stayin positive
how can an instructor seperate the home life and things that may go on there from the work they do in the class room setting?
Provide a safe place for the student to learn. This is more than just in a physical sense, but a classroom where a student can freely express himself, be heard and not judged. And to explore a different way of thinking than that which is in the home.
Sara,
Good point. Sometimes students need refuge from their life challenges and school can be it. Not only is it a break for them they are also working toward their career goals.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I tell students to use school as a mini vacation from all the issues that they may have.
I have learned to stay positive myself and it is not an easy task. It is easier to thing "what if or why" than to let it go. I like being told to take in the thought give it the second it needs and say I will address you later in your mind. That way you are giving the "ego" the attention it needs, and still able to focuse on the task at hand. To ask people to leave their worries at the door doesn't always work, but to tell them how to deal with thoughts that pop up helps to give them a new tool to use in everyday life situations so that they can remain positive. I have noticed the more positive I stay t he more positive aspects I see. So remember it is our choice to stay positive. The mind is a powerful tool.
Well I hope you don't mind but I might have to steal that. I have been told I am not sympathtic and it's true. If a problem is causing issues in a students preformance, I refer them to student services.
Seperating home life and the things at work is very hard,but remembering that we are all human and human are not perfect,therefore,I personally just take one day at a time.First I have to look at things on the bright side.There's always light at end of the tunnel.
Anthony,
So sad to hear of the tragedies that your faculty, students and college have experienced. You helped your students to cope with what was going on around them so they could personally sort through their emotions and keep moving forward with their career goals. This is am important part of teaching and I commend you for your efforts.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I like that idea. I used something similar to that during my last weeklong class. The day the class started stateside, we had one of our faculty deployed to Afghanistan and he was killed (assassinated) at his work location. A couple of days later, our senior A/V guy died of heart failure. I discussed both incidents with the learners so they would understand the emotions within the school by our faculty and support personnel. Additionally, I rearranged one day's lessons so that we could attend a memorial service for four crewmembers from our base that perished in their plane during a mission in Africa. A lot went on that week, but we were able to compartmentalize it and move on.
Kisha,
Not sure this is always possible since the home life situations may impact the health and safety of some students. I try to get a "read" on students and let them know I am there to support their learning efforts. As I get to know them I bring in resources or do referrals to appropriate agencies if they need help with their home life. This helps them to "check" some of their issues at the classroom door and start to focus on the classroom as being a safe and comfortable place to escape their situations for a few hours.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Billie Kay,
Good strategy for instructors to use. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
One technique I use to help students who seem to be burdened down with outside concerns is to ask them to visualize putting their problems in a suitcase and leaving it at the door of the school. Then when they walk in, they know that they will still be able to attend to home concerns--they will not go away. But they don't have to think about those concerns while in the school. I also tell students to consider the school as their sanctuary where all those outside worries don't get to intrude on what they are doing inside the building.
