My most challemgin students tend to be those that know more than other students, and dont have the patient to deal with others that dont know what they know. I deal with adult learners, that come from an array of back grouds, socioeconomic status, race, religons, and age. It can be a challenge to make all this work, with adults who are usually set in their ways. My most effective methods of workign with them are to let them know that I am here for them, and I will spend the time to attend to their needs.
I have found the most challenging students to be those that feel the material is above them. They have a tendency to not pay attention and really throw off a no care attitude.
I try and make the material as exciting as possible, relating it to what they will be doing in the real world. Sometimes I will put them in small groups and assign critical questions. That student usually has a lot to say in that setting.
I have one student who in my first week teaching confronted me in front of the class and was extremely out of line. I made her leave my class that day and she had to apologize to me and the rest of the class the next day upon returning. I showed I would not be disrespected and that I would not let her disrupt class.
Hi Jeanette,
A discussion type setting is a good way to get uninvolved students involved, and the smaller the setting, the more the uninvolved student becomes involved.
Patricia Scales
My most challening students have been ones dealing with outside situations. I have found that simply listening to the student and giving the student an outlet improves the in class performance.
My most challenging student is one who doesn't show up 50% of the time. I have tried to engage the student every way I can think of. I received some tips here and will continue to check back often for new info.
My most challenging students are the disinterested ones. So far, I have used moving around the room and asking them direct questions or for comments on the topic of discussion.
The challenging students for me are the one's that seem to get the information during lecture, give answers to questions asked and even ask great questions themselves. Then when we get into lab, they act as if they have no concept of what is needed to be acomplished or how to organize themselves. I attempt to help the student remember how well they understood the process during lecture and get them to relax and do their best, as they do know what and how to accomplish the lab. School is the place to make mistakes, learn and grow with the knowledge.
Oh good. I was hoping "the look" was an acceptable approach to dealing with disruption. When that doesn't work, a firm conversation is usually next. Our class rules are covered thoroughly on the first day of class and I inform the students that I will enforce them for every student. I have had whole classes thank me for correcting a disruptive student and restoring a learning atmosphere. YOU are the class Leader.
I am sad to say that I was a student who had a disability and I used every excuse in the book to play on my teacher's sympathies. What also made it hard to break this habit was that I never found school hard, so I was always able to "catch up" very easily. So for me as an instructor I find that those students are the most difficult for me to deal with. I know all the plays that they use, but I have a hard time getting on them for something I know I did myself.
Students that lack self confidence can be a challenge when interacting with others or getting them to lead in an activity.
Hi Samuel,
Absolutely! Students want structure, and they want the instructor to take full control.
Patricia Scales
My most challenging students do seem to be the younger ones. The ones who still think they are in HS and the instructor will just give them the grade to promote on to the next grade level. But I recently had two students who abolutely "rubbed me the wrong way" (and half the class too). One was a younger woman in her mid-20s and the other a bit older in her mid-40s. The younger of the two wanted me to practically hold her hand on every step of each project - yet bad mouth me to the other students by saying "she never helps ME." The older student became the team mate/best buddy. She even went so far as to offer to pay other students to do her work. She would also look me in the face and challenge me on everything from why something was done a certain way - to why she needed to follow classroom rules "it's only a class, it's not the real world." These two are the most challenging students I have faced in my 10+ years teaching. I would go home daily with a nagging headache. My methods of reaching out to other students - discussing issues, tutoring after class, caring - nothing seemed to work with these two. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I help students such as these if this situation occurs again?
Hi Kathaleen,
Wow, I am in disbelief that higher authoritities will allow this. These students should have been spoken to by higher authorities, and if things did not get better with them drasatically, they should have been dismissed from school. Do not tolerate this from students, go to your DOE and let he/she deal with the students.
Patricia Scales
Some of my most challenging students are those who have jobs and can't get to class by the start time or have to leave before the class is over. I think it's important to make it clear that they have to meet the same course requirements as the other students. I do allow them to hand things in early when possible but let them. Still it's disruptive to have students come in late or get up and leave while the class is ongoing.
I have to agree that sometimes some students need that extra added attention to help them stay encouraged and motivated.
I have found that small groups have helped split these challenging students up in the class. I number them off and that usually does the trick.
I believe my most challenging students are the ones who continually "chatter" during my lecture. I like the idea of breaking the group up into small teams with specific assignments that will help with the learning of the subject matter that would be in the lecture. I plan on trying this ASAP:) Any other good ideas out there?
Hi Brenda,
I never put challenging students in the same group. It is more balanced when the group has a mixture.
Patricia Scales
Hi Shirley,
Nip the chattering! Have a firm, private conversation with the chatterboxes, and let them know what will happen if they do not stop the chattering.
Patricia Scales
