stopping a Quitting Student
I have from time to time had to help a student out of the idea that a course is too hard, so he/she does not leave the class. Most of the time, just by letting the student know you will help/tutor or be there for them makes a world of difference.
I wish that would work for most students, but it all depends how they were raised and if they are use to giving up.
Hello Quintin, Being a student can be a very scarry thing. A million demands are made on them and because of this the fight or flight action can come into play. Put aside all the academic requirements of the school that we have to fullfill - the main reason I am here is to teach and share my experience in my field of study. The best way I have found is to care and as you said be there for the student. Who knows what they can achieve if they just decide to fight all the forces trying to cause them to quit. Have a great day! Jim G.
Indeed the teacher and mostly the student want to succeed in their classes. Our program is mostly hands on, and sometimes I encounter frustrated students.in this case I act as a counselor and explain that they are others ways to succeed in this industry. It is not necessary to have hands on to be successful, we also need people who manage and need to make decision to get a job done.Once the student is reassured,he/she will do better knowing that they are other avenues and will stay with the program.
Hi Kate,
Most students really do want to succeed! Whenever students know that we are willing to help them get caught up, tutor them, etc. the student will hang in there. We have to let the students know that we are there for them.
Patricia
I have had several students decide to quit and have sent an email to "give up." I try and speak with the student immediately. Listening to their situation and frustration is very important - they need to vent. I then try and repeat their message and provide a summary of what their concerns are regarding the course.
There have been times that I was not able to provide a solution --- it was either too late in the course or a personal matter that was keeping the student from being successful. When this happens I have followed up with a personal note wishing the student all the best and offering my help and assistance if in the future they decide they would like to try going back to school again.
Many times offering to give an extension for an assignment or providing a one on one tutoring session to answer questions is all that is needed. Often, just listening is the incentive a student needs to get the motivation to succeed.
Sometimes it's not the worst thing for a student to find out that a particular discipline is not for them
Hi Quintin,
You're right, and also simply by listening and giving the students some attention serve justice as well.
Patricia
It is amazing how little it takes to make a student feel as though there is hope. I am only a part time instructor and so I rarely have time to sit down and tutor my own students outside of class, but simply taking the time to walk that student to the office where tutoring is arranged or to ask how tutoring is going or how they are coping with more strenuous assignments has proved to greatly improve students' attitudes toward the class and toward their potential for success.
