I'll be honest, I frequently have trouble holding the attention of my students. I not only have a Plan-B, but C & D, for most days because my students are geared up for hands on application / skill - based learning. I try to have activities, visuals to support lectures, and group work; however, (and the students often let me know) they are culinary students first (which I think is honest and okay). The students want to be up and about with a knife or rolling-pin in their hands, creating something. They do not come to my class with the… >>>

As part of my first day, first class meeting, I lay out my expectations for student work and class participation. I will go through what I sincerely believe to be the habits of an A student, a B student, etc. I will then ask each student to take a moment and reflect on what kind of a student he or she wants to be this term. I will then explain to my students what I believe about Cs in courses outside their core focus area. I ask them to think about the importance of an A in 20th Century Literature… >>>