Teachers/Trainers: do you ever lose your nerve and self confidence in front of students? (community college, pay)

[Refugee56]

I spend my days at work as a Management Consultant and Professional Corporate Trainer. I also teach at a local college. I teach my students about business, workplace communication, and Human Resources topics. Let me tell you, even after years of experience, it can be quite tough to get in front of people who do not want to be there.

On occasion I lose my nerve and self confidence in font of my students. Especially if I did not sleep well the night before or the students do not want to be there but were forced to take the class. Adult students can be even tougher to please than kids.

Sometimes my students will act bored, other times they will stare at me and act like I am standing there naked in front of them. Other times they will snicker or smirk or roll their eyes.

I will key in on these disruptive students and sometimes I lose my nerve and my self confidence is shot. The students sense this and I lose my poise, authority and credibility.

I have to remember that I have received thousands of good and excellent reviews by my students over the years and most people appreciate me being up there. But...

Can you relate?

[SXMGirl]

You don't say what you teach, but I would do some cooperative learning.

[anadyr21]

When I first started teaching, yes, I felt exactly the same way, and even cried a few times after class. Once I gained confidence, I've never had that problem again. I've since, on occasion lost my temper or my ability to care about the class. In a class, especially if it's a large one, you just can't please everyone. Sometimes, the vibe of the class does affect my mood, so if I can tell that most don't want to be there, neither do I, but I decided that if I was only teaching 3 students out of a class of 20 or 30, then so be it. Don't let them get to you. Address any disruptions, but during your lecture, key in on the few who care. Those students will appreciate it. Good luck!

[charz]

I felt that way today when my principal came into observe without warning.

[TeaJay]

Sometimes- I don't know why. I'm not a new teacher, but sometimes I feel like certain kids can see right through me. :P

[Thunderbomb82]

Hi Refugee 56,
Yes I can relate. But you, as a college teacher, have more power than what you think. If you perceive anything as disruptive, you have every right to throw the student out for a reasonable time.

Be kind and set the rules. You are basically like a boss at a working job. Would anyone think it's okay to smirk and roll eyes at a manager? especially in a place where the pay in decent? NO! As long as rolling the eyes business is minor and the smirking is minor, you can leave it alone. But if it's a day to day or frequent problem, tell the student to leave and come back when he or she wants to be professional.

In a real sense you can't catch everything nor is it right to checkmark every little problem. However, you do have the right to set the rules.

You sound like a really neat teacher!

As a college teacher, you are there to help students learn which you do. However, you aren't there to let students effect the learning of others and your teaching. Since it's not a requirement for students to be there, there are less chances for the students to cause problems.

[wilmingtonangel]

I can totally relate. I teach at a community college so I know exactly what you are talking about. It was worse in the beginning of my teaching career. I have really learned to ignore the bad stuff (eyes rolling, students walking in late, texting, etc) & teach anyway. I teach Accounting so that makes it even harder (can be very boring).

The specific class makes a big difference. I've had classes in which the students totally didn't speak at all and acted bored out of their minds. Those are the worst. But luckily in most of my classes there's one or two more outspoken students who speak up and make it a little more interesting. I try to throw in embezzlement stories here & there to keep it interesting, which helps (unfortunately I don't know many stories. so I had to just start making them up LOL).

As a matter of fact, I had a really bad day today. I lost my work keys and realized it right before class. I had to start class a little late since I was all over the building looking for them. I was VERY frazzled! I had to write on the board since I didn't have the keys to the computer cabinet (had plans of powerpoint slides), kept dropping stuff, etc. My face gets red really easily too But I just kept going. I try not to let any lack of confidence show.

P.S. I did find my keys later

[wilmingtonangel]

Oh and about those disruptive students.......

I try to set the limits @ the beginning (I know harder than it sounds). Once I had a class that would just keep talking & talking while I was talking, and it really got worse as the semester went on. I would just get a little louder and keep talking til they shut up. Finally one day I just had had enough. I was writing on the board and I turned around and said "I can't believe I'm saying this to an adult class, but could you please stop talking so you could hear me talk?" or something like that. But it was the tone I used, and the fact that I was basicly saying "act like freakin adults people". It got much better after that.

Other than that, I have learned to keep going no matter what the disruption is.

[NJmmadude]

I can't believe that it's come to the point where classroom management issues exist in college classrooms. What the hell is wrong with students today?

[K-Luv]

I am not a teacher, but I have had teachers that went through similar situations as the OP.

I have a professor this semester who has no bones about calling out disruptive students. If you talk while he is giving lecture, he will single you out and humiliate you (tastefully) in front of the whole class. Same if you are texting. And, if your phone goes off...well, he will keep reminding you of it, in front of the class, for days on end. Some students think that he is a little bit to hard and condescending, but most students think that his 'antics' are hilarious. And, I am quite certain, that he probably has the most well behaved classrooms on campus.