Darrell Sykes

Managing student behavior can be tricky, but I've found that open and honest communication is key.  Whether a students is quiet and inattentive, or loud and disruptive, often if you just approach them and acknowledge that you've noticed a behavior, and ask what you can do to help support them, they tend to be much more receptive.

Students may often disengage when they feel lost or like they aren't understanding.  This also happens when a student doesn't see the relevance of the information, or thinks it's not important.  I like to simply ask the students, "why do you think this information is important for you to know?".  This gives them a chance to reflect and identify the value of the information.

It's very important that students know what to expect from a class before it starts.  This is where your syllabus comes in handy.  I want to make sure that each student understands the different types of assignments, my expectations, and can share any concerns they might have.

When I'm introducing myself to a class or student for the first time, one of the first things I touch on is asking questions.  I make it very clear that my classroom is a judgement-free zone, and that no question is "stupid".  However, I do provide them with various venues to ask their questions, in the event that they still aren't comfortable asking something publicly.  In my experience, just having an option for them makes them feel more comfortable from the start, and they will be more likely to ask questions as they arise.

Many people benefit from different learning styles depending on the information being presented, how it's presented, etc.  Nobody learns by only ONE learning style.  I think it's important to mix up your teaching styles, and push students to be open to other learning styles as well.

Motivating students is important, but isn't necessarily difficult if you're focused on doing your job correctly.  Showing up, being present and active in the classroom, and sharing your excitement for the field is really all you have to do.

I like the REFOCUS concept because it does happen that you find yourself feeling like you or your class has 'stalled' and you really do need to find a way to refocus.

The human factor is important because we are models of professionalism; something for students to aspire to be.  As such, students need to remember that although we are professionals and we take what we do seriously, we are also human and we make mistakes sometimes.  Especially in my field, there's always an expectation of "perfection" and it's important to remind students that nobody is perfect and those expectations are not realistic.

Each student is unique and comes with their own learning styles and life experiences.  It's important to be able to adapt to students of different ages, backgrounds, etc. so that they can be successful.

Preparation is important for every single class, even if you've taught that particular class 100 times.  You have to be ready for questions that you've never been asked before, and new classroom situations.  Every class should be unique, even though the same content is being covered.