A.

Characteristics of Effective Teachers

An effective teacher is a teacher who can help others learn and grow into a better individual.
An effective teacher possesses a variety of pedagogical practices that tend to a student's
needs; these include patience and care for others, good communication, the ability to
handle or deal with problems appropriately, and passion and enthusiasm when it comes to
what they are teaching.
I am creative, passionate, patient and caring. In addition, I have a variety of learning styles
to help me make sense of new ideas, so I like to teach in various styles that can meet the
learning needs of my students. I also try to get to know students and their parents better
by talking to them because I know that having good communication is the key to having
good relationships. Growing up in an underprivileged family, I am also very understanding
of and sensitive toward different socioeconomic situations and cultural differences.

I value

and respect differences in beliefs and practices among others and I strive to make my
students more aware and accepting of each other's differences.

By being more

understanding of students and their situations, I have realized that I am more likely to work
out problems better when they occur.
Teaching is something that I have always enjoyed doing because it feels rewarding to help
others learn something new. I am truly grateful for all my mentors, tutors, and teachers
who have helped and inspired me into being the very best that I can be because now I can
do the same for others.
Effective teachers have confidence in their abilities no matter what the classroom situation,
there are characteristics and qualities that effective teachers have in common. The qualities
and characteristics work together in gaining the children's respect and making the
classroom a fun, dynamic arena of learning.

B.

Students need to understand their teacher's expectations for both school work and

classroom behavior. Classroom rules and discipline plans should be clearly posted in the
room. Further, students should be able to tell someone visiting the classroom exactly how
their grades are determined. Assignments that are often repeated, like book reports, should
have a standard rubric that students understand. Finally, grading should be completed
quickly so that students have feedback from which they can review for quizzes and exams.
When you walk into a classroom and see the students engaged in what is going on, learning
is taking place. Teachers who are able to have students involved and working have the best
chance of success. One way to accomplish this is to help your students become more
involved in decision making for their own educational experience. For example, have
students help create the rubric for a large assignment with your guidance. Another way to
give students more control is by giving them choice when they are completing assignments.
For example, in a lesson on the 1960's, students could study the music, the art, the
literature, the politics, or the Vietnam War. They could then present their information
through a variety of methods. Keeping students engaged is definitely a key factor in a wellmanaged classroom.

C.

In an effective classroom setting, the focus of lessons is the student. In a classroom

where the teacher does little more than stand in front of the class and talk, there is a much
greater chance of losing student interest. Lessons should be developed with the students,
their interests, and abilities in mind.
Students are engaged to a much greater degree through varied instruction. Sticking to one
method of delivery is monotonous and should be avoided. Instead, a mix of learning
activities like whole group discussions, teacher-led discussions, and role playing exercises
can help keep students involved in the curriculum while meeting the needs of those with
different learning styles.
In the best classrooms, students are able to see the connection between what they are
learning about and real life. By making these connections, learning becomes much more
personal and teachers have a much greater chance of keeping students engaged. Without
connections, students often lose focus, complaining that they just don't see why they need
to learn the topic being taught. Therefore, try to fit how what you are teaching relates to
the student's world in your lessons every day.
A confident teacher conveys information in a manner that is exciting, not overwhelming or
frightening. Confidence is contagious. If a teacher speaks in a clear, confident manner and
exudes authority, the students sense her confidence and react positively. A teacher
challenged during a lesson plan shows the students respect, maintaining her confident
attitude. Listening to the argument, and not merely dismissing the student, goes a long way
in solidifying a teacher's position as the authority figure in the classroom.

D.

Effective teachers are passionate about the learning process. The teacher needs to

have an excitement in her as she enters the classroom. If the teacher truly believes in what
she is teaching, that passion will rub off on the students. If the teacher cares, the students
will. The passion for teaching comes out naturally in effective teachers.
The most effective teachers refuse to give up even if the students do not grasp a new
concept. A calm demeanor reinforces not only that the concept is important, but also that
the students are important enough to warrant extra teaching effort. This combination of
consistency, perseverance and patience will give the students and teacher a positive
experience when the subject matter is learned.
The ability to find humor in a situation will go a long way in establishing credibility for the
teacher and put the classroom at ease. The ability to laugh, point out the humor in a
situation, and tell a story allows a teacher to connect with students. When a teacher makes
a mistake and laughs it off, it shows the students that he's human and not afraid of messing
up. That makes it easier for students to make mistakes, realizing that everyone makes
mistakes.
Routines and rules are important in the classroom, but so is flexibility in adjusting those
routines when something unexpected happens. Effective teachers know how to make
adjustments in the lesson plan when called for, and maintain their positive attitudes when
doing so.

E.

Where and how the students are seated plays an important role in classroom

dynamics. Depending on the size of the room, students should be seated in pairs or threes,
always facing the front of the class. Facing the front means that their eyes are always on
the action, minimizing distractions. Using pairs or groups of three allows you to partner
students up according to their abilities, blending their talents for the best possible learning
environment. Finally, having students sit in paired rows means that you are never more
than three or four steps away from being present to their needs and problems.
Just as not all teachers teach the same, not all learners learn the same. Varying your
approach to lessons will help you to reach all of the learners in your classroom. Using
different methods to teach the same content increases the chances of the curriculum hitting
home. What one student learns from a book, another will learn from acting the material out.
Teaching lessons that are out of your comfort zone will also keep both you and the material
fresh for the students.
Technology is key for today's generation of learners. Most students can handle a mouse,
surf the Web and load a DVD before they even start preschool. It's surprising how many
different ways you can teach the same curriculum. From computer labs to interactive
clickers, from interactive Internet games to movies, students will love the varied
opportunities to express their learning through the technology found in your classroom.
Having a multimedia approach to providing curriculum will excite your students to learn.

F. Students of all learning levels take pride in the work they produce. Displaying all
student work around your classroom will encourage students to continue working and to
better themselves. Your students will learn from each other by checking out each other's
work. Nothing matches the look on a student's face when one of his friends comments, "I
wish I had thought of that."
Teacher-Student-Parent communication is key to any child's school success. The same thing
is often said in many different ways in an effective classroom. By communicating
expectations clearly to both students and their parents, everyone becomes eager to move in
the same direction. There are a number of different methods you can use to communicate
with both students and parents: homework board, daily agenda, weekly/monthly notes,
classroom website/blog and telephone calls.
Children love routine and consistency. When they know and understand the rules, students
can then concentrate on learning. In an effective classroom there are always the same
consequences for the same behaviors. A good teacher never plays favorites, giving the
same punishment to a good student who steps out of line as to the student that needs
constant reminders. Once consistent discipline has been established, it's amazing how easy
instruction becomes.