With the students I have now. this approach of just stop talking and wait for them to finish or realize they are interrupting is very effective. I don't even have to address the student directly, most of the time. I just say lets move on when the problem stops.
Hi, my teaching experience is recent and because I come from a professional background where I dealt with industry professionals I thought that dealing with adult students would not be too different. Boy was I wrong. i have corrected this perception and I do use the silence technique which works fine. I have had issues with students snoring and students talking a lot and what I would do different is to address these issues immediately.
I have had experiences where I've had to ask a student to leave the classroom and there have been times when I called a student outside the classroom to ask him to change his behavior. If faced with similar situations again, I would probably handle them basically the same.
I've had a couple of different situations when two students have gotten into arguments in the classroom. When unable to stop the argument myself, I made them go see the administrator immediately. I then had to settle the rest of the classroom down. Primarily, I refused to allow any additional conversation regarding the incidents, other than informing the students that this is now being handeled by the administrator and is not our concern.
If a student is not paying atention or talking to another student,I will usually ask that student if they have a question or is there someting I said that needs additional explaining. That usually solves the problem
If their phone rings or they are texting, I'd say "if that call is for me, tell them I am in class and will call them back later" That also usually works
When I have students talking, dozing off, or not paying attention, I will start asking everyone questions on the material we have just covered, drawing attention back to me and the lesson plan.
Yes I agree with that method and I've used it myself a few times when I first starting teaching. Now most of the students know my way of running a classroom and the ones that don't, the others tell them. I expect respect for I give it to all my students. When one is talking, everyone else is quiet and listening. I set the class rules at the beginning of every new term, even if I had them previously so that they know nothing has changed. One think every students knows about me is my class starts on time and I wait for no one, I explained to them, that each students has paid for an education and I will not let one or two disrrupt it for them. Therefore, my saying is "6:00 o'clock means 6:00 o'clock, not 6:01 or 6:05", all the students talk about this and they say that Mr. Torres doesn't play, he says what he means and follows it.
I will usually stop and wait for them to stop talking. Usually their peers will tell them to be quiet. I just inform them that I will not talk over them. I just inform the ones that are talking that I am not the one that needs to pass the exam.
Fortunately, I have not had many classroom discipline situations. I set my expectations from the very first day of class and also have students sign my "Classroom Policiies" document that outlines behavior issues and consequences. The only thing that I sometimes have issues with is students talking during lecture. I simply raise my voice mid sentence, while I am lecturing (on the topic) and it usually gets their attention. I guess this comes with being a mother! ;-)
I am currently a clinical instructor, so I am not with all of my students daily. I have to heavily reply on responses from the clinical sites that the students are completing their rotation.
At the beginning of each quarter I remind my students that they are on a "JOB INTERVIEW" when they are at the sites. I let them know that the site Directors are watching them & asking their staff how the students are at completing tasks. If the student is habitually late or wanting to leave early, it is always noticed & communicated to me.
I typically complete an advisory form & verbally discuss the problems with the students & if it continues I refer them to the PD to further decide fate.
It may be points deducted, to zero credit given, to possibly being dismissed from the program (depending on the severity of the offence).
I try to prepare the students for the real work force by enforcing rules/regulations. If you show up late for your REAL work shift by an hour, they have probably already distributed your work load to other & you will get sent home without pay. It is my duty to prepare these students to face consequences of actions; because in the real work force & with today's economy there are others lined up at the door awaiting that job to open!
I will say that as an instructor I do have to rely heavily on my PD to enforce any consequences; and sometimes we do not agree, however it is her program so ultimately her decision.
I AGREE, KNOWING OUR STUDENTS IS VERY VERY MUCH IMPORTANT. IF THEY HAVE CERTAIN MOOD SWINGS ,I KNOW RIGHT OFF HAND SOMETHING IS WRONG BECAUSE I COMMUNICATE WITH THEM DAILY.AS FAR AS MOTIVATING THEM WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE GIVING UP. I ALWAYS ENCOURAGE THE STUDENTS TO SOAR AND THINK LIKE AN EAGLE . IT PUTS A SMILE ON THEIR FACE AND THE DISCOURAGE ABRUPTLY FADES AWAY.
Gina, each industry is different and each job type has its own special twists. If your industry and the specific jobs are no cellular friendly then by all means this is important information to share with students. Some industries however require their employees to be one with their technology and all forms of communication so be careful to paint this picture with too wide of a brush. There was a time in the history of Higher Education that books were the devil's work and had no place in the classroom. Times do change and we need to find ways to change with time.
James Jackson
The biggest discipline issue now is getting students to put away their cell phones during class. My approach is to tell them that I will politely warn them once and the second time I ask them to leave my class. Employers do not want an employee that is tied to their cell phone and they need to learn to break the bond.
Lacey, well stated and this is also the reason we must take full advantage of the first day of class. Nothing sets the stage more than what is accomplished on day one of each new grouping of students. Be prepared to discuss your classroom rules and get them to participate in what they feel are fair ways to ensure the rules are followed. The more you can get them to be part of the process the better they will honor the rules and abide by them.
James Jackson
Classroom discipline is a big deal to me. I feel that if you set the tone from day one and stick to your rules then it gives your student an idea of what is acceptable and what is not. In order to correct issues I remind them of what my rules are then move on. If it still an issue I have them go speak with the program director.
I find it very annoying, and bothersome to other students, when two students are having conversation during my lecture. I've found the best approach for me is to stop talking myself and direct my gaze toward the students talking. They will notice and quiet down. Then I ask them if they have a question, giving them the benefit of the doubt that they were discussing class material. If they do, then I can answer them to the benefit of the entire class. If they respond "no", then I know they were talking about something else and the message has been sent to stop talking.
Although this is not truly "discipline", I have been fortunate enough to not require much beyond this. The posts I'm reading on here will help prepare me for the day when I do. :(
I feel that it is important to let the students know your classroom rules from the first day of class that way some can not say they didn't know the rules
I agree that age is not the best indicator of being respectful and wanting to learn
I will do the same and stop class until the students look at me and then I tell them I will not talk over them
It is not very often that I run across a student that is disruptive in class. I find that while the student is loud and out rate you can whisper and talk to the student in a low tone asking the student to remover his or herself from the classroom setting.
