Make the subject accessible to students. It is vital that night school students be able to relate directly to whatever they're studying. Find out what they each do for a living and be prepared to describe connections between the subject matter and your students' daily lives.
Set clear goals for students and check in regularly. Night school students are taking special time out of their lives to attend school so keeping motivation high is a top priority. To do this, make clear exactly what students must do in order to be successful in your class. Meeting to discuss their progress toward these goals inspires students to continue classes and empowers them to take control of the educational experience.
Keep detailed records of attendance, test scores, class participation and project grades. The records will help you assess where students stand in achieving their goals. Likewise, many night school programs must maintain and submit these records in order to receive funding.
Create a supportive atmosphere. Remember that night school students are changing their schedules and potentially sacrificing time with their families in order to obtain an education. Allow them to speak to each other about their families, their future hopes and their daily struggles. Communicating like this will allow them to build a network of support that will encourage them to finish the program.