Summer heat and a pregnant student
Hello I have a current student in my Accounting 101 and she is feeling overwhelmed. I have a meeting with her before class next week. I hope to help her overcome some of her anxiety. Any help?
Hi Geary,
Thank you for sharing this step by step example of how to work with a student that is struggling with school while coping with own issues, in this case pregnancy. Your strategies give her the support she needs while she works through how she is going to maintain all of the commitments she has in her life. This information is going to be very helpful to other instructors going through similar situations.
Gary
I am experiencing this situation this summer. Her pregnancy has caused her to miss classes and fall behind in the lectures. Anyone who has had a wife going through pregnancy can understand that hormones affect the mood of the person and ability to concentrate. My geographical location is experiencing heat in the 100's for the past several weeks which also affects her ability to perform at her peak. Patience on the part of the instructor and the ability to to provide instructor study guides and worksheets (not text book generated material)is essential. Helping her focus on the meaningful information in the text and lecture can help reduce the "overwhelmed" feeling. To overwhelm any student is for the instructor to state "if it is in the book, you have to know it". As a PRACTIONER and educator, I guide students to concentrating on the material that will help them in their career and not "just nice to know information that won't be used in the field". You mention breaking the information down into segments - I AGREE. People learn more in smaller segments. Long lectures and assignments may be impressive for the educator who believes that is the way to brilliance but is burdensome and fruitless on the student who has many daily challenges including pregnancey. Educators have all day and night to do their classes. Many adult students have jobs, family, and other commitments that must be met. Certain responsibilities cannot be sacrifice. Adult students who want to improve their lives must have course material simplified and shown the application of it. Be sensitive to the learner who is trying to improve their lives but faces many obstacles that create an overwhelming type feeling. Consider giving the student an "Incomplete grade" to provide the student more time to accomplish his/her goals. Fexibility is a must in today's world.
Hi Greg,
Is it possible to break down the different segments of accounting so she can see how she can acquire the knowledge and skills needed for each segment. This way she doesn't have to see the course entirely. I use this a lot for students that feel overwhelmed. By showing them they can accomplish certain segments their self confidence grows. Also, show her how far she has come in the course even if it is only a little way. Seeing progress is also a confidence builder.
Hope some of these suggestions helps her become successful in the course.
Gary
