The successes and failures in implementing this strategy into your classroom

Many successful teachers use real life and real-world connections with their students to make connections with the content they are teaching as well as striving to motivate their students and letting them know they can achieve their goals and dreams despite obstacles along the way. How do you feel about this and do you feel comfortable doing this in your classroom? If you have used this strategy, can you please share either some the successes or failures or combination of the successes and failures in implementing this strategy into your classroom?