Get Your Students Hired
I have worked in the educational setting for several years. I have worked in the elementary and secondary settings. One may ask, What does that have to do with the college level? Remember we have students who have just come out of high school and they still think that this is high school. I had a similar situation where I had a student in the hallway who was causing the distraction. I had to keep the door open for airflow. I could not see that distracting student. I observed my students's behavior in my classroom. I could see that they were not focused on the lesson. Then I went to see if anyone was in the hallway. Sure enough that distracting student was there. I made eye contact with this distracting student and then I ask that student, if they needed any help. That student left. I went back to my lesson. That distracting student returned(not too smart!) How did I know that the distracting student returned by the attention of my class. I went out in the hallway again and I asked the student for their name. The distracting student left & they didn't return. I, also, informed the administration of the situation, so that they are aware of the problem, too.
Stay calm and listen to what the student has to say.When the student has finished talking you may give your input to the student.
A way for me to manage an angry student is to ask that student for some time either before or after class and ask questions. Once I am able to converse with the student I can then listen for their reasons for anger. I find that acknowledging the fact that they are angry and then proposing a solution may be of help.
Gary Piontkowski
Hi Nancy,
I understand! You just simply do the best you can based on what you have to work with.
Patricia
While keeping the door closed would definitely be a solution, the way the room is designed closig the door makes the room very warm thereby
making the students very sleepy. There really is no happy medium in this situation because it's either keep the door open for airflow and risk the distractions in the hallway, or close the door and have the students fall asleep.
Take time to "hear" what the complaint is. Verbally work through the situation to determine if the student has a viable complaint or if they are just angry about the situation.
Hi Nancy,
You simply did not know. It is not much you could have done on your part based on the unknown. I always keep my classroom door closed to minimize distratctions. You may want to try keep the door closed just for future reference.
Patricia
Always listen to their problem and always speak in a respectful, gentle, and, understanding tone when speaking back to them.
Anger is not always bestowed upon the teacher. Just hired at my current place of employment, I had an incident which involved two students in the classroom and, apparently, another person out in the hallway. As the way the classroom was designed, I did not see the 3rd person who was also antagonizing the situation to the point that two of students physically went for each other in the classroom; one of the students was the one in the hallway who suddenly charged into my room. The second person involved in the classroom jumped up from their seat and started to head for the melee; apparently, the person from the hallway was a sibling. Ending result was I needed to have the police called to the classroom. So, the question becomes, while I focusing on what was going on in the classroom, how could I have prevented this situation from escalating when there was an unknown element involved, the student in the hallway?
I was confronted with an angry student in the hospital, in a hallway by the cafeteria. She asked if she could ask me a question? Thinking it was about being able to attend a special class being offered, I was completely caught off guard by her accusations and vehemence. Fortunately, I did listen to her and found out many things that she had been doing, which were not sanctioned in the hospital or by the school. I sent her to the class, 'to cool off', but wish I had requested she write down her complaints so that we could have resolved some of the issues. It might have helped her to see things in a different light and let her know I was interested in her concerns. It was the last day of the term, so the problems ended up being handled by the administration at school. I was totally unprepared for this situation. I see how explaining I would like to work with the student to "reach a positive and constructive solution" would acknowledge their concerns, as would my 'note taking', as they are stating their case. I think it would validate their right to complain although I don't have to agree with their conclusions. The student possibly thought I was trying to end the discussion when I sent her to the class. The class was beginning and I didn't want her to miss the first part or disrupt the class coming in late. I appreciate the suggestions discussed in this section & will try 'to be prepared' for any further encounters, such as the above.
I often find that an angry student's real concern or issue may not be what they are expressing to be the source of their anger. I listen and usually we are able to at least begin to address their concern or issue. I also think that making a student feel that you are concerned about them and their issue really helps
Hi Melissa,
I agree! Listening is key! Sometimes just letting students vent solves the problem. I also like to relate the situation from an employer's perspective.
Patricia
Hi Helen,
This student needs to be taken to higher personnel and spoken to very firmly and in a matter-of-fact way. This type of behavior would not be tolerated in the workplace.
Patricia
Hi Doris,
I clearly see how this method can work. Students like to know that someone is willing to help them as well as listen to them. Great tactic to utilize.
Patricia
You have said exactly what I would say and what I do in this situation. I haven't had to involve the dean except in one situation where the student was also high on drugs and wouldn't calm down. Usually I can diffuse them and turn their day around into the positive.
Having worked in the medical field for many years, one of the things that worked for me as an office manager as I handled medical complaints was to tell the patient I had not had the privilege of helping them yet (to resolve their problems). This, coupled with listening attentively with appropriate body language responses, went a long way to diffusing a situation. Patients were able to relate to someone who could offer a new perspective. My goal was to resolve the issue in a manner that had not been attempted in the past, if at all. I use this same discussion with students . . . that I have not had the privilege of helping yet . . . and I listen and help in any way I can. Follow through builds trust and breaks down barriers. Often the angry student just wants to be heard!
How would you deal with such a student? What would you say? This is a student who is very strong academically, in fact a "brainiac". When I did invite her to talk after class, she did not take me up on it. She just thinks she knows more than the instructor, and my guess is, she feels superior to most of the other students as well.In our state it is very difficult to gain admission to a BSN program, which was probably this student's first choice, rather than our career college program. This does not excuse her hostility, just some background. Thanks for any help you can offer- this student's hostile remarks are random, none lately, but one never knows....
Hello Ms Scales,
When I''m confronted by an angry student-I usually pause and listen...that has been the best strategy for me thus far.
Having an angry student is a hard situation to be in. I think that it is important to let the student speak their mind in a professional way. With that being said, I also think it is important to try to isolate the student from the other students in the class. I would explain to the student that what they are wanting to share is important, but the classroom is not an appropriate outlet to vent frustrations. When speaking to the student, I would review policy and procedures that are relevant to the complaint. Following the policy is going to allow for you to give clear explanation, but listening allows for the student to feel like you care enough to listen and offer some applicable solutions.