Teachers should always value their students' lived experiences. In a welcoming learning environment, all students can share a pearl of wisdom from their experiences and diverse backgrounds. Teachers and students should hone communication skills at every opportunity, but active listening skills are imperative for gaining trust and respect. Reading body language is also crucial in understanding each student and their comfort level within the setting. Over the years, I have learned much from students by facilitating creative and critical thinking exercises. Students should feel free to ask or question the material without reprisal, collaborate with their peers, and brainstorm new ideas on the information presented. 

The correct analogy for the mind is not a vessel that needs filling, but wood that needs igniting — no more — and then it motivates one towards originality and instills the desire for truth. - Plutarch