Comment on Andrea Santos's post: I totally agree with you. I feel like if a student is able to explain it to another student then hopefully that means they are getting it.

As an educator, it is important to create a teaching environment that fosters creativity by helping to arrange group activities, building motivation, and by encouraging flexibility of thinking.

Service learning is a great way for students to integrate community service with practical, hands-on experience that will help them prepare for their future careers. 

You try to use different methods to keep the students engage and interested in the material they are learning. You can use surveys, different videos from other professors, to help keep the students engage.

To tell your students a little bit about yourself and your work background. Also to try to get to know the students names or what names do they like to go by. 

It helps to have a checklist so that you know what has been discussed or dealt with and what still needs to be addressed. Also it would be handy to keep a notepad to jot down anything that comes up that needs to be addressed later on so that you don't forget.

"You can be a friend to a student but not a pal."  Especially being a new instructor to not fall trap into trying to become a friend and to keep a professional distance from the students.