Interacting with Students Do S and Don Ts

Interacting with Students – Do’s and Don’ts

Do:

·  Touch base with the teacher before you address the students. If possible, talk with the teacher by phone before your visit. He or she may clue you in on what to expect.

·  Ask students their name and use names whenever possible.

·  Maintain eye contact and move around the room. Smile.

·  Find out what the students already know about lawmaking before giving them the benefit of your knowledge.

·  Engage students early; let them participate often. Ask them questions and take time to answer theirs.

·  Use your sense of humor. They’ll appreciate it and you’ll enjoy yourself more.

·  If a student is inattentive, try to bring him or her into the discussion without pointing fingers.

·  Keep it simple. Give concrete examples of points you wish to make, keeping in mind the students’ frame of reference.

·  If you are able, offer to be a resource to the teacher and/or any students choosing to enter the essay contest. Give the teacher your contact information so he/she can reach you.

·  Be flexible and pay attention to your intuition about the interest/ability level of the class you are addressing. The enclosed outlines are only intended to help you in designing your classroom experience.

·  Depending upon the time you are allowed, a given outline may be too extensive or not extensive enough. Feel free to use any, all, or none of the materials provided—or to leave materials behind for the classroom teacher.

Don’t:

·  Assume you know the students’ level of understanding about the lawmaking process.

·  Use legalese!! If you find yourself lapsing into it (you’ll be clued in by the blank stares), back up and define your terms.

·  Allow students to behave in a disrespectful manner. Don’t ignore misbehavior, but stop and address it briefly and politely, without displaying anger. Explain what you expect from the students in general. Then move on. Let the teacher handle any further problems. If students continue to be disruptive, thank the teacher and the class for their time, leave any contest materials behind, and leave the classroom.

·  Forget there’s a time limit. You probably will have no more than 40 minutes in any classroom.

·  Offer to read, critique, or help to write a student’s essay. Feel free to answer any questions about the lawmaking process or steer the student toward resources, but do not assist in any actual essay writing or critiquing. If you are asked to provide such assistance, explain that, in the interest of fairness to all contestants, such help is prohibited. Any post-speech student interactions should be monitored by the teacher.