Effective Teaching

           I was asked what I thought were behavioral qualities of an Effective Teacher. These are my thoughts after my own reflection on this semester and my own students.                   
                                                          Building Relationships and having fun in learning.

           
          Effective teaching is performed by teachers who have a passion to change the lives of their students. An effective teacher is an excellent communicator who knows his/her audience. They are up to date on new trends in teaching and have quality teaching behaviors in the classroom. Effective teachers are compassionate, understanding and driven. They care about the students and are always raising the bar leading them towards success. 

The effective teachers know their students’ needs based on test data and teacher observations. Their teaching revolves around the standards and expectations of the School, School System and State. The effective teacher uses the data to teach to the needs of the students. They know how to link standards to the lessons being taught and that linkage allows the effective teacher to overlap standards from lesson to lesson.

Effective teachers are teaching a process for learning. This is very evident in reading in the content area where the effective teacher becomes a reading teacher using the content as the instrument to increase comprehension. The effective teacher is making learning purposeful, meaningful and engaging for their students. Creating an atmosphere of trust and caring the effective teacher builds relationships with their students. Educators all agree when you have purposeful students they take ownership for their own learning. 

In today’s society all teachers are measured by the outcomes of the students. The teachers across the country that are data driven, use quality teaching practices and have the passion of a head coach, leading students, are the effective teachers. They welcome testing as if a championship game. The educational growth of the students is the ultimate prize, and just like a head coach an effective teacher reevaluates their game plan just after moments in the students learning that lead to evaluation, reflection and reassessment.