As the semester progresses and you become more familiar with your students, consultation hours can be used with increasing effectiveness to address individual learning problems. For instance, almost every semester you will teach a few shy students who consistently do well on written assignments but who are initially reticent in class discussions. In consultation hours you can meet individually with these students and encourage them to participate in class by expressing your enthusiasm for their work and urging them to share their good ideas with the rest of the section. In addition to advising and answering questions from individual students, consultation hours can also be used in a number of ways to supplement lectures and discussions. For example, special consultation hours can be scheduled to deal with particularly difficult material, or issues related to accommodating students with disabilities.
Any student needing more work on that material can report to the section review.
Group consultation hours can also be held for review sessions at the end of the semester. In meeting with students during the semester, aim at creating the sense that you will treat them fairly and without favoritism. Students with Personal Problems If a student with serious personal problems approaches you, refer the student to the Counseling and Testing Center. The center is described in more detail in the chapter on university services. You may offer to call and help the student make an appointment, but do not allow yourself to be put in the position of surrogate parent or psychotherapist.