Tardy students
I have found, teaching adult students, there are incidents students have no control over, such as the baby sitter is sick, the car broke down or they were involved in an accident, etc. Talking to the student after class and being concerned has a tendency to alleviate these incidents from occurring again.
What have other instructors done to address these situations?
I often drive to different campuses in our state, sometimes 100 miles each way. If I can make it on time, my students should be able to make it on time. They do not. While I like to start class on time, I cannot teach to an empty room if all of the students are 15 - 20 minutes late. Any suggestions?
I find it difficult to maintain a strict policy on tardiness, only because as adults shouldn't one be held responsible and accountable for their actions? What if there is traffic? What if they were held over at their job? All I can do as their instructor is encourage open communication.
I usually give pop quizzes within the first 5 minutes. Those that are chronically tardy will be affected, both in the missed points and the time to make up. I allow for 2 tardies being I am a parent and totally understand home-life....
Esther, first and foremost always follow your institutional rules and policies. If the decision to arrive late and leave early is yours along to govern then my focus has always been performance is king and is the true test of dedication and commitment. If a student is achieving a good score in my class I do not get in the way of how they manage their busy life. For students that are not performing well we discuss any tardy issues and I get the student to self-reflect how their tardiness may be contributing to their poor performance. More times than not this gets each student to focus on their individual situation versus the focus on what others are doing. Not sure this will work in your case but it has worked well for me over the years.
James Jackson
I had one student who kept coming in late and I was beginning to think that she was just not serious, but I new she was a good student. Finally she told me that she works in the morning until 1/2 way through class. After she told me, we had a discussion and she began showing more effort and I had more understanding!
I make sure that I start my class on time every day, no matter who is there..that way you set a president for the whole class.
My question is....what about students who leave early? I do have a class participation grade where I take points off if they leave early or arrive late all the time, but it feels kind of strange that I'm telling adults that they can't leave early. Any suggestions?
I do tell them if they have to go to work or catch a bus it's ok. But then others see this and want to leave too and it becomes a habit.
Yeah, but stuff happens. Some things really are beyond the student's control. I tell them that they need to think of my class as training and practice for the jobs they hope to have one day; if an employee consistently shows up late with one excuse after another, he will be fired, but most employers are willing to overlook the occasional late start. I also point out that there will be a penalty - loss of money for an employee, loss of grade points for a student, but arriving late once or twice will not cause a student to fail my class, and arriving late once or twice to work will not get him fired.
And since many or most adults have smart phones, they can text or e-mail you from where ever they are. I've given my personal phone number to students so they can text me in the event of an emergency, and no one has ever abused the privilege.
Rose, we have so much technology at our fingertips today and I find it foolish not to take full advantage of all forms of technology that we can. It was just a little over 500 years ago that the thought of using a book to transfer knowledge to a student was considered poor judgement by the scholars of a different time. We have made many changes just in the last 10 years and the really great instructors embrace any and all forms of technology that can assist in students communicating and learning.
James Jackson
natarsha , yes and I totally agree. The more students feel you have an open door policy the better. They also need to know however you are not a pushover and they will need to do their fair share of work to be successful. It is all about balance.
James Jackson
Myles, is there no room in your assessment here for those students that try hard but fall short? For some their frustration level may overcome their ability to appear ambitious. The more you know about your students the better prepared you will be to provide the guidance needed for some to turn that corner and be a difference maker in their ability to regain their motivation and become successful. Not all students that are tardy are making an excuse. Life does happen during school time and this is why we as instructors need to be inquisitive and work to better understand the circumstances surrounding the tardy issues. Some will be just as they appear and as you put it the "excuse" makers but some will be valid and require our judgement and tolerance.
James Jackson
You cannot deny completing an educational course of study will improve your standing in society, both psychologically and financially. Its mind numbingly easy to distinguish students who posses ambition from those whose aim is to just plain “excuse†their way through life.
Myles, be careful not to paint with too wide a brush. I am attending classes for my doctoral program and there are time I just cannot make class. I have a BS, MEd and those problems have still not gone away. Life happens to all of us regardless of how successful. Yes, some students are habitual and just procrastinate but this is not representative of 100% of the population. The more you know about your individual students the better you can identify those that are serious about their education and just need your compassion and those that violate the rules as a habit.
James Jackson
Melville, since your focus is on students that need to attend 100% of the time and no chance to make up a missing quiz does this information get discussed during the admissions process? For some students that may be working while going to school they may need to know ahead of time what options they have to make up work when their work requires them to miss a class here and there. Thanks for any feedback you can provide.
James Jackson
Hello Harry,
I have found the same thing. I teach at 8:00pm and I have found many students are late because the just do not want to come to a late class. Have you experienced the same thing?
After experimenting with a few things, I'm finding the giving pop quizzes at the very beginning of class has been a motivator. I have ten week sessions and like to fit in two or three pop quizzes to keep them on their toes with assignments, discussions, and showing up on time. They cannot make the quiz up if they arrive after it is over. I also offer five points for being on time to encourage an ethic of timeliness and to reward positive behavior, rather than punish negative.
Melville
I also have students who are relentless at showing up late with excuse after excuse each time. I’ve come to the opinion that they are just not serious about their education and I don’t know how to turn that around??
Adult students have adult reasons for being tardy. Car broke down, babysitter issues, or had to pull late shift to cover bills. I like to point out that school is their first priority because by successfully completing school most of those issues will be solved.
I too have certain students that every week have a different excuse on why they don't have certain assignments done. often times it involves reasons why they didn't have access to their book so they couldn't do homework. I have been too easy with them in the past. how can I handle this situation when it starts to get excessive?
I definitely believe in having open communication with my students. I am a combination of the Buddy and the Guide. If your students feel as though they you are reachable and empathetic; it allows for a wonderfule learning environment. In short I try to have an open line.
