Managing difficult students
How do you manage difficult students that refuse to do as you instruct them to do?
I have also found this to be effective.
Hi Darci,
Thank you for sharing this example of how you were able to adapt your approach to working with that class of students. This is what good teaching is all about. As a result both the students and you had a much better time in the course.
Gary
I teach a class that had some difficultly understanding rules and protocol. I battled it out for a while but, then changed gears to talk with the students and explain how it will effect their grade. They responded much more to the idea of it effecting thier overall grade and how my review would sound on thier resume'. I explained that you can use me as a reference but, just remember I will be honest. So your behavior will be talked about by your potential interviewer. I had to see what worked for the class to see what they responded too. I also had to remember that they are adults and want to be treated as such.
I really like the idea of using the notecards, writing questions on the boards and discussing answers toward the end of class.
Hi Deborah,
There are several things you can do to manage such behaviors.
1. Have a time limited open discussion at the beginning of the class. This way the students know that at the end of 5 minutes you are going to start the lecture. Be consistent with keeping to the time you set for the discussion.
2. If the students talk among themselves I break them up and assign seats.
3. I tell the class that in order to cover the content I am going to lecture for 15-20 minutes and then I am going to put them into discussion groups where they can ask questions and make comments.
4. Talk with each talkative student individually and let them know that you would appreciate them not disrupting the class with their talking. This individual approach is generally very effective.
5. Give the students 3X5 cards and have them write their questions down. Collect the cards and then have an answer session sometime during the class.
6. I use the "elevator speech" model. The student is in an elevator and has 2 minutes to deliver a statement, idea or information to a person. This stops the students from rambling. Be a strict timekeeper on this one as well. This strategy gets the students to really concentrate and condense what they are saying or asking.
Hope these ideas work for you. If I can be of any further help please let me know.
Thanks.
Gary
The key is using these different methods helps you to control the flow of the class
I will try to find out why they refuse first, then I will try to impress on them the consequance of their actions
I have many talkitive students in my class! How do you manage students that frequently ask questions and then want to speak excessively about their own experiences?
I like the idea of the contract. We do that for our program as well, if the student is not going to act in a professional manner then according to our school policy listed in the catalog we will withdraw them from the program due to conduct. It hinders the others in the class from learning.
I couldn't agree more! Unfortunately there are some schools out there that are unaware or just don't care about the long-term consequences of "pushing" these types of students through. It, in the long run is detremental to all of us!
I am an instructor in a career program preparing students for professional certification. Dr. Meers' post above is spot on. At least in my situation if students like that are not told in no uncertain terms, but also politely and respectfully, where this behavior is going to take them I am doing my profession, my students and myself a dis-service. The students need to make the contract. And in actuality they are making it with themselves, the instructor is just facilitating it. In the end this sort of behavior is self-destructive.
Hi Maria,
I talk with each student individually and try to determine why they are not following the requirements and policies of the course. I try to set up a contract with such students. If the students do not follow the course goals then I dismiss them from the course because they are not going to disrupt the class for others. I view this as a part of learning the lessons of life.
Gary
Can you be more specific about what they refuse to do? Is it behavior related? Academic related?
