Yes - my students do confide in me when they encounter personal and academic problems. Sometimes too much! At that point I refer them to counseling.
Has this approach been successful for you, Mary? Do many of your students confide in you when they encounter problems?
Connecting with students was something I struggled with when teaching middle school for 15 years (I had forgotten what it was like to be 13!), but in the career college setting, it's entirely natural for me. I begin each new class I teach with a short description of my struggle as a working mom of three going back to school. I let students know that I know how tough it is to study and stay in school when you have multiple stressors trying to erode your confidence. I make it clear with this introduction that they can talk to me when things come up that affect their attendance, their grades, or their overall confidence.
Anthony, do you routinely include personal anecdotes from your experience in class or is that something you relate one-to-one?
having real world experience with life in general goes a long way in helping the student through a tough time
