Ibrahim Gardner
Dealing with difficult students is a common challenge for university educators. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, certain strategies can help manage disruptive behaviours and improve classroom management. Building relationships with difficult students is key, as it fosters trust and creates a safe space for them to share their concerns. Understanding students' emotional and social triggers can help create a positive classroom environment, making them less likely to act out. When addressing inappropriate behaviour, it is important to remain compassionate and firm, holding students accountable for their actions without embarrassing them or sacrificing instructional time. University staff should also be familiar with campus resources and policies to effectively support students in distress or danger and determine what constitutes a violation of behavioural standards.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Building relationships | Building a relationship with difficult students is foundational in getting them to respond positively. |
| Knowing your students | Knowing students' emotional and social triggers will assist in creating a climate where students are at ease and less likely to display negative behaviors. |
| Empathy | Empathizing with the rotten experiences kids must be dealing with outside the classroom if they are acting out inside the classroom. |
| Holding them accountable | Holding students gently but firmly accountable for their behavior. |
| Classroom climate | Creating a classroom climate where students help and even cheer each other. |
| Educational conversation | An educational conversation from a university official can have a lasting impact on a student. |
| Professional communication | Maintaining professional communication and addressing inappropriate, disruptive, or concerning behavior from the beginning. |
| Positive classroom environment | Communicating a positive classroom environment that shows sensitivity to students and their feelings. |
| Student engagement | Making learning compelling by being willing to use student engagement strategies. |
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What You'll Learn
Be empathetic and compassionate
Dealing with difficult students in university can be challenging, but it's important to approach these situations with empathy and compassion. Here are some strategies to help you navigate these situations effectively:
Firstly, it's crucial to understand that students' behaviours often stem from experiences outside the classroom. Empathising with their struggles can help you maintain a positive outlook and avoid taking their actions personally. Recognise that their actions may be a cry for help or a result of challenging circumstances. By showing empathy, you can build trust and form stronger student-teacher relationships.
Being empathetic does not mean lowering your expectations or excusing inappropriate behaviour. You can hold students accountable while still responding with compassion. It's about understanding their feelings and helping them navigate their emotions healthily. This can be achieved through meaningful conversations that address their actions without lecturing, scolding, or yelling.
Perspective-taking is a vital aspect of empathy. Try to see the situation from the student's perspective and set aside your initial reactions. Ask yourself if the student is doing the best they can and what more you need to understand about their situation. This approach can help you respond more effectively and build a stronger connection.
Empathy also involves acknowledging your own emotions. It's normal to feel frustrated or upset by challenging behaviours, and taking a moment to regroup before addressing the situation can be beneficial. Modelling self-control and emotional awareness will positively impact your students and help them develop their emotional intelligence.
Additionally, creating a supportive classroom environment can foster empathy among students. Encourage them to help and cheer each other on. You can start by having them complete sentences like, "One thing I do well at school is..., and if asked, I could help someone else with it." This simple exercise can foster a culture of empathy and mutual support.
Remember, showing empathy and compassion can make a significant difference in your students' lives, helping them feel understood, supported, and motivated to learn. It also contributes to their overall well-being and can enhance their university experience.
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Address issues outside of class
Addressing issues outside of class can be a great strategy for dealing with difficult students in a university setting. Here are some detailed suggestions to achieve this:
Foster a Positive Classroom Environment
From the first day of class, strive to create a positive and supportive classroom environment. Encourage class discussions and collaboration between students. When students feel like they are part of a community where their opinions and questions are valued, they may be less likely to act out or become frustrated with their peers or the instructor. Make the learning compelling by using student engagement strategies, especially for students who find certain lessons boring or unstimulating.
Build Relationships and Empathize
Building authentic relationships with difficult students is crucial. When students view their teacher as a "safe space," they are more likely to share their concerns and be receptive to correction. Empathize with the challenges they might be facing outside the classroom, which could be contributing to their behaviour. Remember that just because a student doesn't change their behaviour, it doesn't mean they aren't changing internally.
Avoid Arguments and Lecturing
Arguing with difficult students puts you on equal footing and creates a confrontational dynamic. Avoid lecturing, scolding, or yelling, as this will only make the situation worse and cause students to dislike you. Instead, remain calm and professional, and address inappropriate behaviour from the beginning.
Hold Private Conversations
Talk to the student outside or after class, where they don't feel on the spot in front of their peers. This can help them open up about any issues they're facing and allow you to address their concerns more effectively.
Focus on Solutions, Not Punishment
While it's important to hold students accountable for their behaviour, approach discipline from a place of empathy. Instead of punishing students out of frustration, focus on giving consequences that will teach them to make better choices.
By implementing these strategies, you can effectively address issues with difficult students outside of class, fostering a more positive and productive learning environment.
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Build trust and relationships
Building trust and relationships with students is key to fostering a positive learning environment and preventing problems. Students who are difficult to deal with become less so when they view their teacher as a "safe space". This is achieved when students feel certain that their teacher has spent time getting to know them and understands and respects their needs.
