Reaching out to students has gone a long way with a task that is so small and simple. For students I notice who are absent or did not do well on an assignment, I like to email them and ask them if everything is ok or if there's anything I can do to support them. Often times the student is very gracious for the email, will show up more often in class, and will put in extra effort because they want to reflect the care in their work that they feel was extended to them.
