Jeanette,

I think it’s great that you noted that taking the time to get to know where our students are coming from, and asking them about their interests will not only help you make a connection with your students, but will create a better learning environment in your classroom. I really liked the idea of creating a contract with the students to ensure their own accountability for their actions, because this creates an environment where the student and teacher are working together to bring out the best learning environment for everyone.