I had an angry student who was disrupting class. At break time I listened to his concerns and that seemed enough to diffuse his anger. I also asked him to talk it over with me and the department chair if he still had concerns, but he refused. It seemed like letting him vent was enough.
When confronted with an angry student, I listen to what they have to say. Often we are encouraged to pull in another instructor as a witness for our protection. Many times, just letting them vent their issues helps them to diffuse their anger.
Pull student aside, listen, try to relate, present various solutions. I have found that just listening helps to calm the student while they vent. Also, pulling aside aleviates the feeling of other students watching or listening while they are "vulnerable".
I'll be asking the student to come with me and I will calm the student dowm, then I will listen to his/her problem and then i will try to find a solution that it's going to benefit the student, the class and the instructor.
I also think that the other students are watching the instructor to see how they handle the situation. If the instructor is cool and calmly handles the situation, the students have more respect for you. Most students feel angry students are just disrupting their learning time, and they don't want the drama.
Just as outlined in this section, I generally start by simply listening. Depending on the severity of the issue, I can either address the student on the spot, or make plans to speak with my Department Chair and the student at a future time.
I have found that when it comes to students angry with me (delivery of material, test questions, unfair grading...) a direct response from me seems to calm the situation, especially when I have the questioned material at hand (syllabus, rubric, assignment sheet, etc.).
On the other hand, when it comes to non-classroom related issues (financial aid, housing, school policies), the involvement of a Superior hasn't ever hurt. I believe that the inclusion of a Department Chair, or Dean, or Student Advocate lets the student know that I (we) take them seriously, and if the issue is real, it will be resolved.
I first try to contain the situation by asking them to discuss the issue either in private during a class break or come to my office during office hours to discuss the issue. I have also referred the student to rubrics to remind them of the criteria and a method of grading which is as objective as possible. Unfortunately, there has been, albeit extremely few, times I have had to warn the student that I will have them removed from the classroom by Security if they do not take time out to calm down. I also keep the head of my General Education Dept. fully assessed of a situation as students often go with their complaints to her and she needs to hear both sides.
Hi David,
Excellent advice given to your students! You made some great points in your response. Sometimes we simply just need to listen to our students.
Patricia
Hi Wendy,
Great ways you have indicated as to how to deal with angry students! These students want to be listened to and respected as well.
Patricia
listen to them, recognize and respect them.
dont let them blame others have them write down their issue and discuss it with them ask them for a solution or get a mediator
Confrontation is the wrong word to focus on at the time. Listening is the better option to difuse the situation and then delay solution if it is not easily resolved to the break or the end of the class.
If timing is critical, you must deal right away with the situation.
I will always want to immediately find out what is going on with that student. I will take them away from the other students ususally to the oddice ans sometimes with a colleague to let them talk. I find once they have been allowed to express themselves and be heard it helps immeasurably.
Most of my angry student are angry at their fellow students. A confrontation may arise and normally it's the angry student I have to remove from the situation. Allowing him/her to vent and letting them know I understand their frustration normally calms the situation. I also find that angry students have outside conflicts that they bring to the class. During one on one discussion they almost always divuldge the information. I let them know that when they come to school, it is supposed to be an activity to improve their lives and when they walk in the door, that's where their problems should stay. I also let them know that they are adults, and they've made a descision to come to school. All the descisions they make have consequences, whether positive or negative. Once they know I know about their problems, they seem to take it down a notch.
Hi Althea,
Absolutley! As educators, we must be effective listeners. We should not generalize.
Patricia
Hi Kurt,
I've been teaching for 21 years, and I remember two ocassions where students were very angry. I simply let the students talk, and I listened. Both students talked at length before I ever commented, and I noticed when I commented the students anger was diffuse from them talking. We must be great listeners.
Patricia
I have rarely had a student that was so angry or combative that I had to remove them from the class. The one that sticks out in my mind had forgotten to take his medication that morning. What I had to do with him was to calmly ask him out to the hall and let him vent his anger. I then suggested that he visit our managers so that we could work together to make his time at school easier to manage. In the end, we had a happy ending.
With respect, the third sentence is a blanket generalization. I believe that angry students are served best by our listening to what they have to communicate, not by assuming we know their history.
When confronted by an angry student, I first listen and then re-state their statements - Using a calm, caring tone of voice helps settle the student down so that the real issue can be addresses
If we encounter an angry student usually we will remove them from class and get them into a room where we can talk to them one on one and find out what the real problem is
You should try to separate the student from the rest of the class. I try to have him and I sit down and let him speak and listen to him.Listening and taking notes helps validate and calm him down.Hear his solution and then offer yours. If he becomes insulting wait for a pause and then get out and ask for assistance.
Carlos
