Try to remain calm without giving them all the power in the classroom. Tell them you are willing to discuss anything they are having a problem with at a later date when they are calm.
Be careful not to escalate the situation. Listen to the student without interrupting. Sometimes he/she just needs to vent his/her feelings before moving on. If possible, give the student a few quick options for times when you would be available to meet with him/her to look at resolving the problem. Don't be afraid to ask for assistance with other teachers and administrators. Some of them might have worked with this same student on other issues and may have valuable insight on how to handle the current situation.
Be careful not to escalate the situation. Listen to the student without interrupting. Sometimes he/she just needs to vent his/her feelings before moving on. If possible, give the student a few quick options for times when you would be available to meet with him/her to look at resolving the problem. Don't be afraid to ask for assistance with other teachers and administrators. Some of them might have worked with this same student on other issues and may have valuable insight on how to handle the current situation.
First and foremost angry behavior is unacceptable. I find that if a student is loud and out rate I ask them to remove their selves very quietly. Normally is someone is yelling and you talk low they will lower their tone to hear you. If a student is displeased with a grade because they understand the assignment I offer tutoring and one on one time with the student.
I haven't had much experience with angry students but when one has been in my class, I do take the time to talk to them individually to discuss the issue at hand. Usually the problem doesn't have any relation to school but talking to someone objective seems to diffuse the anger...and helps the student to realize that they do have someone who is interested in their success.
Stop and Listen. The very first thing to remember is to turn off the defensive switch in your brain and turn on the listening switch. most of the time, if you let the student be angry and vent, you can calmly talk to them about why they were angry after they finished their complaint.
This makes the situation easier to talk about, and or resolve if they feel like they have been heard.
Sometimes the student has a real good argument, and you may agree with him, and sometimes they are just trying to get something for nothing, and you have to deny them. You don't know until you listen.
Hi Denise,
I do not encounter angry students very much, but the key is listening to them. Sometimes the angry student simply needs to vent.
Patricia
I agree with the majority in your forum, listen. I may add in a somewhat private but not isolate place. Angry energy is contagious---keep the venting away from the others!
Hi Virginia,
Calmness on the instructor's part is a must whenever students are angry. No student should ever have the power in the classroom. It is always good to deal with the angry student behind closed doors if at all possible, and simply listen to the student.
Patricia
When confronted with an angry student you should not ignore them, this will make them angrier. Instead you should listen to them complain and respond in a courteous manner and address their complaints and reason with them.
HUMOR! I listen to them & try to use humor. I use humor quite a bit. After giving them their "just due" time, I find it works well to show them no hard feelings. I never hold a grudge, or show any type of different treatment. Over the course of about a week, the angry student usually learns to like me & my class quite a bit. I have only had one hard egg I haven't been able to break!
Hi Lisa,
Over my 23 years of teaching, I seldom come across students that I am unable to reach. It seems like everything you do to try to build a rapport with the student, nothing works. I really have a strong connection with about 95% of my students, simply because I am a fair, and they know I genuinely care about them. I lead by example and prepare my studentds thoroughly for the work world.
Patricia
exactly... being calme is the best thing to do.
Stay calm is always the first thing for me. Listen to what they have to say, but don't become a punching bag. I need to calmly listen and see if this is something that I can deal with. If I need help in anyway I use the team that is in place.
Taking the student out of the classroom is a great strategy. While it may help the student open up more I can see other benefits as well. You will avoid the rest of your students being made to feel uncomfortable. Sometimes having an audience will escalate the situation because the angry student may feel they have to prove their point because they are in front of their peers. Another classmate also mentioned turning off your own defensive switch which is so important, regardless of the student's attitude you are the professional and are there as an instructor to a group of students and need to remain professional. Taking the discussion to another location may help both parties involved.
When confronted with an angry student the first step is to listen. Try to find the reason why they are upset, they may be communicating it with their words or not. Once the student has finished or when you are able to intervene without upsetting them further try to use the "root cause analysis" process which uses questions to discover the initial cause. Once the intiial cause is found then try to work together toward a fair solution.
Of course this is just one of many solutions because each situation is bound to be unique.
I agree with everyone on the forum. But you must deal with the student and not let his or her anger affect your behavior.
Not to take it personal. Often times when people are upset there are often time innocent targets who are not the subject or reason for their anger. Responds makes all the difference in how the outcome will turn out. I try to get the person to a point where they are reflective on his or her approach which normally changes right away.
STop and listen let her get it out of her system so that the class can move on. Otherwise she will wrant through all class and want attention
KRIN
Hi Roderick,
As an instructor you have to have tough skin. Never take any situation personal. A lot of our students have many things going on outside of school. Listening is key when it comes to an angry student.
Patricia
