Hi, new instructor, I too experienced a similar situation and personally approached the individual to see if there was anything in particular for their early departure from class. After discussing my concern with the student I found out that their daughter was getting treatment for cancer and they needed to leave to get her there on time. Try talking to the student and see if there are any circumstances which might be in play for your students late arrivals and early departures.
Denise - I have not tried that. If it continues I will do that. Also I havent asked the other student why she leaves early,but it does concern me. Thanks for the advice.
Hi Amanda,
You need to get on these behaviors immediately. If you don't then the problem is going to spread to other students. Talk individually with each student and let them know that this behavior will no longer be tolerated. You are training them to be professionals so you need to set the standards in your class to reflect the standards of your field. Walking out of class or leaving early are not professional behaviors. Generally a talk with the students will correct the situation. If that doesn't work then they need to lose professional points and start to enforce other consequences of these actions.
Gary
As far as your student coming and going at will...have you tried to meet with the student privately? Perhaps there is an issue going on that you aren't aware of that needs to be addressed. The same might be said for the student who leaves early...have you asked her WHY? At least it's a starting point.
Hi,
I am a new instructor and I am looking for ways to deal with students. Not necessarily problem students yet but I can see them being potential problems in the future. We of course expect them to act as adults and be treated as such, but when they are adults and do not act like it, it is hard to treat them in that way. I have one student who has started leaving in the middle of class and he comes and goes as he pleases, mostly when I allow in class time to complete a project or look something up. This has happened a couple of times. I am also concerned with a student who leaves early all of the time, she always lets me know, but it is in almost every class meeting. How do I address these things? Do I say something to the student(s)? What do I do? Thank you.
Amanda
Hi Judy,
I hate to give up on any student. Also, I want 100% of my student to be successful in my courses and their training. Reality is that it doesn't always work that way. I am very firm on the fact that the student that is not responding to my suggestions or management has chosen to be in the career college program. I expect them to act as adults and respect other students and myself. To that end if they in anyway disrupt the learning of others they have forfeited their right to be in the class. I remove such students (making sure I keep the main office and student services fully informed) from my class. This sends a real wake up call to the other students and I don't have a problem the remainder of the course. We are educating students to be successful contributors in their chosen field and if they can't or won't meet the standards of that field then they need to be relocated into another setting.
Gary
