Before I begin a new class, I know how many students I will have and I also know which classroom I will be teaching in. This allows me the benefit of thinking through seating ahead of time. I never allow any stragglers to sit off to themselves. ANd if I see that there is going to be a challenge with certain students sitting together I nip it in the bud by talking to them whole class about the important of participating. If the problem persists, then I talk to individuals and make neeeded seating adjustments.
I have found that by calling on the disruptive students, especially when they are being disruptive lets them know that I am aware of their behavior and that they need to be involved in the class.
Keith,
Go ahead and introduce discipline. Layout your class polices, expectations, and requirements. Be organized and prepared for the class. Bring your own professional discipline into the class as a professional that models what a person in the career should be like. Use a seating chart if you need to. Break up that group. I do this through having them number off. By them sitting together in the back when numbering off they are all going to be in different groups. Put them into these groups and have activities for them to complete. This way you have broken them up without having to directly assign them seats. If that doesn't work talk with each student individually and outline your expectations and tell each student you will not tolerate such behavior. If you have to remove disruptive students from your class. Even though they have paid money to be in school they did not pay money to ruin the education of others and they have to understand that.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
