Chapter 6 Notes

This section explores those factors that make a teacher effective. Recent research reveals that most variation in overall school effectiveness is due to classroom level factors rather than school level factors. For these reasons it is important to try to identify what makes an effective teacher. Many aspects of an effective  teacher could be having a positive attitude, the development of a pleasant social / psychological climate in the classroom, having high expectations of what pupils can achieve, lesson clarity, effective time management, strong lesson structuring, the use of a variety of teaching methods, using and incorporating pupil ideas, using appropriate and varied questioning. The teacher should have an intimate knowledge with his/her subject that is being taught to the students. A teacher should have strong teaching curriculum as well as having great classroom management skills. The teacher needs to able to discipline her class without hesitation. The teacher needs to be able to make decisions and act on her decision because if the students even think that her specific knowledge towards her subject of teaching is not known as it should be they will react. The teacher needs to have a good attitude towards her peers and her students. Teachers should communicate with other teachers and collaborate on any ideas/suggestions that they might have. Teachers also need to pause and reflect at the end of their day. They need to be able to make drastic changes if for some reason, their teaching technique is not working out for them in the classroom. They need to regroup and look over their curriculum and establish a way that will have the students interactive and interested in what he/she is teaching.