Cheyney Andrews

Understandably, many of my students have issues with failure. Many are adults and have not been in school for some years. It has been my practice to buttress my learned skilled with regards to aswaging fear with my ability to be affable. With all the psychology that entertains the notions of fear, I find that just being human with my students is usaully the best way to break through.

It is vital that as instructors we have new and interesting ways of delivering course content. Many times, I believe, retention issues can be better served if the classroom is a place where learning is fun.

I have always considered myself and engaging person, I can see when people are "off" and may need to chat. I have found that by just being 'human', being myself I can better indentify the needs of my students and get them the help they may need. It has been my experience, that a kind word and good listening skills will undoubtedly foster a good communication relationship with my students.

I used to fight the notion that our schools should be uniform. I was falsly assuming that meant I would lose any autonomy to teach the subject with my own sense of ownership. I now understand that the unifromity is key in how students interpret our function as a unified faculty and that that unity speeks volumes about our caring that student stay in school.

Most of the faculty at my school are trained in areas other than a traditional teacher. I remember a very bright day in my career when I began to understand attrition and that, with some very simple and logical changes in my behavior, I could affect the attrition rate at my school. I is good to take this course and understand that these issues seem daunting to an "under-trained" educator, however the information provided here is a useful resource.