I have a tough one. This student is angry about everything in her life. We spend a great deal of class time listening to her anger over family, boyfriend issues, bills, medical issues. It just goes on and on, not to mention her anger over the school and previous instructors. I try to stear the class but it seems she has the reins on a regular basis. My program chair is aware and just says to work with her but this is so unfair to the rest of my class who look to me to control it. How do I take the control back and keep it?
Hi Mary,
Listening is key! It is always good to have this conversation with the angry student in a private setting as you have done.
Patricia
I've found that anger at the class or the school spreads very easily if an angry student is allowed to keep verbalizing their opinions. I believe the student should be taken away from others to discuss the problems. If the discontent has spread to many people, having a discussion with as many people as possible at the same time has helped. Sometimes they just want to be heard.
Jackie White
I separate the student from the rest of the class. Discontent breeds more discontent until a mob forms. I usually ask another instructor to join us,this protects me and keeps the student from acting out loudly or physically. Then I listen for the main reason of the anger. I can usually direct the student to a resource that will help them because usually the root cause is not my class but an outside influence. If it is from my class, I ask for written clarification so I can take action.
Hi Joe,
Great advice! I also handle this student behind closed doors, and I simply listen to the student. Generally, just by listening this calms the student.
Patricia
I listen to a student and always do this away from the rest of the class. Most of the complaints I have turn out to be personal problems that get in the way of focusing on learning.
Well first and foremost taking a student away from the rest of the group is allways best. once he is separated then you can begin with the process of trying to understand what he is thinking that made him angry in the first place. many a times we deal with an angry or for that matter any negative behaving a student has with a form of punishment rather than getting to the root of the problem. STEP ONE:find out what is his negative thinking . STEP TWO: redirect his thinking positivly so he will then feel different about what he was angry about. STEP THREE:Observe his behaviour to see if has changed in a positive note. most of the time it works for me but keeping in mind that you can't win them all.
Back off and give plenty of physical space...do not corner the angry student in a place you or he/she cannot get out of or away. Then say, "You seem very upset. Tell me about what you are so angry about." Listen.
Hi Rose,
How do you help if it is a personal matter? I understand exactly what you are talking about.
Patricia
I try to speak to that student on a one on one basis to try and discover the source of the anger. Often it has nothing to do with class but involves some personal matter.
I agree 100%. Sometimes less is more and the students may just need to vent. The less you say, the student usually will just feel better after getting it out in the open. Most of the time it is not even about your class.
Hi Elizabeth,
What a great strategy! I can fully understand how this will work.
Patricia
Listen and help them try and figure it out.
Is anger their reaction to everything?
Are they in pain--physical or mental?
Have they been getting enough sleep.
all of these things contribute to a person blowing things out of proportion.
One strategy that I have found effective with students and even with forensic clients, is to lower my voice. The louder they get, the softer my voice gets. They have to quiet down to here what I am saying. It is hard to keep yelling at someone quietly whispering.
I try to use this approach often because I have a small class . Sometimes my other students will help divert the anger
James,
It is important (as you mentioned) to get the angry student away from other students. Just like laughter can be contagious, so can anger!
Hello Instructor Scales,
I would listen to the student first to see what it is that is on his/her mind.
Hi Wendy,
It is good to know that you are very understanding and will allow for tutoring if the student has to miss class time.
Patricia
I agree with your response and also try to engage the student as soon as possible on a one-on-one basis. To do this, I may break the class and speak with the student individually to understand the nature of the anger and attempt to address the students needs quickly. This may involve other resources within the school or community. While I never want a student to miss classtime, if the situation needs immediate attention, I would offer individual tutoring regarding material they may miss to allow them to leave class for the day.
I believe in dealing with an angry student that communication should be the primary focal point. Usually, a student becomes irate when they don't understand something, either the grades or the course work, or even maybe being scared of failing.
Well, I always try to listen with an open mind. Often I will respond with "I understand your frustation, but ....." this most often softens the student and lets them understand that we do care. I like the idea of taking notes while listening, but it could be construed as NOT listening also.
