Get Your Students Hired
A lot of times a student unknowingly looks to an instructor to just be there to listen so thst the student can get the stress off of his/her chest. Students that are far from home look up to instrutors for guidness while away from their parents.
Kevin's assessment on the importance of the istructor's mentorship helps to relieve the stressors that he can encounter.
Yes, you must show how much you care and have an open door policy. Listening sometime can make a big difference.
I agree. Just being there to listen, non-jugdementally can help students release some stress. But sometimes stress can be used to stimulate students an long as it is temporary stress.
Sometimes listening rather than lecturing will allow the student to get thing off their chest, and being far from home in many cases the instructor is the one person they feel that they can trust. As instructors we have to lend a non judgemental ear and offer advise not opinions. By talking out their worries, it can relieve some stress.
Small confident builders can also help a student with their preception and relieve some of the stress.
I try to do the same as well as provide my schedule and the best way to contact me, If I can be contacted who they can turn to next.
I found that by making myself more available and to answer any question the student might have has helped releave some of the stress. Also getting the student to talk a little about where they come from and what background also helps just getting them to talk.
I found that by making myself more available and to answer any question the student might have has helped releave some of the stress. Also getting the student to talk a little about where they come from and what background also helps just getting them to talk.
To be approachable you must make yourself available. I am trying to make it a point to remain in the class room for a period of time both before and after class.
If you keep in touch with your students and relaxed I find that when they do seem to have a problem they are more likely to tell you the problem they might have. Sometimes being they are young your advice or just to give a listen, might seem simple to you but can be a great deal of help to the student.
I think on day one if the expectations of the course are layed out then some of the stress can be eliminated. Also if we spend more time on day one finding out who our students are they will find us more approachable and will come to us if there is a problem and we cad either help them or direct them to who can.
Awareness is an important first step toward improvement. Are there resources available to you at your school? Do you have mentors?
I think this is one of the most challenging areas of teaching for me personaly. You want to be approachable but not get involved with the students personal issues and emotions (drama). It seems for me, that if I don't walk that fine line, then I'm not a good teacher and the students fear me and will not approach me for valid questions they have of me. This is a really good one for me to work on in the future. We just had our teacher (evaluations) yesterday and this is an area I need inprovement in for sure!
Thanks
Chris I
I agree that students sometime just need to talk to somebody. When there so far from home they need to talk to somebody they can trust.
That is so true. That is why I try to see each of my guy one on one as much as possable.
You introduce an interesting point, Chris. Typically, the person/people who most vigorously promote the importance of being available for students are ones who aren't in front of students all day, every day and may not have an appreciation for what they are expecting.
Do you have any thoughts on how to find a proper balance between complete access and isolation? Is the balance point the same for everyone? Have you had students react adversely to being told they will have to talk later?