Teacher Discussion Forums

How do you handle new students joining your class a month into the session? I've never had to deal with this before and am a bit worried! Do you just try to catch them up to the material already covered? Or send them back to do the first month? Or only admit people who already know all the first month's material?

Any advice welcome. Thanks!

Hah! I've been teaching in a college non-credit open-entry open-exit program for 37 years. We have students enter the class at any point during the semester; at any point during the lesson even! I stop the class, give them the welcome letter and the forms to fill out, and continue with the lesson. The students are welcome to get copies of what we have already done. (I have copies of those handouts in a file cabinet.) Since I don't give grades, I don't have to worry about that aspect of it. As the class goes along, I review as needed and just continue. We also have students leave during the semester, so we need the new students to balance out the class. I guess it would be strange to someone who isn't used to it. If you are teaching in a credit program that gives grades, you have to worry about making up the material. In my case, it's optional.

This is just the 'nature of hte beast,' at least with non-credit classes. I, too, have been teaching this type of class for a few years. It can be frustrating becaust you feel for your new students coming in who can't speak anything and you are practicing with vocab. and grammar they don't understand. Try to get some community volunteers in to help (or a friend) or partner them up with a more advanced learner. If there are volunteers, try to let them do a bit of intro. work if the new student is a true beginner (alphabet, numbers, basic info. questions). Good luck.

Because the student came into to your class, you have the responsibility to make him feel relaxed instead of anxious while facing new lessons and new classmates. Perhaps you have to spend some days with extra working load to test the new commer's level and decide whether to help him with the lessons or not.

hi,
it's quite understandable for a teacher to face some new faces and look at the curious eyes when you really dip yourself in the familiar learning environment. I met such problem several times.
say welcome to them, adjust the teaching speed in this lesson slowly, ask them some informatin after class, let several students help them according to their requirement, and direct their after-class preview, make another different test and evaluation for these students if possible and necessary.