When I started teaching I forgot that if you give the students an inch they'll want a mile. Class control is easy to lose, but hard to get back. I learned how to maintain class control by trial and error.
Joe,
Certainly, use this mistake as a life lesson learned. I am sure your make it a point now to take full control of your classes.
Patricia
The biggest mistake was class control.
Hi Anthony,
I have a naturally loud voice. Loudness can serve as a plus for instructors. Sometimes students feel as though if an instructor is quiet, they can take advantage of the instructor. It is not always a good thing to befriend students. First, let them know you are their instructor, and everything else will fall in place.
Patricia
One of the biggest mistakes I've made when I started was, I was too quite so Mr. Herrmann took me aside and told me to be a little louder so I did, know you know who to thank.I alos was trying to be their friend not just an instructor.Tony
Hi Louis,
The separation has to be made between personal and professional. Students really do not care about our personal problems. They want to be taught, and I can not blame them.
Patricia
Hi Ronald,
I had just the opposite situation that occurred with me. I took a class with some students, and I taught those very same students in a different course, and the students gave me the utmost respect as usual. Remember, respect has to be earned. It is all in the way you present yourself. Even though you may take class with students, you need to always set yourself apart as being an instructor as well.
Patricia
Hi John,
Nicely addressed! The line has to be drawn. Thee are way to many educators that want to be their students friend first instead of being their teacher. As mentioned, it is fine to be friends with your student, but you must remember you are their teacher first.
Patricia
Hi Mike,
These are our children so to speak, and you are on point, we need to make it painless for others when a substitute (babysitter) is needed.
Patricia
Hi Steven,
The seasoned instructors gave the same advice as I give to a green instructor. You are on point, you are a teacher and not a dictator. Maybe things would have worked out for that particular student, if you knew then what you know now, but you do know it now, and I am sure you know how to handle these type of students today.
Patricia
The biggest mistake I have made in a class was to bring my home problems to the class and I believe now home issues should be left at home and work issues should be left out of the class room. How I avoid this now is I know what is presentible to class and what is not propper so I pass this knowledge to fellow instructors to not repeat mistakes.
The bigest mistake is sitting down and trying to take a class with students and then trying to get up and teach the class with young adults it is hard to get respect !!!!!!!!!!!!!
The mistake of trying to be their friend! I had many of the aforementioned situations occur,and classes were varying degrees of Hades for all concerned as I tried to fix things mid-way through each three week class. I eventually discovered that the best way to handle a class is to be friendly from the first day of class, but ensure they know where the line is that we do not cross. This way I am approachable but they know that I run the class. I agree with Patricia that "shooting staight" is best. Most students that i've dealt with over the years have stated that while they may not agree with me, they appreciate the fact that I "tell it like it is", and wish everyone else would do the same. It eliminates confusion and everyone knows where everyone else stands.
I try to coach struggling instructors on what has and has not worked for me over the years, with the understanding that each individual has to arrive at their own "best practices", as different personalities support different methods.
I feel that not setting the rules at the begining of the course is not only difficult on you but others that might have to cover your class.Also it will help other instructors follow your lead.
Before my first class I was advised by several seasoned instructors to set the rules and procedures first thing, after all you could always ease up later on. Well I over reacted and was way to strict and inflexible, more like a dictator than a teacher.
I remember there was a student in that class who was a challenging student for any instructor, very strong headed and rebelled and we butted heads. That student eventually left the class. At that point I was definetely questioning whether teaching was the right career choice for me.
Well ten years later I look back on that incident and realize how I could have handled that student differently. Being less emotional and confrontational may have gotten that student to come around and become successful in the class.
Hi Errol,
Just for future reference, always have extra materials, activities, assignments, etc. available, just in case you do finish what you had planned early. Finishing early with nothing left to be done can be looked upon as poor planning versus being over prepared.
Patricia
Being over prepared and finishing my lecture in less time than planned. Fortunately I was able to realize what I had done and I had planned for some hands on lab time the next day because I didn't think I would have time for the lab hands on that day, so I was able to use the lab time to fill in the time gap I had created by finishing up my lecture way early. I also realize that I had better slow it down or the 3 week block of time would be over in a couple of days, so I made a conscious effort to speak slower and incorporate the students into the lecture more readily.
Hi Steve,
Why would you let your students control you when you are suppose to be the authoritative figure?
Patricia
Hi Adam,
Remember, you are the authoritative figure. You should always set the precedence for the tasks. It is your class, and you are in control, not the students.
Patricia
The biggest mistake was class control. I used to let the talkers take over and i tried to talk over them. This did not work so i would address the problem. Now I call on them in hopes they would talk about the subject at hand or pipe down
