Communication with Students

TA:
The first thing to remember is to not take it personally! My approach is to try to understand what is causing the problem. For example, is a student dominating section time because they like to hear themselves talk or because they are extremely excited about the topic? Sometimes, it is helpful to talk to the student during office hours, try to understand their motivation better, and then voice your concerns in a reasonable manner. Yet, if you are even a little nervous about handling the problem yourself, you should ask for help. The best place to call is the Ombuds Office; they are there to give you advice on how to handle any situation. 

Professor:

I remember when I was a TA, I had a very difficult student in my class. He tried to physically and verbally intimidate me about several things he was dissatisfied with, such as having to do assignments, his grades, and so forth. Much later, word had gotten to the department chair about my experience with this student. The chair was upset that I hadn’t asked for help and/or advice while all of this was going on. He told me that I didn’t have to try to solve the problem on my own. That message hit home with me. I’ve been teaching a long time now and know better how to handle difficult students, but I always try to make it clear to my TAs that they shouldn’t try to deal with difficult students by themselves. Come to me and we will try to find solutions in how to interact with the difficult student.