Characteristics Of An Effective Teacher

Educational Philosophy: The Making of an Effective Teacher

What are characteristics of effective teachers? What is a learning style and why is important for teachers to understand their personal learning style and those of their students? There are multiple definitions of what effective teachers are and how their effectiveness is measured. There are several qualities that effective teachers should possess. Matthew 19:14 says “But Jesus said, Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (King James Version). Teachers should ensure that they are doing their best to help their students learn according to each student’s individual needs. Aspiring teachers need to know the characteristics of effective teachers in order to become better teachers themselves. Effective teachers understand their own learning styles, create a community of learning that includes classroom management and parental involvement, use motivation techniques, differentiate instruction, and have a personal Christian educational philosophy.

Discussion of key terms

There are several key terms that are discussed in this paper. The term “effective teacher” is used frequently in the field of Education. There are varied opinions about the exact definition but for purposes here, an effective teacher is a teacher who displays specific characteristics that are needed in creating the best learning environment for students. “Learning styles” refers to the different ways in which individuals learn. Bostrom (2011, p. 18) supports this definition stating “Theories of learning style simply assume that everyone can learn, but in different ways and levels.” Differentiated instruction describes methods used by tea...

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...xcited about learning. “Thinking about and planning uses of technology in the classroom (e.g., emails, blogs, and websites) is essential for building an efficient classroom environment” (2010, p. 4). The use of technology in classrooms to differentiate instruction has several valuable uses and can be positive if used correctly.

Ability Grouping

Effective teachers use ability grouping to differentiate instruction in their classrooms. In a study conducted by Alcock and Hulmes (2010), “Students differentiated by ability experienced more variety as they were grouped according to aptitude for specific skills, which differed by task” p. 76. There are several methods teachers can use to group their students. An example of in-class ability grouping would be to have math or reading groups in which students read or work problems that are on their individual levels.