Yes, Positive reinforcement is definitely essential to student growth experience.
I agree that showing you care and that you have confidence in the student's ability to succeed will give a student the impetus to succeed. My most challenging students have also been those who do not appear to care. I teach at a career college so most students have families and jobs that impact heavily on their lives. These usually feel overwhelmed and think they cannot succeed. I try to help them understand that they can succeed and I will work with them to support their mastery of the subject material.
Hi Sandra,
Impacting someone's life, is better than our monthly salary. It is so heartwarming when you have made an absolute positive difference in a student's life.
Patricia Scales
One challenging student I encountered had slipped
into some bad personal habits such as being
absent or tardy. Once she became interested in her
field of study which was Accounting she graduated
on time.
J. E. Wright
I agree with this statement as well. Sometimes all they need is a shoulder to lean on and an open mind who will listen to their problems.
I agree. My worst student saw me as not only her guide, but also as a friend. It completely turned her life around. Helping a student change their life is rewarding for an instructor.
Hi Michael,
All students love to be paid attention to. Some students need more attention than others, and I always make it a point to get to class early or stay late to chit chat with my students who need more attention.
Patricia Scales
I have had great success by giving one on one attention to challenging students. Many students don't feel engaged in the class and therefore feel bored and tend to become part of that 10% who are "just there for the credit" By focusing on them and making yourself assessable to them I have found they tend to participate more and usually end up engaged and starting getting knowledge and not just the credit from the course.
Hi J,
Challenging students must be kept busy. Then tend to be less challenging when they have a leadership role or when they are kept busy.
Patricia Scales
I also have found that one n one interaction
is an effective wy to identify challenging
students.
J. E. Wright
I believe you can identify challenging students
by creating an activity that will allow the
students to work in groups and monitor the
work of each group.
J. E. Wright
I find my most challenging students are the ones who either "know it already" or knows someone who knows someone who "knows it all too".
I personally pull these students aside and address it with them personally and explain why this can be confusing or a problem with the learning environment with the other students.
I have had a few students like you have described and discovered also that if the there is one on one interaction with them that it helps draw the student out.
The students who are the most challenging for me are the ones that are always wanting to be the center of attention and wants to be the one has the answer first during open discussion on the content being tuaght. I have found that talking to the student privately and explaining to them that I need their help in letting other students answer so that I can evaluate the other students on their comprehension of the material being discussed. I have found this to work very well.
Hi Jessica,
Continue to do what you are doing. We have to be our students biggest cheerleader!
Patricia Scales
Right now, I do not have any behavioral issues with any of my stuednts in the high schooll or college setting. I do however have stuednts who are not very motivated although they are very smart. I would love to know some ways besides the ones in the presentation to help these students want to do well for themselves. They need a little spark. I have a great rapport with them already and stay on top of them about what they need to do on a daily basis, but actually taking my advice is ultimately up to them. Any ideas?
Hi Jocelyn,
I tell every new instructor do not ever tell students you are new, most will know you are because they have never seen you. Make your presence strong and be thoroughly prepared each day so that you will make a great impression on students.
Patricia Scales
My most challenging students as a new instructor were those that continued to challenge me because I was a new theory instructor and my professional experience. The statement was made that "those who can - work, those who can't - teach". Strategies: I reiterated by professional experience, over 30 yeatrs in nursing as LVN and RN/BSN and my various areas of concentration.
After the first day, I became even more prepared - read the syllabus, answered questions given to them -- became the student and instructor. Made a list of what I needed to go over. I prepared thoroughly. I was also honest with them. If I didn't know the answer, I said so.
I let the students know we are here to help them with problems they may be having in class. I also let them know if outside influences are affecting class that we can help them figure out a solution to that.
The first thing I like to try with a difficult student is to acknowledge outloud that we all have good days and bad days where we are on task. Then I explain that I appreciate the extra effort to be responsible and respectful to turn a bad day into a good one. I describe what a good day looks like in the classroom and that the other students are expecting everyone that extra effort for everyone's benefit. Then I will describe what is the next step if it becomes my problem that I have to solve.
