I have learned that the enviornement in which you create for your student makes a big difference. Students have to feel confortable not only where they are learning, but how they are being taught, and by who is giving them the information. Each student is different so we must cater to each individaul by offering different learning techniques that will help the student. If someone is a visiual learner. they are not going to learn by lecturing, maybe do a little lecture, show charts, or a movie. You also have to understand the attention span of the human mind. The Tell, Tell, Tell technique, allows you to capture their mind in the beginning, by letting them know what they are going to learn, then actually teaching it to them, then telling them at the end again what you just went over and what is to come. Teaching students different motivational techniques is important as well. Help them with their goals, encourage them, give them the tools they need internally to succeed. When I speak to students that are in trouble, or wanting to leave school, I always let them know that I believe in them, and that I am on the journey with them. I have held one on ones with students where we have gone over their schedules, written out their goals, and plans for how to achieve them. We've look at internal motivators and stakeholders in their lives. It help tremendously. It is something I am also incorporating into my new student orientation, so I can help them before they need help.
