- Think about why the particular issue is a problem for you – Are you personally offended or does it negatively impact the learning environment? Understanding this may help you decide how to act.
- Develop ground rules (preferably with the input of students) at the beginning of the semester about how students are expected to act. Revisit those rules when appropriate.
- Discuss the issue with the student to better understand why they are late, rude, etc. Help them problem-solve and come up with possible solutions.
- Have a consequence that is appropriate for their actions – losing points, working alone on a project, extra work to make up time lost, etc.
- Clearly state your policies and expectations for attendance, attitude, etc. in your syllabus. Make sure students acknowledge they read the syllabus at the start of the semester.
- Design a learning activity that is beneficial for students either because of the learning and information it provides, or the points they earn, and schedule it for the first 5 minutes of the class.
For help with a specific issue, contact Meghan Kennedy (meghan.kennedy@gccaz.edu) at the CTLE to brainstorm ways to improve the classroom experience for everyone.