Reflection Of Teaching: My Vision Of Effective Teaching

According to Webster’s online dictionary, effective is defined as “successful in producing a desired or intended result” and teaching is defined as “activities that impart knowledge or skill”. A combination of these two definitions could lead one to believe that effective teaching is activities that impart the desired knowledge or skill. While this definition is very concise, I would propose that the definition is missing an important aspect. Teaching, or instructional activities become effective when the activities meet the needs of the students (Wang & Cai, 2007). In order to meet the students’ needs, their needs must be known. Hence, my vision of effective teaching is the process of knowing the students in order to create the ideal learning environment that will lead to the acquisition of the desired knowledge and skills.

The purpose of this paper is threefold. First, my vision of effective teaching will be further explained and supported. This will be followed by the explanation of a

In order to build in this way, teachers must be knowledgeable of these skills and experiences. From this standpoint, it is imperative that teachers become aware of the students’ proficiencies and experiences in mathematics. Possible means for obtaining this information could be from the students’ former teachers, previously taken standardized tests, and prior academic records (e.g. report cards and transcripts). Recognizing that these items may not be all inclusive, especially if the students have experienced mathematics outside of a formal school setting, teachers should also gather information directly from the students. The teachers could administer assessments to gain some indication of the students’ mathematical proficiencies and could interview the students in regards to their mathematics