understand that they are the key to the end of learning the material, and the challenge is to get them out of their own way, the side benefit being their strong personalities can now help power the engine of learning for the whole class.
Every student is different, haven't found the magic bullet yet. It starts with finding out what motivates them, what makes them want to engage with their life. From there it's a matter of looking for ways to allow them to have their control without them derailing things. It helps to realize most strong personalities just want their world to work for them and are used to arranging for it to do so. If you can prove to them you are helping them to achieve this very thing, that's usually the answer.
I have tried the same thing but of course when you have multiples that's hard to do. I tend not to have time to deal with those students and ask them to leave the class.
Teaching these students with strong personalities can and is such a challenge sometimes. When a person like that is in my class, I see the other students change their behavior as well and I try to redirect my attention away from the strong personality and create and environment that encourages everyone to have a chance to speak or demonstrate. Sometimes they can get a little too outspoken and then I have to "talk them down" a little. It is definitely a challenge at times
Teaching is role modeling something very positive . We only get one shot! Always be open minded and encouraging. We never know what's going on in the students life.
