Student Stress
Stress levels can go up and down quickly a person says the wrong thing at the wrong time. etc...
We as instructors have to be very sensitive to the students everyday and how they are in the classroom. They may have had car trouble on the way in or the children are sick. We do not know what is going on. It is our responsibility to make sure that our students get out of the class what they need from the objectives and lesson plans.
We are not baby sitters but we no need to have our hand on the pulse of the students. We try to ask questions and find out what the issue is and what resources we have that can help the student overcome this stress. It often just takes some talking to get things resolved.
I agree. I find it amazing when I ask a student in a caring manner what is wrong, the life issues they are dealing with. I have had students going through death of family members, divorce, health issues at the same time they are trying to accomplish a hard skill. Always humbles me.
Well said, Alycia. Connecting with students in times of stress can have a profound impact.
I agree, as instructors we see the students every day and can really tell when something is going on or the student is not behaving like themselves. It is important to engage the student and if they are willing to open up and discuss their stressors we can help by providing resources. It's very easy for the students to forget about resources that can assist them when they are trying to balance school and family life. When high stress levels set in, the student usually can not see past the situation to help themselves. Instructors play a very important role in mentoring the student as well as instructing the student. We can make a huge difference in the students world by simply taking the time to ask, how are things are going?
Christina, I'm not sure everyone can drop their stressors at the door. If your child is sick or you don't have rent money, school may provide some welcome relief but the issue doesn't go away during class. I'm not advocating changing standards, but I think it's reasonable to provide support and make referrals as indicated.
I understand that all problems are not created equal, but when I was a student, school was the place where I dropped the other stressors upon entering. It was a haven from the outside world in a way. When I student tells about a personal issue, I try to empathize without offering a solution per se, but then shift the focus to the work at hand. The work being the thing they can control.
Do you make exceptions for the students you know have issues? Is that fair to the students who leave their issues at the door and work hard?
Lizzie, what happened next? Did the student stay in school? It takes a lot of energy to deflect that kind of mental abuse.
Andrea, I had a student come into the Financial Aid and had a melt down at my desk. She stated that she wanted to dope out. I had heard she was having alot of personal problem at home. I ask what I could do and also empathize with her. She felt that she couldn't keep going to school and that everybody she know was telling her she wouldn,t susceed. This young woman only need two more semester and she would graduate. I listen to her and told her she need to keep believeing in herself. She needs to look at the people who are telling her this and what have they comprise. That if she believe in herself, other will believe by seeing what she has comprise. That life isn't easy and take alot of hard work and she has come to far to give up now. Just listen to her help more than trying to tell her how to live her life seem to help more than anything for her.
Jeremy, keen observation. I would also suggest that instructors be mindful of changes in behavior or academic performance. These are often indicators of problems.
I have been teaching for a while now and I’ve seen many students who will not reach out for help. Many students who are becoming overwhelmed by school will discuss it with people at home but would never bring it up to someone at school. It’s rare to have someone come up and speak to you when they’re thinking about quitting school. This makes it very difficult for instructors to detect that there may be something wrong.
The only advice that I can put out there for other instructors is to remind students in a broad manner that resources are available and where to find them and hope that they will take advantage of it.
Andrea, I like your description of empathizing. Too often people misunderstand the role and feel that they have to be the one providing a solution.
I agree-things change quickly with adult students. Family, transportation, financial, and social issues present frequently. Listening to students seems to be the first step in hearing what they need. The second step is empathizing with students-this does not mean giving advice, telling them to breathe, praising their worth, or demanding other behaviors. It is simply sitting with them in their suffering and hearing their feelings. From there asking how we can best support them in CHANGING THEIR LIVES (most of the time completing our program eliminates family, transportation, financial, and social issues!).
From a great man Ernesto Sirolli, who does AMAZING work with entrepreneurs-"Want to help someone? Shut up and listen!"
Kiofa, please don't let some students indiscretions poison your empathy [different than sympathy] for the others. And please don't look for their excuses. Work on motivating them to overcome the obstacles they face.
I was just about to ask, wouldn't that be considered getting personal with the students? It would almost be like we are trying to befriend them, which was frowned upon in one of the other online training courses. I am concerned about their feelings and stressors, but I feel like such a fool when one student lies to me about a situation and I find out about it. It kind of ruins my sympathy for other students. I still listen to the students when they come to me, but I no longer go out of my way to get an excuse from them as to why their motivation has decreased.
Absolutely! I always tell students that if anyone needs to see me after class, please feel free to let me know. Many times a student will put on a facade for others, masking problems that could be alleviated. Sometimes they will be embarrassed about their problem. I may not always have the right solution, but we have sources at the college that can assist a student.
Amy, what do you mean by 'support legitimate reasons for a student missing class or having time management troubles'? I suspect many of your colleagues would need any explanation.
I agree. We need to come to terms with helping the students overcome some of the obstacles in their path. We cannot offer personal help but we can try to support legitimate reasons for a student missing class or having time management troubles.
