Heading off Problems in Class

Frequently problems or inappropriate behavior in class can be avoided by being proactive. Try some or all of the suggestions or add your own.

• Lower your voice. Lowering the voice gives the students the illusion that you calm and in control.
• Recognize the source. The student might be uncomfortable with her/his competency.
• Slow down. Slow down your delivery and offer students enough think-time after questions have been asked.
• Give yourself think time. Don’t say the first thing that comes to mind when a student makes an inappropriate comment.
• Watch for the warning signs. If a student is becoming agitated, intervene with a quiet word or change the pace of classroom activities.
• Talk one-to-one. If possible, talk to the disruptive student alone and not in front of the entire class.
• Acknowledge the student’s concern. If you cannot address the students’ problem when it occurs, openly acknowledge that you are aware of the issue and will return to it.
• Build a relationship with your students. Find out what they enjoy and show an interest in it.

Thanksgiving

It Is Out There

Have your students asked if there is a “next” level class? Do you have any ideas for a class that would interest the students? Have you identified a need that could result in an interesting class?

If so, please contact your program manager and discuss what you have found. Everyone in the department is always interested in new classes.

Help with Learning the Vocabulary

Here is a fun way to help students remember key words related to classroom activities. It is called Wordle and is free with no login or passwords to remember.

I created the Wordle to the right using key words from the Photoshop Elements class. I found that it required me to think rather seriously about the most important terms used in class.

Begin the fun by having the students go to http://www.wordle.net/create.

• Next, have them enter the important words from the class into the “Paste in a bunch of words” box. The size of a word in the final product is determined by the number of times it is entered.


• Two or more words can be kept together with a space between them by using the tilde (~).


• When finished click on GO.


• The next Wordle screen offers choices for changing the language, font, layout and color. Experimenting with them produces some nice variations. More variations can be seen by clicking the Randomize button at the bottom of the screen.


• Use the Print button to print a copy of the Wordle.


• The Save to public gallery… button places the Wordle on the Internet. Once there, it cannot be changed or removed.


• The Wordle cannot be saved to disk. However, a digital copy can made using a screen capture technique/software.


• If you navigate away from the Wordle you have created, all will be lost, i.e. you will need to start over.

A Word About Our Current Processes Here at Community Learning

Just thought now would be a good time to fill you in on what is going on in the office.

Do you feel like we have been on your case to get information back to us? We have been with some of you. We are just putting the Winter schedule to bed which means we have needed you to return your contracts, get bios and material lists to us, etc.

We are done with our planning, finding space for your class (this is getting harder each term), etc. for the moment. Now we are putting on the finishing touches and checking the last details to make sure everything is good to go with the printed and web schedule.

Our turn-around time for winter term is about 7 weeks. For Spring/Summer term it is about 5 weeks and for Fall it is about 10 weeks. We love Fall planning. This means things will get more hectic for us and you in less than a month.

So we want you all to know a few things: that we will be bugging you again soon. We always welcome your new class ideas. And we always appreciate the great job you do in the classroom. Please know also that we are doing our job to make yours easier and more fun.

Thanks,
Paul Stennett