Raise or Raze?

There are so many characteristics of effective teaching. Here are a few :

1. Teaching to the whole student . This values the student’s background, culture, learning styles, and abilities. It fosters an understanding of where they came from and values the whole student. Empowering students can also be effected through the activities that take place as well.
2. Teaching that all students are valued, and all student work is valuable is also effective. Teachers begin with nurturing and encouraging characteristics which translate well for effective teaching. Such teachers care enough to make sure that the students are nurtured – the whole child is nurtured.
3. Keeping the classroom safe for all students to learn is also important. If the classroom is safe, students will be more willing to open up, become vulnerable, and take risks which will lead them on their way to becoming more independent and self-assured learners. Teachers can plan for this by structuring classroom rules, guidelines, and procedures ahead of time (collaborate with the students on the first day of class even) and post them, and refer to them throughout to keep the room safe and productive. Showing effective classroom management techniques can only benefit both teacher and student.
4. How a teacher sets up the classroom can be a characteristic of effective teaching. Organizing students into tables of four shows that the teacher wants to create a learning environment that promotes collaborative learning and teaching. Students are set up to work on projects (project-based learning is easier this way) and to talk in either pairs or groups.
5. Organization also translates well into the effective use of classroom time which then translates into knowing how students process information best. Allocating time should focus on student engagement rather than teacher-talk. Students need to engage with the materials and content to make learning meaningful for them.
6. The best teachers are knowledgeable on their subject material and can impart that knowledge in encouraging and engaging ways. This includes, for writing teachers, using digital means to produce writing, engaging with various forms of technology not only to be better writers, but for the teacher to use different media in the classroom in order to reach all of the different learning intelligences that are displayed in the classroom.
7. Being a reflective teacher.
8. Familiarity with every kind of assessment, evaluation and how to give the best possible feedback. Knowledgeable on school requirements and how best to work within given structures.
9. Teaching process writing . peer evaluations and feedback on writing. Revising, editing, but also being aware that there are many wonderful post process techniques that work well in a classroom.
10. Uses current pedagogy and methodology. The best teachers are lifelong learners and feel that they always have new things to learn and bring into the classroom.
11. Collaborates with colleagues
12. Sets high expectations. All students deserve a quality education and not just an education.
13. Professional
14. Knows the importance of silence. Is student-centered and acts as a facilitator