Accommodating various categories of students.
How do we as class instructors deal with students who are very distruptive in class. They are not olny disturbing themselves, but othe students, by talking irrationally and not paying attention to the lecture or participating in group demonstration?
Hi Lola,
I'm a middle school teacher/career college teacher. Gary's response was a solid, long term solution to the problem.
Since there will most likely be some class time before the time you can privately speak with the student about his/her behavior, here are some strategies I have used to temporarily combat inappropriate behaviors without the awkwardness of "scolding". Lots of times it helps to give the student a responsibility like recording information for the class on the board/overhead. This is great because it helps the student take the stage in an appropriate manner. If you can trust the student it can also be effective to give the student an errand to run. Otherwise, just patiently ask the student to go for a little walk or get a drink of water.
These things have helped me. Hope they can help you as well.
HI Lola,
Start by having a private conversation with each student. Ask them about their behavior and what it is that you can do to help them be successful in the course. Also, explain to them that they cannot continue to disrupt the class. Ask for their cooperation in helping the class to go well. This may bring about better behavior. Also, explain to them that they will not be able to continue in the class if they don't cease the disruptions. If they continue remove them from the class. This will send a clear message to the students that this type of behavior will not be tolerated and that you are going to run an organized and well prepared class.
Gary
