Motivation is key, and it depends so much upon knowing my own subject because then you can weave their ideas back into the subject and keep them motiavted 

I have a processing disorder and dyspraxia, which means that everything linear is hard,  so it was interesting to hear that this 'disability' is a hard challenge in students and made me think about why some things are so hard for me! (Like multiple choice...:) I think what I must do better is to engage more with learning up front WHO my students are so that I can properly integrate their skills and make things more relevant for them (apply my teaching more to them specifically)