The Importance Of Being An Effective Teacher

Every classroom is individual because every child within it is different and the teacher unique, but how is the teacher shaped? Being trustworthy, patient, organised, knowledgeable, charismatic and enthusiastic are all qualities, perceived by copious different people, of an effective teacher, but a teacher is not distinguished alone on any one element, for example ‘a teacher is judged not on personality, but on effectiveness. Being effective does not mean being perfect…but bringing out the best in pupils’ (Cullingford, 1995:xii).

Many, including Beauchamp and Thomas, 2009 and Stenburg, 2010 identified that the teacher’s own personal experiences throughout their life, such as cultural backgrounds, psychological make-up and own education, shape

As knowledge and experiences continue throughout life in response to circumstances, modifications of both self-identity and professional-identity are ever present, and being able to reflect on who you are and why, is imperative. Because of this, as professed by Day and Assunção-Flores, ‘learning to become an effective teacher is a long and complex process’…being shaped, reshaped and reflected upon many times, especially over the first two years of teaching (2006:219).

Teachers’ professional identities are currently undergoing profound change due to the expediting revolutions of the modern world, but ‘to meet these challenges teachers need a robust sense of personal-identity and a commitment to professional development and reflective practice’ (Gu 2007:4, cited Pollard, 2014). Thus, teachers must arbitrate between the past, present and future as ‘an education system needs to serve the needs of society when that society is undergoing profound and accelerating change…the teaching profession is a key mediating agency for society as it endeavours to cope with social change and upheaval’ (Coolahan, 2002:9 cited Pollard, 2014:4). Teachers’ knowledge, values and beliefs are subjected to constant re-examination and testing by the process of change in the modern society…hence, reflection. But this reflection is not just a moral act, but a decree set by the Department of Education for Teacher Standards (2011:7), as stated in point 14. ‘Appropriate self-evaluation, reflection and professional development activity is critical to improving teachers practice at all career