Personal attention
do a meet and greet every morning at the class room door this makes the student know he is welcome not just a number hold a conversation for a minute or so be available to the students when in lab speak to each student about what's going on make sure they are getting every thing possible out of every lab don't let a couple of students monoplize your time that gets into another problem be happy be square with the students give them that personal touch and in most cases it will be one of the best classes you've had
Perhaps I am fortunate in that the majority of my classes are structured as studio classes. I am able to spend the first 30-45 minutes going over topics and then 4 hours going from workstation to workstations sitting with them and helping them with their portfolio projects. Halfway through I give another short presentation or demonstration and follow up often showing some of the classwork to date encouraging class discussion and critique of student work. This has the added benefit of peer critique and teaches them how to make,take and respond to construction criticism. I also bring in other experts throught the term to wander the class and sit with students helping them one on one.
MEETING AND AKNOWLEDGING STUDENTS AT THE START OF THE CLASS COMES NATURALLY AS EACH OF THEM WALK INTO THE CLASSROOM I JUST STAND BY THE DOOR AND WELCOME THEM INTO THE CLASSROOM, THE ONES THAT ARRIVE EARLY HAVE EXTRA TIME TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION MORE SO THAN THE ONES WHO ARRIVE LATE, BUT BY CREATING A HABIT OF IT SOONER OR LATER YOU HAVE BUILT A GOOD RAPORT WITH YOUR STUDENTS.
I presume we must all make our students feel welcome in a manner with which we are comfortable ourselves. I personally greet the students as a whole, however, I try to make eye-contact with everyone of them individually during my lecture, and I encourage the quiet students to reply to open-ended questions with no right or wrong answers.
