Sometimes you are lucky enought to find a cominality among the students on a particular subject that is outside of the corriculum. Saving this info for the right time may be helpful. When you have lost focus from the students bring up this subject for a Quick discussion. Keep it brief and return to classswork after the students attention has returned. This has worked for me.

Holding students interests in this fast paced world of media means that in order to hold the attention of some students, one might have to become at least a little bit of an entertainer.This is not to mean that the "Show" out entertains rather than the teaching aspect but augments it instead.

One of the methods presented to me by a seasoned instructor is to pull the student into the hall away from everyone and say " I noticed that you seem to be having a hard day can i help you?"Then let the student talk. when he finishes give them a few seconds and then remind them that they can't disrupt the others in the room.If this fails the call the superviser and have them help with the situation

Mybe finding another way to discuss WIIFM Might be the ticket to reach these students

While is some settings this may be alright to use as an example for the students, it may not be the right way to express it as some of our students pay for the courses themselves and may think that they are the ones with the gold.

Would'nt it be better to assess a student rather than test them.

How about creating a atmosphere of competitive learning?

I am lucky in the fact that our ed instructor Walt has mentioned this time and time again to us as to the way we should be teaching our Classes in so doing has given me a head start on this important lesson.