As a beginning teacher, the author did not recognize that knowing her students was as important as knowing her subject. Teachers should personalize assignments and ask students to write a letter about themselves, write notes explaining tardiness or late homework, create learning logs, and help solve classroom problems. (MLH)

Transactional evaluation is a valuable communication tool for drawing out and resolving beneath-the-surface elements that hinder educational goals. (Author)

Research suggests that adults can help students become more responsible by teaching them new ways of thinking about self-control and new skills and strategies for self-control. (JM)