Listening to students is one of the most important skills I can use to teach. Understanding their needs and what they want to accomplish with their time in the classroom helps me to know how to present the information. Taking a few minutes to listen to their personal stories without getting caught up in drama, and being able to redirect back to a learning environment is somewhat an art. Doing so effectively helps the student to have confidence without making their story seem unusual or out of place, which, sometimes it is.
