I have had some great times when I was well-rested and focused on the students but I have also had times when I was teaching too many hours and going to clinical sites and having a hard time of just getting enough sleep. My work at home was grading papers and my family / social life was next to nothing. Focusing on students happens best when I am well-paced at work and not overloaded with tasks.

I have found that when course content is supported by my own professional experiences, or by my student's own experiences, it is usually remembered by the class better than when presented as simply text or other traditional methods.

I use my syllabus as a guide and include a class calendar so my students have a clear picture of goals and assignment due dates.

I try to change the environment when I can by doing post-conference in different places. This gives the students an opportunity to see possible employment opportunities.