Hi Elizabeth,
We are who we are! To be a center stager is certainly not a bad thing. As educators, most of the time we are definitely the center of attention. It is the nature of the profession.
Patricia
It is interesting because as I was reading this material I look back and see that a was a center-stager. I still am!
As a teacher I even have to remember that I don't have to be the center of every lecture.
Hi Dawn,
You have it! You can forget if you think you can sart off easy/lenient and get tough. Remember, we get from students what we expect. Make students raise to the bar.
Patricia
I encourage instructors to start off clear, and specific in their addendums..If you start off tough, you are always able to get easier, but very difficult to get "tougher" as the quarter goes on.
Hi Joanna,
You need to have a firm, yet professional conversation with this young lady. The Director of Education should act as the mediator and give recommendations based on the flow of the conversation.
Patricia
In my short teaching career, I have not had a disruptive student, but inattentive ones from time to time. I like the technique of walking over to their area while conducting the class. I can see how that would be very effective.
I found this topic very interesting because I am currently encountering a challenging student. She is constantly blurting out questions; even before the topic has been fully introduced. She has become a disturbance to other students in the class and has multiple questions about issues that are clearly understood by all the rest the students. Furthermore, she needs clarification more than one time after recieving the response. So far, I have not had any success in changing her ability to wait for further instructions until after the lecture. She seems to need immediate follow up or else she becomes discouraged really fast. Any ideas on how to proceed?
Hi William,
I like your approach! You make it known up front that you are not going to tolerate the nonsense. I am sure most students get your drift. Sometimes you have to be harsh, such as dismissing a student to let them know that you are in control, and you are not going to let one bad apple spoil the whole bunch.
Patricia
Hi Terry,
It is harsh! There are times though where it is necessary. I've done it, and it has made better students of these disruptive students. Some students must be put in their place.
Patricia
Hi Patricia,
This seems a bit harsh and counter-productive, at lease for college students. I agree that it is not appropriate to permit behavior that disrupts the learning environment for the other students. If I tell an adult, even one that has been out of high school for only a year or two, they are being sent home, I feel it would harm, possible irreparably, any chance to teach that student.
Terry
Hi, Patricia:
I am very up front with my students. I find that if you present a "stern, yet loving" side at the beginning, most students will respect you. Those that don't will be quietly pulled aside without the knowledge of other students and I will try to get at the heart of the matter. If reason doesn't work, I do what I must to keep order in the classroom. I have given two ultimatums on two different occasions to leave the classroom. One student was so amazed that I did it, she stayed and became much more complacent; the other left and eventually failed the course.
Bill
We have talkers in our classroom. The issue has been addressed, but what we've found to be affective is to separate the two talkers and have them sit elsewhere especially during a test or quiz. Assigned seating is essential so as not to disrupt the rest of the class.
Hi Sue,
You can also make a sacrificial lamb out of one of the students the next time they become disruptive, by sending them home for the day. I know the student will miss instructional time, but it is not fair to those who really and truly want to learn to be distracted.
Patricia
I find inattentive students the most challenging when they are disrupting the class by talking to one another. Walking over towards them usually gets their attention enough to stop the chatter at the time, but they usually start up again later in the class. I've tried talking to particular students during break but that's also only stopped the chatter for a while. I haven't really found an effective long-term solution but after reading what others have tried, my next approach will be to try rearranged seating. I was avoiding assigned seating because it seemed so grade-school and it impacts the whole class but the whole class is disrupted by immature, chatting students anyway so it's worth a shot.
Hi Ana,
You certainly have to keep this student busy and make them feel like they are important. A firm, professional conversation works well with this type of student too. As long as the student feels needed he/she normally will be fine.
Patricia
The center stage student is giving me a hard time in one of my classes right now. I have been effective with the inattentive students and feel comfortable with these types of students. I am going to implement either the cards or assigning this student as the observer. In our last class I felt myself very close to losing control over the class due to this particular students need to be center stage.
The most challenging students that I teach are in the front of the house portion of the Restautrant Practicum. These students are the ones who are literally shaking because they are out of their comfort zone. However their actions can come across as almost confrontational thru passive aggressive behavior covering their lack of self confidence. When I have identified these students I talk to them individualy or in small groups about the reasons they go out to eat. This reflection gives the students a base to which they can relate and ease some of the anxieties.
Students that are disruptive in post conference. I plan to incoroprate some of the strategies discussed in Module 2. I do allow everyone time to give input. However, some students talk longer than others .Perhaps the disruptive students are annoyed with this. I plan to hand out several cards to each students, like the strategy that was discussed in Module 2.
Mariann U
Students that are disruptive in post conference. I plan to incoroprate some of the strategies discussed in Module 2. I do allow everyone time to give input. However, some students talk longer than others .Perhaps the disruptive students are annoyed with this. I plan to hand out several cards to each students, like the strategy that was discussed in Module 2.
Mariann U
TO understand challenging students, I address any concerns on the first day of class, letting them know that I have a profound interest in their success and that whatever challenges they may have, I will not judge them, but lend a listening ear. I have found that being open and honest with them, opens the channel of communication, and all problems and/or challenges can be fixed with communication. I also share with them their consequences of not meeting their personal resposibility while in class. This gives them a broader perspective on their resposibilities and their actions.
