Tarty Students
I am making an attempt to motivate students to arrive early and prepared.
I have alway nipped this one in the bud early, it avoids any confusion as to what is or isnt acceptable. Being late is unaccepctable.
I have talked to repeat offenders of being late to class, I teach automotive and I try to explain to the students that this won't be tolerated in the feild.
Hi David,
Good practice on starting the class when it is supposed to start. This sets a very professional tone, plus you are showing your students that what you and they are doing in the class is of value so they need to be there on time.
Gary
On the first day of class I talk about being on time and lay out some ground rules. One of the rules is that class starts at 6:30 not 6:31:32:33:34 etc. I give out a phone number they can call an let me know that they wiil be late. I tell them that if they call before class that being late(15 min. or less) will not count against then and that if they do not call - they loose the points for attends. The also know that they can not call in everyday and miss time everyday. As most of the time we are in lab comming in late is of no problem to the class - just themselves. This takes care of must of the late people as after the first or second time they stop being late because they know they have to tell me voice to voice why thy are going to be late. It also allows for the time that stuff just happens.
I've discovered that most students will appear on time knowing there is grading criteria that affects 2 areas of their overall score. When this doesn't affect a particular student I'll have a one-on-one with that person to determine the root cause for consistent lateness. At that time I remind them that there are consequences in the "career world" for this type of behaviour, with negative results usually.
I've discovered that most students will appear on time knowing there is grading criteria that affects 2 areas of their overall score. When this doesn't affect a particular student I'll have a one-on-one with that person to determine the root cause for consistent lateness. At that time I remind them that there are consequences in the "career world" for this type of behaviour, with negative results usually.
Where I am employed, being tardy is part of the students' grade for the course, therefore this should be incentive enough but when that fails and it does, I remind them that by them being late they are subject to missing important info or key factors that may be covered in a test the following day. I also stress that practicing punctuality here will be a reflection in the work force later on.
Hello Gary,
Thank you for your feedback. I find that my college students overall are knowledgeable and desire the information I am teaching, however on occassion a few will test the tardyness and/or ask for an excuse for the most interesting outside needs...like jury duty, getting their PPD read or sick relative/baby. It is never ending and the students have difficulty catching up with the lectures. But I will try some of your discipline techniques. Thank you.
Dr. Cherie De Sues
Hi Cherie,
I am sure you have talked with the repeat tardy students to try and encourage their on-time attendance. If this doesn't work there is always point deduction to the point that their grades are seriously affected. I award so many professional points through out the course phase and these points can move a grade up or down depending on how well the students performed in tardiness and attendance.
A last resort is that I dismiss the students from the class and let them know that when they have their lives in order they can come back and take the course (check the school's policy on this). When I talk with them is that I cannot let them disrespect the other members of the class. When I have 25 students and 22 of them make it to class on time, when the 3 students that are late walk in they have said that they don't care about school rules, the instructor and the other 22 students. That is disrespect and if I am going to be in control of the class I have to earn the respect of the students and I can do that by being a good class manager.
Some ideas for you to consider. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Gary
Keeping the attention of students in the classroom is challenging enough, but to have two or three students routinely slide into the classroom late is very difficult. Students watch the tardy student sign in on my desk and follow them to their desk while they dig for their book, paper and pencil. I've tried ignoring the student, but my students don't have the ability, so I have to wait to gain their attention again. I remember in a classroom I once took that when someone arrived late the whole class would sing a ditty, "You're late, you're late for a very important date...",Like in Alice in Wonderland, until the student was seated. Students hated it and started showing up on time.
