Hello Patricia,
Your facing a tremendous amount of challenges. It sounds like you have a positive approach to a negative situation. I am sure the students are very thankful that you have taken the time to consider these disadvantages when teaching them. It will show how much you care. My students always tell me they can tell how much I care about them, and I really do.
Hi Patsy,
This tactic works beautifully with the quiz. I let them know if they miss a quiz they are unable to make it up.
Patricia
Our school is located in a low-income area. We have to take into consideration different life challenges, such as no child care, no transportation and lack of funds. We also have to face the fact that some of our students went through school systems that may not have been conducive to learning, as in unsafe or academically lackluster. Thier experiences with school have been mostly negetive and we not only have to teach the subject matter, but also reteach how to be accountable, motivated and trusting.
Students with previous experience in the medical feild. I have used students as team leaders in the clinical lab once they have performed the skill correctly more than once. They seem to enjoy the aspect of showing others how to complete a task while I work with those students who are struggling.
I find students who are constantly tardy and/or absent from class to be challenging. Stating classroom rules and giving them responsiblity for punctuality has helped. Also, I have announced quizzes will be given at the beginning or the end of class.
Hi Rebecca,
Don't direct the discussion to one student. Every student should be involved.
Patricia
Resently I have found the outspoken student to be the challenging. She was quick witted and focused on up-staging the instructor. I tried to give her more attention by directing the discussion to her. this back-fired as her complaint resonated with the students and everyone joined in the " our school is the problem" chaos.
How e;se could I have handled situtation?
rebecca Whittaker
Hi Beth,
Wow, you are certainly maintaining your professionalism. She refuses to do as told. Grade her accordingly and don't feel guilty. She has to learn how to follow instructions. In the workplace it is not going to be her way always.
Patricia
I am experiencing a strange and challenging dialog with a student currently. She is using MLA format and the school requires APA format to be used. She is insistent that she is using APA and is unwilling to look at the websites and resources that I have provided her with to show her what proper APA formatting looks like.
I have not encountered a student like this in quite a while and I am just remaining pleasant and I am continuing to provide her with resources to help her despite her unwillingness to receive them.
I guess I do feel fortunate that I don't encounter unteachable students very often!
Beth Stewart
Hi Stephen,
You're right. These students do fit into different categories, and you handle them well.
Patricia
Hi Teague,
You bet, the Top Gun normally gets results. You did the right thing to get higher authority involved.
Patricia
My most challenging students are those who constantly talk about non class events during class instead of working on their projects.
Truthfully, I have tried speaking to them in class, pulling them aside and asking them what the problem might be and if I could help, and still had little luck in changing the situation. I would get, "Everything is fine."
Finally, when I asked my chair to come to my class to discuss the matter w/ me, things changed. We didn't have to speak to the student and the student seemed to know I was talking over the problem w/ my supervisor.
Sometimes calling in the Top Gun helps.
I find that my most challenging students are the center stage students. I kind of categorize them into a couple main groups: Disruptive center stage (jokes, off topic comments, socializing during lectures) and Know-it-all center stage (the been there done that). I approach each quite differently.
The Know-it-all actually can be utilized as a way to discuss relevency to the industry. It's a great way to involve many students in a discussion. I like using their comments as a way to either reinforce information or possibly disspell incorrect information that constantly circulates.
The Disruptive center stage usually commands a different approach. The first step is normally a private "heart to heart". If the behavior ceases, all is good. If the behavior continues, I usually approach this similar to the lesson's recomendation. I state to the individual that he cannot talk unless he raises his hand and I recognize him! It takes one or two reminders for this to sink in but normally controls the situation. I will keep this up for a couple of days and pretty soon the disruptive student becomes a normal, cooperative individual.
Hi Eli,
Absolutely! An employer will not tolerate this type of behavior, and it should be made known to the student.
Patricia
Hello Eli,
You handled it very tactfully. I am sure you got your point across. Great job!
Patricia
Hello William,
Do not put up with their rudeness. Get higher authoring involved, such as the academic dean or the director.
Patricia
You're using an "avoidance" type of class management style. May I suggest one-on-one conversations with these "blame-shifter" students explaining that this type of behavior is unacceptable in your classroom and in the professional working world.
Frankly, my most challenging students are the ones who are blame-shifters to the point of being rude. I am surprised there has not been more discussion of this. While the exception, thankfully, these students affect me deeply.
My strategy has been one of restraint, but I know that is not very effective.
Any better suggestions?
I did have a student in a recent class make an inappropriate reference to an ethnic group - I think he thought that he was being funny and a couple of other students did laugh. I looked at him directly - for longer than the usual 2-3 seconds... since I was trying to make a point... and said to him "I know that you have had some terrible experiences which most of us in this class cannot even imagine" (he is a war veteran) and I continued to say that I expected "respectful dialogue in my classroom and that that was over the top." THAT was a tough situation!
Hi Eli,
I understand! You try to make the atmosphere a little less tense. Humor is great!
Patricia
