I try to determine if the conversation is relevant to the class material or not. If it is about the class, I ask them to bring the discussion to the whole group since others may have similar thoughts/concerns. If it is clearly unrelated, I will usually address it first with a request to re-focus given with a smile. Then I may stay near the group for awhile. If the problem continues, I will usually meet with the key students one-on-one. Often there is one person who is the instigator and others are too timid to tell them to be quiet.
I ask them if they have a question first time, second time I walk back with my marker and tell them to go and teach the material. I express to them, that they must already know the content of today's lecture and don't need to pay attention. The chatter and side conversations stop with all my students.
Hi Yvonne,
I concur! I really like how you make this situation applicable to the real world. In your response, you are being very fair to the student before doing something very hard, such as removing the student from class.
Patricia
Try talking to them after or before class. Remind them that they are wasting not only their time but their classmates time. Also, remind them that they will be asked to leave the class if they refuse to show respect to others. You may want to remind them that an employer will not accept this type of behavior and part of their learning is preparing them for the "real" world.
i try to immediately establish an environment of respect, that we are all adults in the room, and that all of them are paying to be here. this means that it is really their classroom, and it's up to them to maintain the type of room they want. occasionally i am asked if we "have to" go over some material or another. i tell them that, in fact, no, we don't have to go over anything. i already know the material and so if they do too, i can give them the test and we can all go home. i have yet to have real takers on that idea. :)
I have had the same problem. All that worked for me was calling them out on their chatter and getting pretty loud. I have found if you do not make an example out of one or two of the "problem students" from the get go, others will follow. In my classroom sometimes I feel like I am in a circus and nobody has assumed the role of ring leader yet on the first day. I make sure that in those first few class periods, I assume the role and make it quite clear. Maybe not the most professional way to handle the problem (feel like I am teaching grade school), but it works. You can't be afraid to throw a few of them out of the classroom if it gets that bad. Good Luck, don't know how much this will help!
