My most challenging students are those who do not read the Addendum to my syllabus even when I call attention (I do not stand there and read it) to important items such as cell phone usage, texting and walking in and out of class. My strategy for these issues:
1) I prohibit cell phone/texting in class, but I do add the comment that, if a student is expecting an emergency call, they should let me know--they can keep their phone on vibrate--and when it comes in, they can leave the classroom to answer the call.
2) If a student walks out of my class without explanation, I stop them at the door by asking where they are going and why. This is, of course, outside of the usual bathroom break which students receive every 50 minutes.Usually this behavior is correct by the second occasion.
We have a student that can not even add 8+3 but we are told to keep failing her and she will just be a SAP issue. So I find that extremely difficult
In my time teaching, the most challenging students are the ones who sit in the back of the classroom and talk on cell phones, text, and look at pictures on their phones. There are also those who whisper/chat in the back of the room. The most effective ways of working with them are to ask them to stop. If the problems persist, I talk to them one-on-one and explain the policies, tell them that they are disrupting the rest of the class, and I may even go so far as to threaten the professionalism portion of their grades. If the problem is still not resolved, I hand the students over to the department chairperson.
I have students who need "pep talks" because their self-esteem and self-confidence is low. They need to hear they are doing well, or to know someone cares enough to listen. I always encourage students to come to me when they are feeling defeated. I can help tutor them or direct them to their instructor, or I can be there just to vent.
The students know I have an open-door policy. They are respectful of my time and will schedule a time to meet with me if I am busy.
Thank you Patricia. Today we have an All Staff Meeting and I will bring it up.
Hi Michelle,
I know this has to be tough. You may want to try the basket idea. Have a basket at the door, and the students are to drop their phone in the basket daily and retrieve it during break or when it is time to leave. Your institution should also look into adopting a cell phone policy.
Patricia
I wish we had a policy were we could tell students to power out their cellphones and the consequence been taking them away or just simply at the beggining of the class lock it up in a drawer.
I tell all my students to put them in their bags and doesn't work.
This is one thing driving me crazy because they feel having their cellphone is their right.
Only for test I have succeed in having cellphones away and have been able to pinpoint which ones are playing with them.
This is a good protocol. I will take you on this one.
I'm a new instructor ( 1 year teaching) and I have not found a way for dealing with my center satge students.
Mi most challenging students have always been the younger ones. They expect you to give them everything and not be accountable for what they miss.
I repeat a lot in my class that they are the only ones that are damaging their education by not been on time with class work and mainly when they see a letter grade that they don't like.
Always encourage them that they can do it and pay close attention to them.
Hi Melissa,
I like how you let your students voice their opinions, but you let them know what the differences are. I am sure your students gain a better understanding based on the explanation of the three different concepts.
Patricia
Hi Billy,
You need to use a rubric to help you with those whole grading situation. Standards have to be set when it comes to grading and all papers are graded the same. There are some students who are very hard workers, but they do not produce "A" quality work, therefore they should not be GIVEN an A just because they work hard.
Patricia
It helps me to know what kind of work constitutes a certain grade which has been a point of confusion for me. If a student works very hard to improve their work, if the work is still not as good as another student's work, then which one deserves the higher grade?
Hi Billy,
Rubrics will certainly cut down on complaints/concerns from students. They see exactly why their grade is what it is.
Patricia
You know, in sharing student essays, we establish that rubric for each student. It is very helpful.
When dealing with some of my more challenging students, I have found patience an important part of teaching. I have noticed that because I love to teach, love the subjects that I am teaching, and enjoy my students that my professional image does alot to communicate to them I am thankful that I do not have many challenging students other than those students who bring cell phones and personal agenda into the class. I leave my personal life outside of the class and hold to the subject matter and task at hand.
I have found the comp lab and writinglab are great places for rough drafts. I am trying to teach writing is an ongoing process in which a deadline says that this is the final copy.
I do appreciate this suggestion. I have noticed that those least involved in the class physically distance themselves. I will move them forward in the class.
I am at the end of the quarter. I have finished the chapters in the textbook, and I have decided to turn the class time into a writer's workshop focusing on the writing of their last paper. Any thoughts on this?
I like these suggestions and will incorporate them into my next classes. Thank you.
My most challenging students have been those who come to class with their cell phones and send text messages while they are in class. At the same time and, since we are holding class in the computerlab, work on the web at unrelated activities. I asked them to stop, but they refused. Several of those students disrupt the presentation on the materials.
