Any Teachers Out There?

Hey all,

I'm currently a teaching assistant for first year undergraduates at a top US university.  I'm planning on making teaching a career (although, I would prefer to teach much younger kids...like elementary), and there's a classroom situation that's got me a bit down!

So there's one specific kid in my class, and I feel as though he asks questions solely for the purpose of screwing me up and getting me a bit flustered.  I've been told by the professor himself that (as unfair as it may be in this day and age) first years often pick on females a bit more, and this kid definitely does.  He's very argumentative in the way he asks his questions...I could tell him the sky was blue and he'd try and argue that it was technically more of a baby blue.  Generally, when he asks questions, I ignore the obvious attitude, answer the question, and move on.  Today was a bit different...

He asked me a question and unfortunately I did get a little flustered.  I said something pretty obviously stupid and got laughed at a little by my class.  One of the other students, seeing my frustration, told him to lay off, and I moved on from that moment fairly quickly.

It's a bit of an odd situation being a TA...I'm at most 4 years older than the students I'm teaching, and I don't think they respect me as much as they should (I am, after all, the one responsible for all their grading).  I've taken a relaxed approach with them thus far and today's incident makes me think I should rethink my strategies.  

Any tips?

This is a difficult question to answer because a lot of the tone of a class is set by their first impression of you, and that can't be changed.  So, some of my advice may pertain more to future classes you teach.

• Are you dressing older than the class?  If not, you should.  Especially when you're so close in age, make sure you dress as professionally as possible to set the "I'm the teacher" image.  This becomes less necessary when you're obviously older than the class.
• Make sure you know that day's topic cold.  And, if you don't know the answer to a question (assuming it's not a crucial point), tell the student you'll be happy to answer that during office hours.  That'll give you a chance to prepare.  If it's an important point, be honest that ou don't know and say you'll get back to them.  Or, if it's something you're confident that you can work through, solve it with the class.
• You have to believe that you're the one in charge.  If you don't believe it, the students won't either because your body language will give it away.

Hi!  First of all, don't let one students bring you down.  Do your best to move on whenever that student makes you feel bad.  Second, you are not expected to know everything or to be able to explain everything perfectly.  So the next time that student gives you a hard time, just tell him if he wants a more thorough explanation, he can stay after class.  Don't play his game!  Don't give him the satisfaction of trying to answer his questions.  And most importantly, have confidence!  You're a great TA, and so don't worry so much!   Good luck!

I'm an adjunct professor at a small college and have also worked at a very large institution...  I currently teach graduate students, however, I have also done the undergrad thing too....  Students, undergrads especially, sometimes feel like they have something to prove.  They will challenge you at every step -- you simply need to do 2 things:  1) be confident in yourself and your knowledge and, 2) don't ever treat them as "friends" or "equals".  You are the TA -- you control what occurs in your class!

What field of study?  That can also make a difference -- abstract subjects or the "soft sciences" can present a problem whereas more concrete subjects (e.g., finance, chemistry, physics) are much less prone to push-back.

I teach Economics, and first year Economics focuses on trying to get students to "think like an economist".  There can definitely be some resistence...I don't think half my students would have even taken Economics if it wasn't required by the business school!

Original Post by fillenouvelle:

I teach Economics, and first year Economics focuses on trying to get students to "think like an economist".  There can definitely be some resistence...I don't think half my students would have even taken Economics if it wasn't required by the business school!

My undergraduate major is in Economics!

I am a college student.

Some of these kids are new to each other, so they will try to impress their peers by "outsmarting" the teacher and making them look stupid. Don't take it personally, but they are trying to use you in order to look tougher.

I like everyone's idea that you should respond with something like, "We have a lot to cover today and we only have X amount of time. If you want I could answer that during my office hours."

Or, if they keep bugging you, say something like, "Hmm, good question, I'm curious to know as well. Why don't you do some research on that question and tell us about it next class?" And at the beginning of the next class, call that student out and ask them about their research.

If you find yourself messing up, just laugh at yourself and go with it. You will have more fun in your class and you will have a higher self esteem because little things like that will roll off your shoulder if you laugh. My English professor screws up all the time, and he just laughs at himself and whines how he's getting old. My funnest class.