I teach at a for profit career college and worry that enrollment is down that they may close.  With many of these types of colleges closing due to reporting fraud, I think that career colleges have gotten a bad rap.  I hope you have found something rewarding and better.

I could use some tips on this as well.  I am a Dental Assisting instructor and have a handful of students that don't do their homework or turn in thier study guides.  I agree the near failing grades don't seem to affect them.  These students are adults and still can't seem to get it together to turn in thier assignments.  I like the idea of the check off sheet.  

I have never heard of a saying that would help the student remember to capitlize the I; however when I am giving directions or explaining a something to them I remind them that we are "writing" and not texting...I don't want to see and idk's or lol's and lower case i's when speaking of themselves.  You many have to continually remind them.

This is true, many times adults who have been out of school for a long time are reluctant to enroll as well as younger students who may have struggled during high school.  I always pair up "mature" students with each other if I can, it helps them to get a feeling of belonging.  Our program has helped many students who have previously not succeed in a academic setting turn it around and become successfull students.

I am an instructor with students ranging from 18 to about 35, many of the techniques I use I get from my daughter who is a 3rd grade teacher.  Students are students, many of the behaviors seen in 3rd grade shows up in my classroom.  Students of all ages learn with repetition and all seem to enjoy games.  We tweek games that are played by people on their phones, and turn them into dental related games.  The students at times get very competitive abd they are becoming involved in the process.