Classroom Management

[AvidReader]

I worked at a very large college and this is what they told me. (If they told the truth.)

My college has a unique scheduling system that often results in having little or no space between classes. I've taught in rooms where my class was scheduled to end at 10:00 and the next instructor in the room was scheduled to begin at 10:00. I've taught a general ed class that ended at 9:55 with a student who had to be on the other side of campus (more than 5 minutes' walk) by 10:00 for a class in student's major. I usually tell students that I'm aware of the complications offered by our campus and its scheduling practices, and that they should let me know if they have a consistent issue. Anyway, I generally believe students when they bring these types of conflicts to me; the ones who explain them directly--and early on--are usually trying to solve the problem, not trying to get out of class.

AR.

[Aster]

If you are new to the university, or doing a new course, or even in a new building, it is often advised to take a light-handed approach for the first term or two.

Observe. Troubleshoot. Correct Later.

Late students need to find ways to not be late. Most of the time it's usually that simple.

All that said, I haven't taught a class in over 10 years where I start precisely on time. I maintain a 4-5 minute buffer for morning classes and a 3 minute buffer for all other classes. For my commuter-based, open-enrollment institution, the extra time allowance seems to work pretty well.

[Caracal]

All that said, I haven't taught a class in over 10 years where I start precisely on time. I maintain a 4-5 minute buffer for morning classes and a 3 minute buffer for all other classes. For my commuter-based, open-enrollment institution, the extra time allowance seems to work pretty well.

I don't do that explicitly, but in practice, I usually make any announcements about logistics or upcoming assignments before I do attendance. Then once I finish, I ask if I missed anyone. If you came in after I did your name but before I finished the roll, I'll count you as on time. So, really that gives everyone a five minute grace period.

[kerprof]

All that said, I haven't taught a class in over 10 years where I start precisely on time. I maintain a 4-5 minute buffer for morning classes and a 3 minute buffer for all other classes. For my commuter-based, open-enrollment institution, the extra time allowance seems to work pretty well.

I don't do that explicitly, but in practice, I usually make any announcements about logistics or upcoming assignments before I do attendance. Then once I finish, I ask if I missed anyone. If you came in after I did your name but before I finished the roll, I'll count you as on time. So, really that gives everyone a five minute grace period.

Sounds like a good strategy....

[Aster]

But then there's my colleague next door to me, who also teaches morning classes.

She starts classes *exactly* on time. And she has almost zero attendance problems. I know this because my classroom is next door to hers, and I sit outside shepherding my last wayward tardy people. I can directly eyeball anyone coming in late to my colleague's class.

And I almost never see it happen. After the first two weeks of the term, that class is 100% compliant. She has attained Level 500 on classroom management.

[Ruralguy]

I try to start closer to 1-2 minutes late (synch watch with computer, car, clock at home), but then ease in with announcements and exciting news in the field. By then its 10 minutes in, and I do attendance, quizzes if I have one for that day, etc.  Oddly enough, with higher level classes, I often have to start later, but I have no buffer material in those classes--or very little.

[kerprof]

I am constantly having issue with the ring leader and couple of other troublemakers. For example... making disruptive noises from their devices...not bringing laptop to the class or not installing the required software to work on the class inspite of me asking them to do so and the rest of the class diligently working on it.

I am having the ring leader and couple of other troublemakers to meet me early next week in my office. Please advise how to handle this conversation.

Sadly this is a graduate level class and these students are international students.

[AvidReader]

This might depend on the culture at your institution, but when I have a class in which I expect students to be working on class activities for which they are unprepared, I ask them to do whatever they need to fix the unpreparedness and then to return to class.

i.e. a student hasn't done the reading.
Me: "You will certainly need to read this before you can participate in the discussion. You can go sit in the comfy chair around the corner and read it, then come back when you are caught up." [If multiple students haven't read it, I'll send them to read it aloud together].

i.e. a student doesn't have a laptop [or program]
Me: Well, our class activity today is to do X, which requires a laptop [or program]. But you can go borrow one from the library [or download it from the course site]! You'll need to do A, B, and C first, but when you have the laptop [program], bring it back, and you can get started on today's class work.

YMMV.

AR.

[Aster]

Sometimes when I'm feeling generous, I won't eject people without proper footwear (as per university policy).

Instead, I'll wrap their lower legs in paper towels and bind it all up in a giant wad of tape.

Students seem to be okay with this.

[kerprof]

I told in the class and also emailed the trouble maker to meet me in my office at a particular time today and he neither replied to my email nor came and met me. I teach on Tue and  Thu. So probably I will meet him in the class tomorrow if he shows up. I am thinking of asking him to stay back after the class is over so that I can take him to office and talk in person.

Please advise how to handle the situation.