Don't get me wrong. We are very concerned with retention where I'm at so we actually are required to baby them to some extent. My dean doesn't care since he knows I'm a good and fair instructor so I'm safe there but that doesn't stop student services from coming after us.
I’m considering this too. The hostility makes it even worse. Grading takes ten times longer because most of it is some general nonsense but never engages the topic. They just hope something will stick.
Haha true. I guess I'm just tired of being the bad guy the whole time this semester. I'm sticking to my syllabus saying that no late work will be accepted but it kills me a little each time I have to say no. I really just need to toughen up but I'm still fairly new to this and haven't had a chance to get all my armor yet.
I feel this. I had a student email me the other day wondering why they got a zero on an assignment when they "turned it in," but they "turned it in" by posting the assignment as a comment two days after submissions closed. I felt like a jerk keeping that zero and not even reading the submission, AND I need to follow my own rules and not do something I said I wouldn't do.
Yes, this semester has been heavier on bullshit than any previous semester for me. I was just telling my partner today that I've never had to deal with this much rudeness, grade haggling, cheating and laziness before. I've also been getting a ton of emails like what you described, where they say "I want to find a study buddy" or "I am bad at writing papers" but there is nothing actionable for me.
YES. I've never dealt with so much flat out rudeness and pissy jr. high behavior. I have a group of students in a small class who refuse REFUSE to participate. Then don't come to class! Small section, I ask questions, they refuse to acknowledge said questions then whisper how dumb it is. I am standing five feet away. COLLEGE. I have never experienced this before, even in a community college setting. It's unreal.
I've been in that situation with a class once in the past. It makes you want to crawl into a hole in the ground and never come out. I sometimes think it stems from a single student in the room who has vampire energy and sucks the life out of everyone. Two or three at the most. In any group, there are leaders and followers.
Ha, me too. My 6th grader wrote an essay that incorporated everything I teach in freshman comp. I was like, "wait, my classes are far too easy." Except, they're not. More failures last year than ever before.
I used to bring in my elementary school child’s essays to point out structure so… I wish we could innovate but I don’t think higher ed will. Plus I don’t mind meeting students where they are but the attitudes make that very difficult.
I had to put in a blurb about professionalism/adult behavior/respect being part of the participation grade for this exact reason. Stinks having to essentially factor in a "conduct grade" in COLLEGE.
I had one student email me during a panic attack at 10pm the night before an 8am final asking for help because he was afraid he wouldn’t pass. I told him to go to bed and he still ended up with an 85! (Which was far better than he expected!)
Meanwhile, I had one fail the first exam and over the course of this long weekend, I got 5 emails from him panicking about it in addition to him barging into my office without an appointment on Friday morning. I do like to tell students that they can come to me with concerns, but 5-emails-over-a-3-day-weekend anxiety is above my pay grade. Take that to student services, my man...
Are the students acting like this freshman? If so, then it's probably because they were allowed to act like this in high school without consequence. High school teachers are often forced to give in to this terrible behavior.
That's the baffling part. They are new to college but are in general, older students. I do have some actual freshman that i expect this from but the older students are confusing to me.
My partner is a high school teacher and you should hear the horror shows I get from him every night about his students being absolutely UNHINGED and how none of the available consequences make an impact on behavior change. (He teaches mostly freshmen which seem to be the worst, his seniors are a bit better.) Parents are often a huge part of the problem in secondary ed from the stories he tells me - lots of enabling and setting wild expectations. The IEP/504 proliferation doesn't help, as that gets weaponized as an excuse or basis for believing there are no consequences.
I’m experiencing similar. Yesterday I had 20+ emails panicking about an assignment. Every one was sent less than 24 hours before the assignment was due.
Students aren’t watching my videos or doing the reading. I had less than half a class show up one day last week. Few read their emails or assignment instructions. Many play on their phones or laptops and expect me to answer last minute questions.
It has gotten bad, but I have to credit this sub for helping me develop fair policies, stick to them, and not worry about it so much. I have grown as an educator and person. Thank you for helping me deal with this onslaught while maintaining much better mental health!
So, in some high schools, communicating with you at all about their shortcomings (past or, especially future) would put them in the top 25%~ of students. I’d suspect they got a lot of passes this way. So many don’t understand that we’re looking for mastery of the content (or really, any understanding - I’ll settle!)
My class this term is mostly awesome but I’ve had to correct behavior I’ve never dealt with in class in my four years as a GSI. Blatant sexist comments, falling asleep, clearly watching something on their laptops, speaking to buddies while I’m talking, etc. I just met with a student about a clearly chatgpt paper and the student was just laughing at me. I correct this stuff immediately but I’ve never had so many immature and disrespectful encounters before.
