I am teacher but some of my students smirk at me, how can I fight back?

Question

I teach at a vocational technical night school. Most of my students are fine but some of them like to smirk when I am talking. You can tell they think I am a fool and they are laughing at me inside. It makes me ill at ease and destroys my self confidence.

I would like to hear from fellow teachers who may struggle with self confidence due to the smirks of the students. Can you relate?

Answer 1

well you might want to ask them why they are doing it and tell them thays it is not very nice

Answer 2

Involve those students in the discussion.  Ask them for their perspective on the problem being discussed.

Also, given the screen name you have used, make sure that you're not over-emphasizing your appearance and that you are dressing appropriately.  Dressing as an authority figure will help you be perceived as an authority figure.

Good luck.

Answer 3

As teachers we don't "fight" students; we teach them.  Now, many (or maybe most) of us have had times when we didn't feel that we were connecting with all the students.  I think you have to take a look at yourself and whether or not you are sending the right messages to this class.  Most vo-tech students I've known are coming to school after working all day and take their education seriously.  So, here are some questions for you:

Are you well -prepared for each class?

Are you business-like in your organization?  Do you have a syllabus for the course?  An agenda for each night you teach?  Have you given out a point system for how you are grading them? (e.g. 50 pts. - Quz 1, 50 pts. Quiz 2, 75 pts. - paper, 100 pts. final exam)  This sets a tone of seriousness about your course.

Have you told the students when they will have tests?

Do you talk to them as adults?  You are an adult and you have to address them as adults.

Is the content engaging?

What strategies are you using?  Are you just lecturing or are you having them do group work or work in pairs at times?   Are you using visual aids?  Power Point? Slides?  

Do you sound confident?  Practice in front of a mirror at home.  Remember a teacher whom you really respect.  Try to emulate that person to a degree.

Since  I don't know the course you're teaching I cannot help you beyond giving you the ideas above which have worked for me.

Answer 4

Stop having such a high opinion of yourself,maybe that's why they don't like you.

If you really looked like a model,you'd be one,not a teacher

Answer 5

I'm guessing you teach young adults because you're teaching night school. Obviously they are not taking you seriously. Maybe they need their expectations to be clear and that you mean business. Here is a great teacher's creed that hangs in my classroom. (link below)

You might want to check out some classroom management skills books.

Answer 6

There really is no "fight back" in this situation.  You have to ignore it.  Stand up, keep your voice confident, and don't even look at them.  Keep reminding yourself that you have the ultimate decision on their grade, and even if they're a jerk, they can't pass if they don't actually learn.  The more you lose confidence in yourself, the more you'll falter in your posture, and the more they'll think less of you.  Also, remember that they may not even be laughing at you.  It could just be a face that they're making about something completely different or that they just make.  

I assume that you're working with adults.  If it was kids, I would suggest speaking with them about their attitude and reminding them that you are the teacher and you aren't going to tolerate an attitude in your room.  However, with adults, I think you need to actually ignore the attitude and prove them wrong by maintaining your authority.

Good luck.