To build trust, it is important to know your students. This includes understanding their intellectual abilities, as well as their social and emotional makeup. Knowing your students' interests and triggers will help create an environment where students are at ease and less likely to display negative behaviours. Students are rarely behaviour problems when engrossed in activities that pique their interests.
Empathy is essential when dealing with difficult students. Try to understand the student's point of view and imagine that all your students have an invisible subtitle running along in front of them that communicates to the adults in their lives what they are really saying. For example, a student might be yelling, "This is stupid! Why do we have to do this?". Their subtitle, however, might be saying, "This is hard for me. Help me to succeed and let me save face, too". If you can respond to the subtitle, rather than the noise, you can react in a way that helps the student feel comfortable discussing their problem with you.
It is also important to communicate a positive classroom environment from the beginning of the course. Show sensitivity to your students and their feelings and encourage class discussion and collaboration. When students feel as though they are part of a community where their opinions or questions can be voiced safely, they may be less likely to become frustrated with the instructor or their peers.
Finally, remember that students may have difficulty trusting adults and authority figures, perhaps because they have been jilted in the past. It is important to hold students accountable for their behaviour, but this can be done from a place of internal empathy, while being firm and consistent.
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Create a positive classroom environment
Creating a positive classroom environment is essential for effective teaching and learning. Here are some strategies to achieve this in a university context:
Firstly, it is important to foster a sense of belonging and community in the classroom. Students should feel respected, accepted, valued, and cared for. This can be achieved through a warm demeanor, positive messages about student success, and sharing constructive feedback. Avoid negative statements and normalize academic struggles, assuring students that they can master challenging content with effort.
Additionally, the physical classroom space should be welcoming and organized. A clean, minimalist, and aesthetically pleasing environment can help students feel comfortable and inspired. Classroom storage solutions and decorations can contribute to a professional and engaging atmosphere.
Establishing clear expectations and routines is also key. Students feel more confident and successful when they understand what is expected of them and can meet those expectations. This structure provides a foundation for positive behavior and academic success.
Furthermore, it is important to build positive relationships with and among students. Greeting students at the door, encouraging eye contact, and fostering open communication can help achieve this. Engaging students in non-competitive games and cooperative learning structures can break down cliques and help students connect and support each other.
Finally, it is crucial to remain compassionate and empathetic when dealing with difficult students. Try to understand the reasons behind their behavior and respond with kindness. Hold students accountable for their actions, but do so from a place of empathy, offering meaningful praise for their accomplishments.
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Familiarise yourself with campus resources and policies
When dealing with difficult students, it is important to familiarise yourself with campus resources and policies. The Student Care Team recommends that faculty members review the issues addressed in the document and include a statement about appropriate classroom behaviour in their syllabus. This proactive approach can help address potential problems before they escalate.
- Code of Student Conduct: Understand the standards of behaviour expected of students and what constitutes a violation of these standards. This will help you determine if a student's behaviour is inappropriate and requires intervention.
- Students in Distress Folder: Familiarise yourself with the flow chart and contact information provided in this folder. It will guide you on the steps to take and the relevant university resources to utilise when a student is in distress.
- Emergency Contacts: Know the emergency contacts and procedures. For example, the Rutgers Police Department should be contacted in case of an emergency or immediate danger. You can reach them by dialling 732-932-7211 from a cell phone or 911 from any university phone.
- Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS): Be aware of the counselling and psychological services available on campus, such as CAPS at Rutgers University. These services can provide support and assistance to students who may be struggling with mental health or other personal issues.
- Office of the Dean: If you are unsure about the urgency of a problem, you can contact the Office of the Dean for advice and guidance. They can help you assess the situation and determine the best course of action.
By familiarising yourself with these resources and policies, you can effectively address difficult student situations while ensuring the well-being and support of the students in question. It is important to remember that the early intervention and utilisation of these resources can help create a positive and safe learning environment for everyone involved.
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Frequently asked questions
Building a relationship with difficult students is the first step in getting them to respond positively. Students are rarely behaviour problems when engrossed in activities that pique their interests. Knowing your students' interests increases the likelihood that you will be able to engage them in the learning environment.
It is important to communicate with difficult students in a way that helps them feel comfortable discussing their problems with you. React in a way that shows you are trying to understand the student’s point of view. An educational conversation can have a lasting impact on a student.
It is important to hold students accountable for their behaviour. Consequences for non-compliance or defiance can be given from a place of internal empathy, while being firm and consistent. It is also important to set boundaries on where and when you will address behavioural issues. Let students know that you will almost always see them after class or during a more private moment to address behavioural issues.
Cultivating a positive learning environment can help prevent problems. Create a classroom climate where students help and even cheer each other on. Have students finish sentences like, "One thing I do well at school is..." to get them engaged and build a supportive classroom community.