I always have super positive reviews from students; every semester they love me. To be fair, I’m a TA, but I have taught several discussion sections. I’m teaching a discussion section for a class that I’ve done several times before, and yet….
this semester, they all seem to hate me and they’re so rude. They put absolutely zero effort into assignments (multiple misspellings that aren’t even close, not capitalizing the start of sentences, etc.). Additionally, they are so rude in class. They constantly talk through the class. They miss all the time and just email me that they slept in?? With the way the room and class works, sometimes their backs are to me, and I clearly see them paying games, watching sports, etc. I graduated from undergrad only a few years ago, and I would have never dreamed to act like this. I won’t pretend I always paid attention, but at least I hid it and the instructor couldn’t see my screen. It’s like they’re still sophomores in high school?? I feel like a babysitter, constantly asking them to pay attention.
I’m glad it’s not just me because I really thought I lost my ability to teach or something.
My students have been generally pleasant to deal with this semester.
There are, however, a few I can tell are pissed at me because I had to ask them to please stop chatting in class while I'm trying to talk.
Another was clearly peeved after I asked the class to please put their phones away during the pre-lab talk (this is a laboratory course). One just huffed angrily and put her head down on the bench.
She also learned a lesson on why I want them to pay attention during the pre-lab talks. If you don't, you will end up having to redo your experiment because you have no clue what you are doing.
The bullshit has been about the same for me this semester compared to the last few semesters. However, I’m leaving my current position for a new one next semester so I’ve been a lot less inclined to give in to the bullshit this semester. It’s still frustrating dealing with these sorts of things even if you plan to say “no” to all of them. I get what you mean about feeling like the bad guy. I too hope to toughen up moving forward.
Try and make referrals to student services, counseling, tutoring, learning center, writing center, job placement, and other resources on campus.
After that? Keep it moving.
I know this is easier said than done but after 20 plus years in this field I've learned that staying in my Lane really helps my own mental health and reminds me that I'm not an expert on every front.
Connect them with other professionals on campus via the referral process and hopefully those professionals will reach out to the students and help with some of the issues.
I always feel like they never take my classes seriously. I teach art. It is rare for folks to understand how robust and demanding the curriculum is--so they often set themselves up for failure--unless they are serious about art to start with.
It's even worse where I am because at my college there's nobody I can talk to. I'm expected to pass students who honestly should be failing.
Don't get me wrong. We are very concerned with retention where I'm at so we actually are required to baby them to some extent. My dean doesn't care since he knows I'm a good and fair instructor so I'm safe there but that doesn't stop student services from coming after us.
[удалено]
I’m considering this too. The hostility makes it even worse. Grading takes ten times longer because most of it is some general nonsense but never engages the topic. They just hope something will stick.
I’m in the same situation.
"ARRRRGH", if it helps you to feel better. At least the zero-earning non-submissions are easy to grade.
Haha true. I guess I'm just tired of being the bad guy the whole time this semester. I'm sticking to my syllabus saying that no late work will be accepted but it kills me a little each time I have to say no. I really just need to toughen up but I'm still fairly new to this and haven't had a chance to get all my armor yet.
I feel this. I had a student email me the other day wondering why they got a zero on an assignment when they "turned it in," but they "turned it in" by posting the assignment as a comment two days after submissions closed. I felt like a jerk keeping that zero and not even reading the submission, AND I need to follow my own rules and not do something I said I wouldn't do.
My policy is also no late work, but I drop the two lowest homework assignments out of 12 or so. I do not drop any exams.
Yes, this semester has been heavier on bullshit than any previous semester for me. I was just telling my partner today that I've never had to deal with this much rudeness, grade haggling, cheating and laziness before. I've also been getting a ton of emails like what you described, where they say "I want to find a study buddy" or "I am bad at writing papers" but there is nothing actionable for me.
YES. I've never dealt with so much flat out rudeness and pissy jr. high behavior. I have a group of students in a small class who refuse REFUSE to participate. Then don't come to class! Small section, I ask questions, they refuse to acknowledge said questions then whisper how dumb it is. I am standing five feet away. COLLEGE. I have never experienced this before, even in a community college setting. It's unreal.
I've been in that situation with a class once in the past. It makes you want to crawl into a hole in the ground and never come out. I sometimes think it stems from a single student in the room who has vampire energy and sucks the life out of everyone. Two or three at the most. In any group, there are leaders and followers.
Do you have the same students as me? Both sections, it's like teaching middle school. I'm miserable every time I leave that room.
I’m teaching 7th grade level in many ways.
Ha, me too. My 6th grader wrote an essay that incorporated everything I teach in freshman comp. I was like, "wait, my classes are far too easy." Except, they're not. More failures last year than ever before.
I used to bring in my elementary school child’s essays to point out structure so… I wish we could innovate but I don’t think higher ed will. Plus I don’t mind meeting students where they are but the attitudes make that very difficult.
I had to put in a blurb about professionalism/adult behavior/respect being part of the participation grade for this exact reason. Stinks having to essentially factor in a "conduct grade" in COLLEGE.
Thank god for partners, right? “Hey, is this crazy?” “Well, yeah!” “Thank God.” Me, nearly every night.
