Get Your Students Hired
How do you handle a disruptive student,and keep the other students on corse?
I agree with Ms. Scales, becoming silent and an unfriendly stare always does the job. Sometimes the other classmates will ask the student to be quiet as well.
Rosy
Whatever technique is chosen to resolve the problem should be utilized immediately. Once a student is identified as disruptive, the behavior should be addressed immediately. The longer it continues, the more other students will loose respect for the setting as well as the instructor. The instructor should be direct in their approach and follow progressive steps as indicated previously to the students. If not addressed, some students will follow suit and the class will be out of control. All of this should be addressed on the first day of class.
Hi Bret,
If a student is disruptive, I normally speak with the student...bottom line stating that the behavior has to change so that others can learn. If the student continues to be disruptive I remove the student from the class. Instructors and students should not have to tolerate disruptive behavior.
Patricia
Many times putting yourself physically near the disruptive student makes him or her uncomfortable and less likely to disrupt class again. The added pressure each time the behavior occurs is likely to change the behavior. If it does not, the other students are not being served by allowing that student to be in the class.
Hi William,
I love your rules! Continue to promote strong professionalism. Our students must be taught correctly.
Patricia
Hi Donna:
I use a similar method without the PowerPoint. In my first class of the semester I explain four "guidelines" for the class: 1. Only one person talking at a time and that is usually 2. Leave your "street language" outside the classromm door 3. I don't even want to see a cell phone 4. No eating in the classroom.
I also advise the students to not allow anyone to steal their education from them by sitting around students that talk during class.
Patricia,
Should I try the being silent first before removing the disruptive student? Hopefully the silent technique would work.
Susan
I guess your practice of being absolutely quiet when the student become disruptive is very effective. I am excited to use this method in my future encounter. Thanks.
Susan
In math, and I suspect in a basic writing class, it is often the case that there is a wide range of abilities, so keeping them all involved in your presentation is difficult, if not impossible. SO, don't try to do it. Make available activities or a list of problems that those who already KNOW what is being presented to the group can do independently.
In a skills application situation, like math or writing, the key is having the student working (with you or indedpendently) at the apporpriate level. That is, a level that is asking him/her to apply the skills that are known, but most importantly, be able to succeed at the task.
Structured and explained the right way, many groups of learners can be working (and succeeding) on different levels of material while the instructor is (directly) guiding one of the learning groups.
Kathryn, this is an area I am having trouble in this is some great advice I'm going to put it to use today.Thank you
I too seem to get thrown off track by disruptive students, I have not had great success with handling these situations. I will try the silent approach. Its amazing how 1 student that is disruptive can almost insite a riot.
Hi Debbie,
First and foremost the typical trend is this, how you behave in school is generally how you will behave on the job. This student needs to be dealt with swiftly and firmly. Administration needs to have a heart to heart with her. She will take these same bad habits with her on the job.
Patricia
Hi Steven,
A nice quiet chat is magical. It typically resolves the problem. Some students simply have to be put in their place.
Patricia
During every class I try to talk about how every step we do applies to the real world. I hold them to the same standard as students that an employer will as an employee. Comments under your breath aren't acceptable in the job force. If theres a problem you meet with your boss/instructor to discuss it before things get too off track. I've had pretty good luck with this so far.
In a small class of 4 I have one student who says
negative comments under her breath. I stop and ask directly if she has something to comment on. Usually she says nothing, and I continue. Sometimes I have noticed once she starts another student will comment, yeah, in agreement and then I stop and address the comments. The problem I have is students separating class from the real world, not
connecting habits formed in school translate to on-the-job (sometimes bad) habits. We are a trade school so there is a direct mechanical connection between school and job. Any comments on how to
handle "school is school and job is job"? Thanks, Debbie E.
I like this idea may have to make one. If and when it has happens I found that a nice quite chat with the student puts an end to it most times.
Hi Earl,
Students do get it whenever the instructor becomes silent and they are still talking. I also give a very unfriendly stare, they normally get this as well.
Patricia
I have had this to happen once in an adult class.
A group of four young students sat in the back of the class and carried on a quiet but annoying conversation.
I put an end to it by making a PowerPoint slide
that said in huge red lettering:
"Adult students do not interfere with the learning of other students!"
I projected the slide before any students entered
the room and waited until everyone was seated and
had read it. In a very calm but assertive tone,I simply said:
"If this applies to you, please listen carefully.
This should not even be necessary in an adult
level class. If I need to do this again, there
will be further action taken."
The students were very quiet after that.
After the class, some of the more serious students
said "Thank you for doing that!"