ego and impatience

[ivy]

all right here's my problem for today -- i had a student the other day
and while i was going over his paper, reading it out loud, he kept
turning his head, looking over his shoulder, as if to get the
attention of one of the girls working on the computers in the Writing
Center. after about 10 times i finally found myself getting angry
with him, and said something snarky to him, such as, "the paper is
over here -- not back there" -- then he was very embarassed and no
longer engaged in our session.
so this brings to mind two questions:
1) how do we maintain our professional decorum at all times? and
2) how do we diplomatically demand students pay attention to us (this
also comes up from time to time when they go to answer their cell
phones or text messages)?

[rlunday]

I suppose letting the situation build up led to your own annoyance.
Engaging him more actively in the tutorial process -- specific
questions, getting him to rewrite a passage, to read aloud, to explain
something -- that might have helped. Of course, the student is
responsibile for his own behavior. If, after a few times, you failed
to interest him in his own paper, you might simply have said, calmly,
"I see that now is not a good time for you to work on this. When you
are able to concentrate, why don't you reschedule, perhaps with a
different tutor?" Or something to that effect -- calmly, without sign
of anger or annoyance. The idea is to keep professional, stay on task,
and encourage the same behavior in the student. We don't have time to
waste, so I wouldn't wrestle with the student if he can't stay
focused. You might also mention in the appointment note -- without
exactly tattling -- that the student was not able to concentrate, and
the session was cut short. It could be the student does have an
attention problem...but it sounds like it might merely have been a
"hormone problem."

Any other wisdom on the issue?

[laura.arzola]

Of course we know this dis-engaged student is not a strong student. . .

Part of the solution is not to let this to go on till you are angry. Simply tell the student, as soon as you see the disengagement, to focus. If he doesn't, tell him you are not there to work for and by yourself, and end the session.

L


Prof. Laura Arzola

English: Freshman Composition and Sophomore Literature
YES Center Director
FQK (Phi Theta Kappa) Advisor for SE
Core Curriculum Committee
HCC-SE
6815 Rustic
Houston TX 77087

713-718-7037
MC #1638

________________________________

[Ronald Foster]

You have said so often that this is a teaching, engaging process, Robert. I always make sure that the student is just as engaged as I am. Your advice is right on; if they do not want to concentrate, suggesting a new session seems quite appropriate.

Ron Foster C. 281-748-1994



> Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:50:19 -0700
> Subject: Re: ego and impatience
> From: robert...@gmail.com
> To: hccs_se_wri...@googlegroups.com