Dealing with the angry student
ED104
Awsome course. It speaks directly so some issues I face an angry student I currently teach. Whenever my student walks in the classron the atmosphere suddenly becomes charged with hostility. I realized I was employing some of the very same stragtegies I read about in the course. So I was encouraged. I do not view an angry student as the enemy; I see them as sand paper -- a kind of refining tool to refine my soft skills. Many times they are not angry with us, they are angry with the issues in their lives that make them feel worthless, incompetent and a failor. Our role as instructors is to redirect their perception of a situation and coach them to appropriate management of their anger and frustration. Is it an easy task? No. WE have to think at a higher level and not get caught up in the angry student's hostility. This is the fourth week of the module. When my student walked in this morning she was so calm --calm enough to tell me that she appreciates they way I help her to learn concepts. WE must develop emotional maturity and exhibit it with difficult students. They will soon realize that they don't have to always be on the attack and ther is another way to deal with issues that we face in our lives.
One day I said, "It is nice to see you this morning." She stopped and said, "No one has ever said that to me." I made it a point to say something to her every day.
What do you suggest if a student threatens you with violence which happened to me last night?
Your post was very encouraging. Thanks for sharing.
As for Renee's issue I would contact the proper authorities. I think it needs to be dealt with firmly and fairly but the student needs to know that this behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. I have only had one "angry" student so far in my short career and it was off putting to start but I tried to engage him early in class participation. He certainly knew the material and had many insightful ideas but some days it was harder for him to engage.
I once had an angry student, who was incidentally a male student, who often challenged me each course. I tried to remain calm, but other students would approach me and talk about how disruptive and rude he was. Once I finally confronted him, by asking him to step out of the classroom, he admitted that he was having problems in his other classes (prior to mine) andwas thinking about quitting. I did my best to talk him out of it, but it was of no avail.
Weeks later, the director informed me that he had met with the student and that the student highlighted me as the only instructor he had learned something from while enrolled at the college. I was happy I had taken the time to talk with him.
