Classroom Management
I find it hard to determine how to walk the fine line between letting students know you mean business and will stick to your guidelines vs. still being flexible and empathetic. How do you settle on a happy medium (i.e. not being a drill sergeant or a peacemaker)?
I am having problems with talkers in my class. I am going to give your ideas a try. Thanks!
Hi Stephanie:
Perfect - in an ideal setting, the instructor will have the opportunity to set the standards to the group as a whole, then have private discussions as needed to reinforce expectations.
Regards, Barry
Hi William:
Yeah, sometimes students need a very firm hand to keep order and get our lesson covered. A variation is to pause, then politely ask the distrater's to please stay after class to you can repeat what they have missed. That's kind of icing on the cake of dicipline to pay attention. I also do this if student come in late. "I know you don't want to miss any oif the class so I expect you to stay after class for me to review it". I'll just say "see me at break" if there is any further discussion about having stay after.
Regards, Barry
Private conversations, cell phones, texting and amped up students can all get in the way of an effective lecture.
When students are talking or causing a distraction I stop lecturing and wait, they usually take the hint but some students still don't get it. At that point I tell them that I have a lot to cover and it's their time that's being wasted; I already know this stuff. That's when peer pressure kicks in and the class shuts them down quick. If they still don't get it I ask them to leave the room so the rest of us can get on with our day.
Hi Sarah:
I understand your meaning of fine line but I don't think there is a fine line. There is just acceptable and not acceptable.
I find that if I a present my demeanor in an honest, genuine, and good natrured manner, students will reflect that. If I show kindness through courtesy and caring remarks, students will respect that,(and often but not always) return the gesture. A natural, confident presence coupled with competent, logical, and organized lecture or lesson material will suggest you know your stuff and students will pay attention.
Those that don't for whatever reason are out of line and immediate corrective action can squelch unacceptable behavior. If students are talking when I am, I stop and wait. Then continue on. If it repeats, I might stop again, wait, then continue on. Now, I might go stand near the talkers and continue. If they have'nt learned by then what they're doing is unacceptable, I might stop a final time, lean over and whisper, "your talking is distracting me and the class. Please Stop It NOW!" (Only they can hear it). Then at break time, I'll ask to speak with the talkers and be firm about their distractive actions. By being firm, I might add, "since you missed this this and this when you weren't paying attenting, I expect you to stay after class so I can review it". Most times, this will reach most students.
Here's the thing. They can't learn when they're talking. So I'm not going to get upset about it, I'll just wait for them to learn to pay attention. If it persists or goes beyond that, then it's a disciplne thing and needs attention by other means.
Regards, Barry
I say you have to evaluate the circumstances individually. For instance, if one person is always late or leaves early, pull them aside and talk to them and tell them you will take points off their grade if it continues. I dont believe in making examples of people in front of their peers.