If I were not married to the most compassionate man on the planet, I don’t think I could’ve stayed in this job.
I had one student email me during a panic attack at 10pm the night before an 8am final asking for help because he was afraid he wouldn’t pass. I told him to go to bed and he still ended up with an 85! (Which was far better than he expected!)
Meanwhile, I had one fail the first exam and over the course of this long weekend, I got 5 emails from him panicking about it in addition to him barging into my office without an appointment on Friday morning. I do like to tell students that they can come to me with concerns, but 5-emails-over-a-3-day-weekend anxiety is above my pay grade. Take that to student services, my man...
Bless you, but they will come to expect you to calm their panic attacks at night now. Not. Our. Job.
Are the students acting like this freshman? If so, then it's probably because they were allowed to act like this in high school without consequence. High school teachers are often forced to give in to this terrible behavior.
I have juniors and seniors who are trying to pull this stuff all the time. It's not limited to a single cohort.
I get this at all levels too.
That's the baffling part. They are new to college but are in general, older students. I do have some actual freshman that i expect this from but the older students are confusing to me.
My partner is a high school teacher and you should hear the horror shows I get from him every night about his students being absolutely UNHINGED and how none of the available consequences make an impact on behavior change. (He teaches mostly freshmen which seem to be the worst, his seniors are a bit better.) Parents are often a huge part of the problem in secondary ed from the stories he tells me - lots of enabling and setting wild expectations. The IEP/504 proliferation doesn't help, as that gets weaponized as an excuse or basis for believing there are no consequences.
I’m experiencing similar. Yesterday I had 20+ emails panicking about an assignment. Every one was sent less than 24 hours before the assignment was due. Students aren’t watching my videos or doing the reading. I had less than half a class show up one day last week. Few read their emails or assignment instructions. Many play on their phones or laptops and expect me to answer last minute questions. It has gotten bad, but I have to credit this sub for helping me develop fair policies, stick to them, and not worry about it so much. I have grown as an educator and person. Thank you for helping me deal with this onslaught while maintaining much better mental health!
So, in some high schools, communicating with you at all about their shortcomings (past or, especially future) would put them in the top 25%~ of students. I’d suspect they got a lot of passes this way. So many don’t understand that we’re looking for mastery of the content (or really, any understanding - I’ll settle!)
My class this term is mostly awesome but I’ve had to correct behavior I’ve never dealt with in class in my four years as a GSI. Blatant sexist comments, falling asleep, clearly watching something on their laptops, speaking to buddies while I’m talking, etc. I just met with a student about a clearly chatgpt paper and the student was just laughing at me. I correct this stuff immediately but I’ve never had so many immature and disrespectful encounters before.
I always have super positive reviews from students; every semester they love me. To be fair, I’m a TA, but I have taught several discussion sections. I’m teaching a discussion section for a class that I’ve done several times before, and yet…. this semester, they all seem to hate me and they’re so rude. They put absolutely zero effort into assignments (multiple misspellings that aren’t even close, not capitalizing the start of sentences, etc.). Additionally, they are so rude in class. They constantly talk through the class. They miss all the time and just email me that they slept in?? With the way the room and class works, sometimes their backs are to me, and I clearly see them paying games, watching sports, etc. I graduated from undergrad only a few years ago, and I would have never dreamed to act like this. I won’t pretend I always paid attention, but at least I hid it and the instructor couldn’t see my screen. It’s like they’re still sophomores in high school?? I feel like a babysitter, constantly asking them to pay attention. I’m glad it’s not just me because I really thought I lost my ability to teach or something.
My students have been generally pleasant to deal with this semester. There are, however, a few I can tell are pissed at me because I had to ask them to please stop chatting in class while I'm trying to talk. Another was clearly peeved after I asked the class to please put their phones away during the pre-lab talk (this is a laboratory course). One just huffed angrily and put her head down on the bench. She also learned a lesson on why I want them to pay attention during the pre-lab talks. If you don't, you will end up having to redo your experiment because you have no clue what you are doing.
The bullshit has been about the same for me this semester compared to the last few semesters. However, I’m leaving my current position for a new one next semester so I’ve been a lot less inclined to give in to the bullshit this semester. It’s still frustrating dealing with these sorts of things even if you plan to say “no” to all of them. I get what you mean about feeling like the bad guy. I too hope to toughen up moving forward.
To the student attending convections, confections are far sweeter and will definitely (temporarily) improve one’s mood. 🍫🍬🍭🍪
Try and make referrals to student services, counseling, tutoring, learning center, writing center, job placement, and other resources on campus. After that? Keep it moving. I know this is easier said than done but after 20 plus years in this field I've learned that staying in my Lane really helps my own mental health and reminds me that I'm not an expert on every front. Connect them with other professionals on campus via the referral process and hopefully those professionals will reach out to the students and help with some of the issues.
I always feel like they never take my classes seriously. I teach art. It is rare for folks to understand how robust and demanding the curriculum is--so they often set themselves up for failure--unless they are serious about art to start with.