Navigating Difficult Situations in the Classroom Jessica Collett, Amy Jonason, and Melissa Pirkey Department of Sociology Notre Dame

Classroom Incivilities: disrespectful infractions that may be committed by students or instructors. Don’t only happen in the classroom!!

Prevention Make a good first impression. Set clear expectations. Don’t worry about whether students like you. Be tough, but flexible and generous when warranted. Keep yourself to yourself. Don’t try to convert students. Keep class interesting. Find ways to combat environmental factors that might cause problems.

Incivility in Action

What are other problems that instructors or teaching assistants might encounter with students (or worry about encountering)?

Role Playing Get into groups of 3-4. Choose three of the tricky situations up on the board to act out. Take turns serving as the student, TA, and observer(s).

Interventions Convert the beginnings of incivility into “occasions for explanations, fresh starts, and good humor.” Address uncivil behavior. Admit mistakes and address them constructively Use reflective listening (“so you are telling me that my syllabus has the papers due on a day when the university is closed?”) Resist making decisions under pressure. Anticipate and address issues of stress. Teach the language of respectful disagreement.

Discussion