Dealing with "Difficult" Students

Contributed By: Rebecca Godwin

If you have been teaching for any amount of time, you have undoubtedly found yourself in a classroom with a difficult student. Perhaps the student is disruptive or disrespectful and we must make choices in that moment on how to deal with that situation in both the most productive and positive way possible. One thing to always keep in mind is that misbehavior can almost always be interpreted as a “cry for help.” Perhaps a student is stressed or frustrated, feels powerless, or has not had good behavior modeled for them in the past. One way to deal with these situations is to address them preemptively. Setting the tone on the first day of class, stating what type of behavior you expect and the environment you wish to create, and learning the students’ names can go a long way. You should state your expectations both verbally and in the syllabus.

                  However, in spite of your best efforts you will undoubtedly run into issues in class. In this case do not attack the student or become defensive. You are the example of good behavior and you want to maintain the respect of other students in your classroom. Listen to the student, both what they say and do not say, consider their complaint and validate their concerns without defending their actions. Allow for different forms of response, sharing, and evaluation in your class with options to perhaps opt out of activities that might be overly uncomfortable for some students. Know what your boundaries are and the sorts of behaviors you will never allow.

Mary Bart 2012, “Dealing with Difficult Students”; Faculty Focus

                  https://ii.library.jhu.edu/2017/02/16/dealing-with-difficult-students/

4Faculty.org No longer supported, but great resource

                  http://www.4faculty.org/includes/108r2.jsp