i think it helps to stop and breathe and collect your thoughts before making any major decisions wheather in work related or home life. you will have more positive outcome.

i find that my students really like the short lectures and go to lab and put their hands on what we talked about in class. all students like lab. so i teach a lot out in the lab.

student will talk to you if you show them that you are a good listener and i mean listen to all they have to say. then they will open up to what is really on their minds. the word will get around to other students. like i said in my subject topic "Students Do Talk " i have had so many students drop in my class that are not even my students just to talk and tell me their issues.

I have found that students just want u to listen to them and respect what they have to say and then they will trust and open up to you.Then they will let you help them with their problems.Just be a good listener. And they will come to you.

As an instructor you have to be comfortable with the subject and know all there is to know about because students will test your knowledge on it . So how i do it is i study and look over notes and tests and review myself on entire subject until i know it well.

I think the first day is the most important day for the students, I let them know what we will be doing the whole course with a daily planner and this sets the pace , then we talk about rules and regs. and how i follow rules everyday and i will set an example for them and continue this from day 1 to day 15 .

I found that a daily planner works well for me because i do the same thing every course and i have become very comfortable with this and i give a handout to class on first day and then i write it on board everyday . this way there are no surprises and the students are very comfortable with this .

My biggest goal in class is to get my student involved in class on the first day . I feel that if you break the ice and start asking them simple questions from day one it sets the pace for the entire course.