Center of attention
Managing those students who want to be the center of attraction. They seem to have all of the answers but they are wrong answers. This had been a problem for my other students with the compliants, until I got a handle on this situation.
Hi Mamie,
Center-stage students will take over if you allow them to do so. The instructor has to tactfully take the floor back from the center- stage student.
Patricia
In every class, it never fails, I have a student that needs the floor at all times :) I encourage my students to express themselves, but not at the cost of other students learning. Whenever the center of attraction students are continuously speaking on a topic, I'll ask another student their opinion, just to bring the class back to the question at hand. That always seems to help.
M. Allen
Hi Allan,
These type of students must be kept busy. As mentioned there are many things that they can help with. I like to make them my assistant in the classroom, especially helping weak students.
Patricia
These are great suggestions. I have had students overly eager "centers of attention" and I find it effective to put them to work. They usually want to succeed in tasks that I give them to do like passing out papers, having students sign the attendance forms, straighten up at the end of class and anything else that comes to mind.
Hi Louis,
Great tips! I have seen these tips to be proven to be very effective.
Patricia
I have several students like this. The tips presented in this course work well as I have tried them:
-Use an object (straws, cards, even plastic coins) and each time a student answers a question or offers input take one away. Once the student has no more of the objects they are finished with input for the course period that day. This has the added benefit of drawing in the non-talkers to provide input.
-I have used eye contact. I will ask a question and focus eye contact on students who have not given lots of input. I try to vary eye contact so I am not continuously focusing on the "centers of attention."
-Have the "centers of attention" become group leaders who MUST seek input from their group members and summarize and offer it.
I think it is matter of using the "centers of attention" and diluting their enthusiasm by having them spread it to the rest of the class.
can you tell me some of examples? I have a few of them in class
