Ginny Johnson

Lily,

I am so much like what you have described here. I teach culinary math and I tell them up front on day one that I am human and I will make mistakes. I think that is important as well. I also try to relate the subject to something in life they may understand. Like with conversions, I use the analogy of a road map. Everyone has been in a car or on a bus or some form of transportation.

Laurel Bird

This is an excellent point and can be challenging depending on the material that is to be presented. I taught a vet terminology course last quarter and tried to find interesting ways to help students in the each group connect with information.

Jennifer Buchanan

A great icebreaker is to pair students up and give them a set of interview questions. Have the students interview and introduce each other.