Nicole Yoacham

Use the techniques that build interest and develop student success. Be creative, passionate, and a little mysterious to keep them interested. Know when to change things and try new teaching methods.

Soft skills for the classroom are developed over time. They foster a learning environment and lead to student success. Tapping into those skills makes instructors more effective.

I loved the example of Steve Irwin. It's hard to remain passionate on difficult days, but keep with it, and it becomes infectious.

It's good to remind myself to be organized, patient, move around the classroom to engage with students, and be mindful of how I communicate. I think it's important to learn their names on the first day and start building the community.

I was surprised to learn there are 135 soft skills, and I appreciated specific skills for teaching. It helps to recognize the skills that are most useful in the classroom and be aware of skills I need to improve.

I learned that interpersonal skills are important for building a positive learning environment. I hope to model these skills every day in the classroom, even on difficult days.

Be the example! Teaching soft skills, such as teamwork and communication, is just as important as modeling them for the students.

It's important to continue educating students about the importance of soft skills for their success, and remind myself that it's also important to model those skills.