Managing Behavior in the Classroom
Every year it happens, a group of inmature students will enroll into my class. They are a great challege to the entire class, including myself. I'm forced to utilze my high school teaching methods: seating arangements, roll call, limiting class discussions and no field trips. The older students find this to be quite insulting and time-consuming. We are not in High School anymore, Toto.
Hi Ms. Bellamy,
By segmenting your instructional delivery so the students can see progress on a regular basis. In a single class session they might be able to see 3-4-5 units of knowledge they have acquired and used. This constant reinforcement of learning progress is how you keep them engaged and focused. They need to see the Return On Investment (ROI) on a regular basis or they will start to get discouraged and then drop out. It is not easy have you have said but it is necessary if they are going to achieve success.
Thanks for your effort in trying to keep these students motivated and excited about their learning.
Gary
Hi Ms. Bellamy,
Right you are on both counts. Trying to reach such students is a challenge. We have a little amount of time to learn a lot about the students. So we have to be effective in our information gathering.
The other challenge is trying to "sell' them on your classes. If you can help them to see the value of your course as well as staying in school then you will have done a great service for such students.
Instructors impact lives in many different ways and being able to keep a student in school and moving forward with a career choice is one of the most rewarding aspects of being a teacher.
Gary
This will make my day flow easily, unfortunately that is not the case. We have to constantly encourage and motivate ourselves as instructors in order to motivate the students.Granted we are not always enthusiastic and need some encouraging words. It is important to be persistant daily when interacting and communicating with our students, let them know the consequences that may occur if they do not participate and constantly reminding them that this is a learning environment and to leave everything else out the door. How do you handle situations like this and is it effective?
I agree, it is sometimes difficult to accomodate the students that are not sure of their career. They seem to enroll and not take the course serious at times. Although the majority of the students seem to be the younger generation, I find it intricate to consult with the older generation as well. We as instructors are responsible for associating with all age range and somehow find strategies that will get their attention. It can be challenging but somehow we manage to succeed.
Ms. Bellamy
Hi Cheryl,
I can really appreciate your situation. It occurs in every classroom. The key is to do what you are doing focus on those that want to learn and provide them with as much support as you can.
With the other students I treat them like the other students, provide support and encouragement but I don't let them direct the class nor drag down the other students. In many cases some of these students come around before the course is completed. For the other students I know I did everything I could to help them be successful and it was their choice not to be.
Gary
Students that are immature or that don't want to be there can make it extremely difficult to manage the class at times. I try not the give them the attention that they are seeking and focus on the course content. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
Hi Danielle,
Have you talked with the student about his behavior? I am sure you are right about the class being more rigid because of his behavior. Students really tighten up when they sense someone is acting out and not fitting into the class setting. I would work on removing such a student if he does not settle into the flow of the class so everyone can be relaxed and enjoy the learning experience.
Gary
I feel the same way. Every time my class becomes fun, a particular student acts inappropriately. He makes an off-topic comment or an off-color comment. The discussion comes to a screeching halt. The class is much more rigid because of this. Danielle
I find that as soon as my class becomes fun, an immature student takes advantage of this. Instead of joining the humor, he makes inappropriate comments. His comments are both off topic and off color. I believe the class is more rigid because of his behavior.
Hi Michaelle,
I really like this approach. The students have access to an expert in their chosen field for a period of time (class duration) and as a result of their enrollment they can pull on the expertise of that person. They won't have this opportunity at any other time so they should take advantage of it while they can.
Gary
I've been citing lines from Randy Pausch's book, "The Last Lecture". He compares college tuition to paying for a personal trainer at an athletic club. We give students access to the "equipment" (books, labs, our expertise). It's our job to be demanding and make sure our students are exerting themselves. He says that we need to praise them when they deserve it and tell them honestly when they have it in them to worker harder.
Make them turn off their little play devices.
Set high rules, consistently back them up and your students will adjust.
Hi Jeff,
Great answer to students that do not have the maturity to see that they are adults, have made an adult decision to attend college and have to act as an adult if they are going to be successful. It really is their choice. We instructors have already graduated and been successful that is why we have the big desk in the front of the room. So if they want to be successful as well here is what they have to do. Simple and straight forward. They can accept it or reject it but it is accurate information never the less.
Gary
I agree with your frustration, however, I change it around by explaining to them that this isn't like highschool. Nobody is forcing them to attend. They chose to attend. I also explain how they won't get an education that they are pay high tuition for if they don't take responsibility for their own education. They will walk away withoout the knowledge but with a student loan payment...
I understand that you can not let the class run the show and that class control is important. I also know that if you rule with an iron fist the learning process slows way down. There is nothing wrong with having fun in class. It makes for a more enjoyable environment for the students and the lines of communication are open and flowing. This is just my opinion for all I know you’re teaching nuclear physics than I totally understand why that would be frustrating
I think that you should not have to set these limits. Set the bar high and if they dont meet the expectation then they will have to deal with the result
Hi Gary,
This is a good point. We educators have to set the tone for the class and then maintain control in such way as to achieve that goal. This way we can keep the students engaged in and focused on learning.
Gary
It would be helpful if students come into the classroom willing to learn insteed of wanting to play all day I think our day would be less stressful. If you have a plan on class control you can turn your classroom around into a positive one.
